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Howard Shore

Member since: Mar 07, 2008
Last activity: 2 weeks ago

  • Penny:

    It is nice to want to have people feel inspired when they leave a meeting...and that is a different emotion than feeling good. With that said, I am speaking to people that are trying to run a business and inspired is not the realistic emotion for every occasion. For example, yesterday I ran the monthly executive meeting for one of my clients and the primary issues that needed to be wrestled with were being overstaffed, not holding people accountable, not keep track properly tracking the data to hold these people accountable because people are being lazy, financial statements are mistated. and many of these were the same issues that were not addressed adequately from last month and we made little progress. I want everyone to feel that they know what has to be done, I want them to feel the pressure that if they don't get it done they will not be here for next month's meeting, and that if they did not do want they promised last month they let the rest of the executive team down.

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 Never Leave a Meeting Feeling Good by Howard Shore

  • One of my comments I like to point out to people is that good business works whether you are in any industry and whatever country. Great to see it working in Pakistan! Keep up the good work.

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 Never Leave a Meeting Feeling Good by Howard Shore

  • Troy:

    You are bring a whole another issue dear to my heart which is push back. It you want to earn more clients you need to earn their respect and you do that by pushing back. Read my article on my blog http://executivecoachhms.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/pushing-back-to-get-more-sales/ to see more about what I am talking about.

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 Never Leave a Meeting Feeling Good by Howard Shore

  • Kate:

    Great points. I find that most of my clients are always underpricing themselves. Often price is more important to them then the people buying from them. I find that if you do your job in the selling process then you can name price. Particularly in the business services arena I have challenged my clients to raise their prices incrementally to challenge their assumptions. Problem being they think they are already charging too much. I tell them to keep raising price until they start loosing a percentage of opportunities they are uncomfortable with. However, we have to see how many of those opportunities are price and if people push back on price can we still offer them a lower price and get them. What my clients find is they are getting significantly higher prices in this economy (in some cases double) with no consequence. Their only barrier was their selling process to position value and their perception of their worth to customers.

    Posted Aug 17, 2009 The Price is Right by Kate Phillips

  • Kate: Your pint is well taken. What please do not take that you are feeling bad when you leave. It is energy level that is different when there is conflict. You know you just had a meeting that was worth attending because everyone was engaged and heard. You can't wait to talk about other things that have been bugging you. Can't wait to execute!

    Josh:

    You cannot have healthy conflict if your team does not trust each other. So that is the first key. There has to be a safe environment to discuss ideas and talk about the real issues and facts with out fearing you will be made fun of, have people talk behind your back, interrupted, attacked, or fired. It is amazing what happens when you get passed that most critical hurdle. Many times you need an outside facilitator to help you with this.

    Terra... Thank you.

    Posted Aug 17, 2009 Never Leave a Meeting Feeling Good by Howard Shore

  • Good job. Companies are spending too much energy focusing on cost and not enough energy focusing on strategy. If a business has a growth problem cutting costs is a band-aid. When ever a business is not growing the way you want it to you need to look at your strategy and make sure that you are relevant to current needs in the market. If you are not and you continue down the same path cutting costs is only going to slow your death. You better address your strategy problem.

    Posted May 27, 2009 How to Spring Clean Your Business by Sandy Huang

  • I have found the title critical and have found it the hardest part of the article. I write a blog and newsletter and have found if I get the title wrong I am dead. Most of content is exact content I use to help client get excellent result. Many times I get my titles wrong and get low readership. The sad part is that if people read the articles and posts they would get for free what my clients pay big bucks for and get great results.

    Posted May 07, 2009 8,634,718 Simple Things You Can Do Today To Grow Your Business And Succeed by Ken Peters

  • Great article! Change is always looked at as this horrible word. To me all change represents is new goals. One of my coaches once said me something that I have never forgotten. If you have a garden and all you do is plant weed seeds all you are going to get are weeds. So make sure that you know what kind of seeds you are planting in your garden. Right now people are planting too many weed seeds in their heads. As people look at today's environment that need to be thinking possibilities and then set goals and go after them. Business and economies run in cycles. So the way I see it, there are people that are playwrights and the rest of are actors. Last I checked we have free will. So that free gives us the choice to decide which person you want to be.

    Posted Jan 30, 2009 Opportunity Is All Around You by Ken Peters

  • The first place to start is your current and past customer base. I would ask them for a referrals and provide an incentive. For example, some small work for free for every new client that you get because of them. Be specific in exactly what you are looking for in a new client.

    Next you should consider joining a networking organization like Business Networking International. Your business category would probably do very well in a group like that. Also, you should consider joining a community chamber of commerce.

    In this economy you are going to have to be more visible than ever. Have a good follow up system for people you meet and good SIT (Stay in touch) system.

    Hope this helps.

    Hope this helps.

    Posted Dec 03, 2008 A Business Network Makes You Powerful – Article 5 of 8 by Howard Shore

  • Thank you for your kind words. Publishing is on my to do list.

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 Take Control and Increase Growth- Article 2 of 4 by Howard Shore

  • Jeff. I can tell you are a good networker. I would change my article to add it but I do not want to steal your thunder!

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 7 Keys to Being a Great Networker by Howard Shore