Business Archives

Hard Work and Luck in Business: Do You Need Both?

When it comes to business success, do you need both hard work and luck? What mindset should you have toward these factors? In The Unfair Advantage, authors Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba discuss the role of hard work and luck in business. They contend that you must simultaneously believe that hard work pays off and acknowledge that luck can be the difference between success and failure. They offer advice on how to balance these two beliefs. Continue reading to learn Ali and Kubba’s views on hard work and luck in business.

Learn Entrepreneurship: Best Books, Blogs, & Podcasts

Are you looking to break away from your current job and become your own boss? Do you already have a business idea in mind? Or are you still in the dreaming stage? Whether you already know what you’re passionate about and how to monetize it or you’re still brainstorming, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the best resources for entrepreneurs, including books, blogs, and podcasts. Get inspired by success entrepreneurship stories, become an expert in business theory, and learn helpful tips from those who’ve already walked the path you are about to embark upon.

What Is a Good Manager? Top Traits & Goals

What is a good manager? What is Julie Zhuo’s definition of management? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo says great managers focus on achieving the ultimate goal of all managers. This goal is to facilitate desirable outcomes by inspiring and coordinating the efforts of others. Read more to learn what makes a manager great.

1 Essential Team Motivation Idea That Works Long-Term

What team motivation ideas work the best? How do you foster long-lasting motivation in a team? Find Your Why author Simon Sinek says your energy and commitment to your purpose are contagious, so having clarity on it helps you pitch your ideas in a way that’s more authentic and enticing to others. By holding a purpose discussion to find your team’s common purpose, you can achieve long-term team motivation, according to Sinek. Read on to learn Sinek’s team motivation idea for creating long-term motivation through purpose discussions.

The True Importance of Trust in the Workplace

What is the importance of trust in the workplace? How do high- or low-trust relationships affect your work? In The Speed of Trust, author Stephen Covey examines all the ways trust impacts your life, from personal to professional relationships. Covey believes trust is your most valuable asset, and losing or gaining trust in the workplace has a real impact on your career. Read on to learn the true importance of trust in the workplace, according to Covey.

What Are the Qualities of a Good Manager?

What are the qualities of a good manager? Do all managers share the same traits? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo explains that great managers motivate people to work toward a shared goal. They do this by upholding an inspiring vision, establishing trust, and communicating clear expectations. Learn the qualities that good managers exhibit.

How to Build a Cohesive Team: Stage 4 Culture

What’s Stage 4 culture? What do cohesive teams have in common? How do you create one? According to Tribal Leadership, any organization succeeds or fails on the culture of its tribes—groups of individuals that share ways of thinking, interacting, and working—and we can improve our organizations by upgrading the cultures of those tribes, progressing from one stage to the next. Stage 4 culture involves a cohesive team. Tribal Leadership outlines three characteristics of cohesive teams and three strategies for building one. Keep reading to learn these characteristics and strategies for how to build a cohesive team in your organization.

Handshake Deals: Are They Realistic or Risky?

What is the meaning of a handshake deal? Are handshake deals a realistic way to conduct business, or are they too risky? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey wrote The Speed of Trust to illustrate the importance of building high-trust relationships in business and in your personal life. Covey’s great depth of experience lends credibility to his argument for trusting and using handshake deals in business. Read on to learn why Covey says handshake deals can be less risky than convoluted contracts.

Why Sharing a Vision Leads to a Successful Team

Why does sharing a vision matter? What are the features of a good vision statement? One critical function managers must perform is sharing and reinforcing a powerful vision. In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo discusses why a vision matters for a successful business. Continue reading to learn how to share a vision with your team.

Values and Purpose = Your Foundation and Direction

Does your organization have specified values and a clear purpose? Are they known and embraced throughout the organization? Tribal Leadership explores how a tribe or an organization develops, getting stronger and more healthy as it progresses from Stage 1 to Stage 5. At Stage 4, the tribe comes together around shared values and pursues a well-crafted mission. They explicitly recognize themselves as a tribe, and they unify under a strong leader to pursue ambitious goals. According to authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King, a tribe must establish values and purpose to stabilize at Stage 4. Continue reading to