Keith R McFarland

President/Founder

Rethinking How to Get Employees to Change

February 23, 2010

February 23, 2010

Rethinking How to Get Employees to Change

October 20, 2009

October 20, 2009

How Resilient Leaders Manage Anxiety

September 4, 2009

September 4, 2009

To Survive a Crisis, Embrace the 'Bounce'

December 16, 2008

December 16, 2008

Don't Let the Recession Overwhelm Your Staff

Give employees whatever reassurance you can so they'll stay focused on the most important issues

October 24, 2008

October 24, 2008

Four Mistakes Leaders Make When Downsizing

Avoid these management traps, and maybe your company can emerge from the recession in stronger shape

September 16, 2008

September 16, 2008

Why Zappos Offers New Hires $2,000 to Quit

The policy of providing a let-out after one week has gained worldwide attention. Columnist Keith McFarland explains why it makes sense

June 27, 2008

June 27, 2008

A Skeptical Take on the Economy

Best-selling author Keith McFarland argues against getting overly concerned about the bad economy

April 21, 2008

April 21, 2008

Taking Advantage of a Down Market

Assuming you've saved some cash, there are a few steps you can take to weather the economic downturn, and even flourish

March 21, 2008

March 21, 2008

The Problem with Business as Usual

It seems like a no-brainer, but taking the time to root out stupid routines can mean the difference between a company's success and failure

February 25, 2008

February 25, 2008

When Small Fry Go After Big Fish

A new book offers advice on how small companies can avoid being sunk after they've landed a big contract

January 18, 2008

January 18, 2008

When Failure Is Not an Option

When entrepreneurial commitment increases, so do creativity, insight, and drive. And going public with your goals can provide just the incentive you need to succeed

November 21, 2007

November 21, 2007

In Small Biz, There's No Small Stuff

When it comes to customer service, take a tip from a good police chief: The small things can be just as important as the high-profile ones

October 19, 2007

October 19, 2007

How Curiosity Empowers Toyota

The carmaker's determined willingness to try new ideas has allowed it to build a commercial fortress and an astonishing record of success

September 20, 2007

September 20, 2007

Preparing for Your Second Act

Entrepreneurs who have spent their lives building businesses may underestimate the difficulty of quitting cold turkey

July 19, 2007

July 19, 2007

Improving Your Team's Learning Curve

Frequent meetings that focus on successful strategy help team members learn what works, a practice that will improve your company's performance

May 15, 2007

May 15, 2007

In Praise of the "Anti-Mentor"

It's important to have role models, but most of us owe a bigger debt of gratitude to the people who teach us by bad example

April 17, 2007

April 17, 2007

Where Group-Think Is Good

Groups often provide the best answers to business problemsprovided you know how to structure the team

February 21, 2007

February 21, 2007

Why Firing Doesn't Always Help

Replacing key staff members can take a serious toll on your business. Instead of switching employees like cogs, study and nurture their skills

January 24, 2007

January 24, 2007

Why Good Times Are the Most Dangerous

It's easy to get too comfortable, which leaves you unprepared when disaster strikes. That's why the best leaders are always a bit paranoid

November 15, 2006

November 15, 2006

Coping With the Talent Crunch

Skilled employees are in increasingly short supply. Yet companies have eroded non-pay reasons for staying. Here's how to hang on to your talent