C-SuiteSkimm

Know, Watch, Ponder

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or back into safety.”

Abraham Maslow

Know

I'm overwhelmed!

What to do when your employees feel overwhelmed

What's your reaction to hearing "I'm overwhelmed"? Do you assume they're complaining about too much work? Do you assume this is a "tell me what to do" millennial? Is this the signal that it's time to remind everyone (again) about all the (expensive) training the company has available on time management, delegating and prioritizing work? What if multiple employees are singing the Overwhelm song?

If seven people call it a horse, maybe it's time to buy a saddle i.e. It's time to put on our big boy pants and our lipstick and fix the problem. Yes, you can. Key nuggets: Prioritize their work-flow; Don't rely on training alone - mentor them; fix the communication problem (hint: it's complicated); fix the culture. Overwhelmed? I've got fixes.

Watch

Can you take yourself off the cc:? Y or N
Simon Sinek says - Trust me!

Are you cc'd on lots of project and customer activity in your company? WHY? Bad news. Simon Sinek is right. You're not leading. You're micromanaging. Want to stop? Ask yourself what it would take to be able to trust them? 

Some possibilities: Better training. Better systems and processes, A more inclusive, trusting culture. More people. Different people.

Don't jump to the last two without taking a hard look at the first three. Where do you need to focus to help your people perform at their best? What mental shift must you make to get out of their way?

Ponder

Selling Your Company?

5 Tips to Demystify the Investment Banker Selection Process

Are you ready to sell? Is now the right time? Here's the starter set of questions to help you figure it out.

• Is your business of sufficient size and scale to warrant a formal sale process?
• Have you created a management team ready to take on greater responsibility?
• Do you want to stay on for a few more years as CEO or Chairperson?
• Do you have a successor you have been grooming?
• Are you ready to give up control? Are you contemplating a minority investment or a change of control?
• Have you been preparing your business and its financial statements for this event? Have your financials been reviewed or audited over the past 3 years?
• Have you maximized the value of your business?
• Are you realistic about its value?
• Are you ready to dive in and work tirelessly with a team to do the necessary up-front preparation to showcase your business?

If you can answer “yes” to most of these, and especially to the last question, you are ready to consider choosing an Investment Banking firm to guide you through a sale process. Yikes! Here's your Next Step.

The C-SuiteSkimm is a weekly brief for CEOs and business owners delivering essential news, trends, tips and the occasional "ya-can't-make-this-*!@$#!"-up" story. Go here to get this fun, fast, high-value read delivered to your inbox every Sunday.