10 Questions to Help Solve Problems

This quiz can help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your skills in solving problems, as well as point you to ways of improving in this important area.*

Answer YES or NO to the following Ten questions.

1. Do you gather all the information you can before trying to solve a problem?
2. Do you seek input from your fellow team members?
3. Do you get opinions from outside experts?
4. Do you list all the possible solutions on a piece of paper?
5. Do you then visualize the strengths and weaknesses of each solution?
6. Do you let your subconscious work on the problem?
7. Do others seek your help?
8. Are you willing to try another solution if your first idea isn't working?
9. Do you see problems as challenges and get satisfaction from resolving them?
10. Do you practice your problem-solving skills on puzzles and games?

Score yourself: 8 to 10 YES answers indicates you are a pro at solving problems. Six or seven is average, but if you had a lower score, study the questions for ways you can improve.

*Teamwork notes
----------------------------------------------------------------

How to Handle Customer Complaints

The LAST technique for handling customer complaints has been around for some time and you can Google it to find several versions.

I have had great success with what I call the LAST-C process.
Bottom Line: not only will you decrease customer complaints, you will gain more business as a result of using this process.

Acronym defined:

L- Listen

A-Apologize

S-Suggest a Solution

T- Thank

C- Communicate

Want more information?  Read Bob's book...
 Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!
"A must read!" Ivan Misner New York Times Bestselling author
BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM  click on link below
Click here to purchase Bob's book 

 bobgambone.com
bobgambone@bobgambone.com
----------------------------------------------------------

Goals are Good, Systems are Better

What's the difference between goals and systems?

• If you're an upwardly mobile employee, your goal is to get promoted. Your system is the performance appraisal process of your company.

• If you're a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.

• If you're a runner, your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule for the month.

• If you're an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million dollar business. Your system is your sales and marketing process.

Now think on this...

If you completely ignored your goals and focused only on your system, would you get results?

Yes you would! The problem is, without goals you will never know if you effectively implemented and worked the system.
However, setting goals without implementing mechanisms to achieve goals (system) is like wanting to bake a pie without knowing the recipe.

Systems are better because you have the ingredients and the recipe and as long as you at least work the process you will complete the task.
Even though your target is unknown, you've done the work and can now set realistic goals based on your experience with the system.
----------------------------------------------------------------