Business Acumen

Seeing the Big Picture

Many people believe you are born with business acumen, which is loosely defined as the ability to assess an external market and make effective decisions. Knowing what is necessary to navigate and create a successful business seems innate for certain people. For example, Steve Jobs showed great business acumen. Fortunately, it is possible for the rest of us to improve business acumen. The right training combined with experience will improve your business savvy.


Business acumen requires an understanding of finance, strategy, and decision making. Most managers and employees, however, are responsible for specific areas, and they have little understanding of the impact their decisions have on other areas. When too much focus is placed on one aspect of the business, it is difficult to make decisions for the good of the company. In order to make effective decisions, it is necessary for you to examine the big picture.   

When looking at the big picture, it is necessary to consider long term as well as short term interactions. Short term interactions are immediate, single exchanges, and they are necessary for the company to survive. Without looking at the big picture, however, short term interactions may hinder long term success. For example, you may damage a business relationship by using aggressive sales techniques, costing you sales in the future.

Long term interactions are processes or relationships that are essential to growth. Long term business success requires the long term interactions. The relationships with customers, vendors, and employees need to be carefully cultivated. Failure to cultivate relationships occurs when there is a lack of communication or communication is not respectful. Long term relationships help guide the future of the business.

The full 6 hour online course is available at Networx Business Solutions.

40% off discount code: Networx2015

Tina Oliver, M.Ed.

Networx LLC

Teacher Professional Development Plan

Teacher Professional Development Plan

Most organizations make a good habit of evaluating staff performance on an annual or semi-annual basis.  These evaluations should be written and should include observation and/or assessments of work performance.  Employees should also be given the opportunity to do a self-evaluation of their work performance.  Evaluations should be discussed privately with staff, dated, signed and placed in the employees’ confidential file.

It is also a good idea to prepare a professional development plan for the employee during the evaluation meeting.  The professional development plan should include at least three topics that are identified as areas needing improvement and areas of opportunity for growth.  The plan should indicate the staff member’s responsibility and the supervisors’ responsibility for insuring growth.  Additionally, there should be a time line and steps taken to achieve the agreed upon goals.  Make sure that goals are attainable and measureable.

Tina Oliver, M.Ed.

Networx  Early Childhood Training and Consulting Co.

www.networxllc.net 

What are Model Work Standards?

What are Model Work Standards?

If your goal is to have a high quality adult working environment, you want to use Model Work Standards in the administration of your business.  Whether you are in the child care business or some other industry, the ultimate success of your business is dependent upon the satisfaction of a group of your key stakeholders, your employees.

So how can we make sure that our employees are satisfied and that we are in fact running a high quality adult working environment?  Get staff involved by asking them to identify the needs for improvement and then make them part of the strategic planning process.

When I work with child care programs who are interested in improving the quality of their work environment, I put together a STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING AROUND MODEL WORK STANDARDS.  Prior to this meeting, I will have staff complete a detailed survey. I then compile a list of possible goals from the results of the survey.  During our first meeting, staff will establish a voting system for selection of goals and prioritizing goals. We then create a one year action plan listing the goals, step for meeting the goals, and timeline.  This plan is then reviewed quarterly for progress.

In child care, a quality work environment means quality care for the children served, lower teacher turnover and higher quality teachers.

Tina Oliver, M.Ed.

Networx Early Childhood Training and Consulting Co.

www.networxllc.net