Print Industry Strategies for Second Half of the Year

Print Industry Strategies for Second Half of the YearWe are now at the second half of the year for 2015. Have you ever stopped to review where you are before the year is finished?

As basic as this sounds, most people do not review their progress. Those who achieve their goals are very focused and regularly review their progress.

The saying goes “You get what you expect when you inspect with regularity.”

If we want to meet our goals then we need to regularly review our progress. There is great value in stepping back and reviewing the first six months of the year. A review will not only help us feel good about our accomplishments but help us stay focused on what we need to do to achieve our goals.

Here are five actions you can take to exert leadership over yourself, your area of responsibility and/or your company. Read more

Culture: The Print Industry Leader’s Best Growth Opportunity

Culture: The Print Industry Leader's Best Growth OpportunityWhat creates the greatest opportunity for long-term success for a print industry company?

Culture.

Culture, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is, “the beliefs, customs, arts … of a particular group,” and, “a way of thinking, behaving or working that exists in a place or organization.”

It is the print industry leader’s responsibility to set the culture.

It is the responsibility of the other members of the team to support and propagate the culture.

Culture is critical to long-term success.

Because people come and go, having a strong culture that drives the way the company conducts its business is the best way to keep the company values strong. That way, even when people leave, the culture will remain. Read more

Why You Should Blog: Reasons for Print Industry Leaders

 Print Industry Leaders: Why You Should BlogHave you ever thought about why you should blog—or perhaps, why you should not?

The act of blogging must be much bigger than simply writing a blog. It must be part of a mission you are passionate about. Without that mission, blogging becomes drudgery.

If you have your eye on a goal and a blog is part of executing that goal, then it won’t just be about cranking out a blog. But the thought must be about working toward your mission.

In the same vein, blogging cannot be about just making money. That’s like saying the goal of a business is to make money. In my opinion, the goal of a business is to serve others. Without money a business cannot survive, but making money is not its ultimate goal or its purpose for being.

Similarly, we wouldn’t say the goal of life is to eat. We need to food to live, but that is not our purpose.

Find your purpose. Whether it’s serving and helping others or something else entirely, if blogging is part of how you accomplish your purpose then that’s why you should blog.

Keep that purpose in mind and blogging will be something you will want to do, as it takes you toward your purpose.

Here are a few less-commonly cited reasons why you should blog:

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Changing Leadership Styles in the Print Industry

Changing Leadership Styles in the Print IndustryLeadership styles are always evolving—changes have been especially notable in the past ten years.

It used to be that the most effective leadership style was “Command and Control.” This style was inspired by the way we led our troops in World War II. This method has continued to find favor right up to the present moment in the print industry.

However, this leadership style has given way to a more effective style we can label “Inspire and Engage.”

In a command and control environment, leaders decide to tell everyone what to do, and subordinates are expected follow orders.

On the other hand, leaders can choose an inspire and engage style. In this environment, we communicate to our team the vision, mission, values, milestones, and plans that will inspire them. Then we ask them to personally get engaged in helping the company to achieve those print industry goals.

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Five Reasons Challenges are Opportunities in Disguise

Challenges are OpportunitiesHow do you react to challenges and trials in your business life in the print industry or personal life? Are you frustrated, annoyed or angry? Are you disappointed or discouraged when challenges enter your life?

In the print industry today, we are all confronted by challenges. But challenges are opportunities in disguise. As crazy as it may seem, there are reasons to welcome challenges into your life and make the most of them.

Here are five reasons to welcome challenges.

Challenges are Opportunities for Growth

If you think back on challenges you have faced in your life, did you not grow from those experiences?

Most likely, to get through a challenge you had to grow so you could come out on the other side. Once you get through it you will have grown in your wisdom and experience. Read more

Create Tension in the Workplace for Better Results

Tension in the WorkplaceHave you ever thought of the value of tension in the workplace, particularly for your print business?

Tension in the workplace makes us uncomfortable and may even cause anxiety and stress us out, regardless of our title. However, growth and results are where the tension is.

Why?

Tension usually develops when we want to or need to achieve a result and we are not sure we can make it happen. We may have a goal we want to achieve or generate the necessary results for our company. In the absence tension in the workplace, we will achieve less and we will not grow as a person or as a company.

If we seek the areas that create tension, that means we are pushing to make progress.

Here are five ways we can create positive tension in the workplace that leads to growth and future success. Read more