Our new Executive Retreat is here! Isn't it time that you and your team tried a new strategy to get new results? "So You Think You Can Lead. But Can You Follow?" is a unique process that draws on the discipline of ballroom dancing to spotlight the concept of leadership-followership. Contact us today for more information retreats@jferm.com or call us at +1-614-441-8972. You will never look at leading and following the same way again!

The updated DISC MBA Certification TeleCourse kicks off on January 8! You don't want to miss this opportunity to become a "Certified Behavioral Spectrum Analyst" and implement the DISC assessment within your organization. Space is limited to 10, so sign up today!

The No Frills No Fluff Management Skills Program: Spring Session is Coming Up!: Don't miss signing yourself or your managers up for the Spring session starting on Friday, April 30th. This 15-week TeleCourse program uses proven tools and techniques to help participants become more effective managers. See coupon offer at bottom of newsletter.

The Assessment Guru Hour: This quarterly one-hour conference call is offered to all J.Ferm assessment buying clients. It is a great opportunity for assessment users to ask questions of various "gurus" about how to launch, implement, and maximize the use of assessments within organizations. To join us on Wednesday, January 6 at 9am EST or to learn more about producing organizational ROI using assessments, email us

Many business professionals and entrepreneurs use Twitter and other social media to stay connected, develop business, and read up on the latest news. It isn't always easy to stay up-to-date and "tweet" information that others find interesting or useful, so we thought we'd share a few tips we use that make the process easier to manage.

1. Sign up for daily online news emails: Magazines and journals like Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal offer daily emails with up-to-date articles and facts. Sign up for these services and scan them daily for interesting things to tweet about.


2. Download a free organizing system: There are several social media organizing software programs on the market. We recommend TweetDeck, which you can use to manage Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to organize and track the people you follow.


3. Follow great people: People use social networking sites for different reasons. Some use Twitter for social updates and others use it for business. You may want to follow a mix of people to meet your needs. We recommend following a few great posters and keep an eye out for people they follow. This will help you expand your network and learn from a wide range of people.


4. Re-tweet interesting posts: If you follow great people, they tend to post great things. When they do, re-tweet some of their posts to increase your posts and to expand your knowledge base. Some great "tweeters" limit the types of followers they allow. If you encounter this, send a request and await their approval. It is usually well-worth it.

Strategic Planning Techniques that Rekindle Your Energy and Passion

The concept of "strategic planning" is rarely associated with increased energy and rekindled passion. But that is often because of how we do strategic planning rather than the planning itself. We lock ourselves and our management teams into stuffy conference rooms expecting to somehow magically get excited about planning for the future. This year, try these easy-to-implement action steps to rekindle the spark for what you do, your business opportunities, and your life.

1. Allocate one day on your calendar away from the office for strategic thinking: Start off by visualizing where you want yourself and your business to be in the next year. Go to your favorite coffee shop or quiet place to get a change of scenery and allow your mind to focus on the future without constant interruptions like incoming emails and people stopping by your office. Bring a notepad and begin recording ideas and thoughts that come to mind. At this stage, avoid making judgments about what you write down. Simply let your mind wander and allow for the natural brainstorming process to take place. Think about what you want for yourself, your team, and/or your business or organization. Think big and avoid limiting yourself by assuming what is possible. You will sort and organize your ideas next.


2. Begin organizing your thoughts and ideas: Once you have collected your ideas, begin looking for common themes or patterns. Group them into categories such as: financial, personnel, product development, personal development, operational, etc.


3. Strategically develop each category with measurable goals: When the main categories have been identified and a few goals have been listed under each, begin adding additional goals. Think about what you want for the coming year and by when you wish to accomplish each goal. For a one-year strategic plan, you will probably end up with 3-10 goals or action steps under each category.


4. Set dates for completing each goal: Divide your note pad into 12 columns (one for each month) and begin mapping out when you want each goal or action step to be completed. If you manage a team, it may be helpful to also allocate responsibilities among your people for completing or spearheading each goal.
   
   
5. Review your plan and identify a "theme" for the year: Once your plan is set, you will most likely see a theme emerging. Themes are important reminders for how and where to focus through the year. For example: "Getting ready to sell," "People first," "Maintaining market share," or "Breaking through" can serve as powerful mantras to help stay on track when executing the strategic plan.