You Deserve Some Help

High five

You Deserve Some Help

Fire Fast

If you’ve had any experience as an employer, you know that not every hire turns out to be a gem. Given the time put into the hiring and training process, these mismatches can be very disappointing. But if you’re tempted to hold on to a subpar employee and simply see if things get better, don’t. […]

Hiring: You Deserve Help

Most dog service businesses are one-person affairs. If you run one, you know what it’s like to juggle a multitude of tasks and wear too many hats at once: Trainer/walker/sitter/daycare or boarding operator, administrative assistant, marketing manager, bookkeeper, accountant, customer service rep, even janitor. We find in our business consulting work and when on the […]

Staff Training That Works

Job training is essential to the success of your business. The better trained your employees are, the smarter they work. Well-trained employees are more engaged and more likely to solve problems independently. Because they feel more valued, they are happier in their jobs, which in turn is reflected in their productivity. And yet, job training […]

Staff Reviews That Work

Staff performance reviews enjoy near-universal unpopularity—dreaded by employer and employee alike. For the employer, reviews feel like meaningless busywork, something you are expected to do but which never really seems productive or useful. Many employers are also uncomfortable having to assess people and possibly deliver criticisms. For the employee, the process can be both punishing […]

Ask For Help

If you’re reading this column, chances are you’ve been trained to work with dogs, and well trained. But running a business, any business, calls for a Renaissance skill set and unreasonable amounts of time: in past columns I’ve touched on the stress of adding administrative duties, accounting, bookkeeping, marketing, etc. to your job as dog […]