Consider This

Robert Stevenson’s Thoughts on the Pursuit of Excellence


Employee Turnover

March 9, 2024

by Robert Stevenson

I don’t understand why companies don’t do more to retain talented employees. According to Gallup, the expense of replacing an employee can vary significantly, spanning from one-half to two times the employee's annual salary. This range accounts for various factors contributing to turnover costs, such as recruitment expenses, training costs, lost productivity during the transition period, and potential impacts on team morale and productivity. That is a lot of money to walk out your door all because you did a lousy job making them want to stay.



Do What You Do Best

January 19, 2024

by Robert Stevenson

LEGO, the renowned Danish toy company, was established in 1932. Over nearly 90 years, its iconic bricks became synonymous with the toy industry's success. However, in the early 2000s, LEGO faced a severe financial crisis, flirting with bankruptcy and endangering its brand. This crisis resulted from diversification into unsuccessful ventures, competition from electronic toys, and significant manufacturing inefficiencies. Simply stated … along the way … they lost their way.



Correct Answer - But Wrong

December 2, 2023

by Robert Stevenson

Sometimes we ask questions the wrong way or we ask the wrong questions … but either way … we can end up with CORRECT but WRONG answers. Great leaders and managers understand that information is key in making decisions and that questions, when asked properly, can be a powerful aid in soliciting this information.



The Destructive Attitude of Arrogance

September 10, 2023

by Robert Stevenson

One of the biggest destructive forces today that causes countless large companies to fail is an ATTITUDE of ARROGANCE. Bill Gates said, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” Couple that statement with one from former Intel Chairman Andy Grove, who said, “Only the paranoid survive. Paranoids believe someone or some force is out to get them,” and now you should have a better perspective on how two enormously successful men remained successful in such competitive, turbulent times.



Fix What Needs Fixing

August 26, 2023

by Robert Stevenson

I see a lot of valuable time being wasted in companies with people trying to improve something that is already working great. It is important to always be looking for ways to improve, but it is more important to be working on things that need improving. I live, work, and operate by what I like to refer to as The Stapler Principle. This principle has helped me immeasurably in being more efficient, which can also equate into being more successful.



Fix, Offer, Change, Improve, Focus on What

April 16, 2023

by Robert Stevenson

I’m doing a program next week on “Embracing Change.” One of my slides asks: Fix What - Offer What - Change What - Improve What - Focus on What? For many companies defining the “WHAT” is a big problem. I have always believed EVERYTHING … decisions, products, services, policies and procedures revolve around the customer. Years ago, I made the statement, “The day we forget we are in business for the customer, is the day we start going out of business.” I believe that statement as strongly today as I did then.



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