When we work with staff who need to improve performance, our primary goal is to help them develop the skills they need to be able to continue their employment.  A good guide comes from the words from Ezekiel: “I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32, NLT) Just as the Lord does not want anyone to perish, we should do what we can to prevent discharging an employee.

I answer my phone when it rings if I am able. I’ve developed this habit over many years and have learned how helpful it is for a reasons.

1. It Serves my Clients

I am able to serve my customers or clients more effectively when I answer their call. This prevents a frustrating game of telephone tag.  Since business is about serving customers, the sooner we serve them the better.

The question about hiring family members comes up frequently. I’ve seen this work out well and I’ve seen catastrophic results from a relational point of view.

When asked this question, my first response is another question: “Would you be able to let the family member go if circumstances required termination?” In most situations the short answer is no, at least not without great pain and difficulty.

In the book of Romans Paul gave us a valuable lesson.  “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who caused dissensions, and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned,  and turn away from them. For such a men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive hearts of the unsuspecting.” (Romans 16:17-18, NASB)

Often I will advise a client against opening a new business until they have apprenticed for at least one year and learned from a master in their field. If you want to open a bakery but have little experience in that field, you are setting yourself up for losing money and your business. You need to learn the basic aspects of the business first.

At times the client will ask me for some help with starting a business in a field with very little specific information available. One example was “Tom” who had an idea to provide massage services to corporate employees. The idea was to contact businesses and contract them to pay for their employees to receive a massage as a way to increase productivity while providing a nice fringe benefit to staff.