By: Jon Baker Warren Buffett says a leader’s ability to focus on the right things is possibly the most important key to success in business. Two indicators tell us how a business is doing: lagging and leading indicators. Lagging indicators are metrics like profit and customer satisfaction scores. Leading indicators are what you can control upstream and might include … [Read more...] about Bears Business Brief: Great leaders know that culture is more than values
By: Richard Ollis Employment-related litigation is prevalent in the United States. In fact, according to a 2015 Hiscox report, U.S. companies have at least an 11.7 percent chance of having an employment charge filed against them. Missouri is rated as a high-risk state, where businesses are 15 percent more likely to be involved in litigation, and one of several states … [Read more...] about Bears Business Brief: Aim for zero tolerance of sexual harassment
With nearly 40 years of working around great creative thinkers, I have learned that great ideas don’t typically just pop into someone's head; it is a process. That doesn’t mean inspiration is not part of the creative process, but it is only one element. Often, I am asked, how did you come up with that idea? It’s a process, not a gift. When you start a business, you are … [Read more...] about Bears Business Brief: Creative thinking in business
Most of us have read about large data breaches, like the recent Yahoo breach of 500 million accounts — reportedly the largest such incident in history. Businesses are ramping up security, training, response, and insurance tactics to respond to this ever-increasing threat. Although this continues to be a significant area of focus, many businesses fail to realize that many of … [Read more...] about Bears Business Brief: Businesses can help protect employees from data breaches
The landscape of business continues to evolve and become more complex. Regulations, litigation and duties corporations and their management owe the public are all increasing the risk of serving as a director or officer. This changing risk is especially troublesome since directors and officers put their personal assets at risk for decisions (or lack of) that they make on behalf … [Read more...] about bears Business Brief: What you should know before serving on a board of directors