I’ve been cutting back on caffeine – there’s enough buzz around J Street without it!
President Armen Stein has earned the Microsoft MVP Award every year since 2006. The award is for technical expertise (for Access in Armen’s case) and community involvement. There are fewer than 40 Access MVPs in the world!
How To Pick The Perfect Seat In A Movie Theater
Nearly everyone at one time or another has had to endure seeing a blockbuster movie from the POV of a milk mustache under the main character’s nose. Read more…
Can You Spot a Great Leader?
A great leader can make all the difference between success and failure, productivity and frustration, satisfaction and disappointment. But how do you know when someone’s a great leader?
I say the only surefire way is to look at their team! Notice that I said “team”, not “employees”. Great leaders will build a team of people who enjoy their work and have less desire to leave, leading to a lower turnover rate – which in turn creates more trust, skills, and knowledge, which leads to more enjoyment. It’s a virtuous circle.
Our J Street team works as a unit, building upon each member’s strengths, which makes the whole team stronger. I encourage my team members to loop each other in to solve tough problems. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. They have a lot of autonomy to get things done together without asking me for permission. I often hear about a problem only after it has been solved by my talented team members working together, and they are quick to give the credit to each other.
That autonomy also includes the power for each team member to speak freely and honestly and to brainstorm without fear of ridicule or shame. Some of our best ideas at J Street have been discovered from seemingly wacky ideas! This open thinking is critical when working on a complex task or troubleshooting a tough issue.
That tight collaboration between our team members on a project ensures that the client will receive the best from our “brain pool”, looking at the project from every angle to make sure that the best approach is used. And it also means that when one person isn’t available, someone else on the team has familiarity with the project. Our clients value the continuity this provides.
I’m always trying to learn how to be a better leader. I don’t always get it right, but when I do, I can see the results in my amazing team.
Contact us for a free consultation – we’re here to help you as a team!
