Jeff Gau
A Well-Run Organization
January 9, 2020
I remember when I first bought my 1969 Mustang in 2010. It was delivered on a trailer and needed some serious restoration. I imagined it could be brought back to its original glory and once again be a beautiful classic car. I spent the time and money to restore it and make it sol…
A Fresh Look at Strategic Planning
December 19, 2019
It is that time of year when we’re closing out the year and looking forward to 2020. We set goals to advance our organizations, initiatives to achieve them and budgets to support them. How’s your strategic plan looking for 2020 – and beyond?
Negotiating: Lessons Learned
December 5, 2019
On a recent trip to Southeast Asia, I was reminded of the art of negotiation. In the marketplace, tourists meandered through vendor booths with many of the same or similar products. Few of the products had prices, naturally forcing negotiations.
A Leader Worth Following: Doug Albregts
November 21, 2019
Hiring someone better than yourself is a good leadership strategy, and it naturally elevates the entire team. The recent hire of our new president, Doug Albregts, is a good example.
Why Do People Leave?
November 7, 2019
We have a good culture. People like working here. We validate it through our annual employee survey process (93% participation rate). Almost all tell us they like and trust their supervisor, which has proven to be a key indicator of employee retention in workplace studies. We wor…
Good Questions Leaders Ask
October 16, 2019
I think we all know that effective leaders ask good questions to move an idea forward, help a team get unstuck, motivate, gain buy-in and build connections.
Where I First Learned to Be a Leader
October 3, 2019
I grew up in a small Central Minnesota town as the son of an auto parts salesman. We certainly weren’t wealthy, but I felt like I had everything. Growing up in rural Little Falls, I only have the fondest of memories of my childhood.
Who’s Your No. 2?
September 19, 2019
Every successful leader should have a No. 2 — someone prepared to take over or step in temporarily. That doesn’t just happen. It takes intention and mentorship over time.
Employee Advisors: A New Idea for Employee Engagement
September 6, 2019
Imagine a diverse group of your employees coming together to talk “productively” about the issues you face and collaborating to come up with better ideas.
Not All Sales Revenue is Equal
August 22, 2019
Growing up in a small town, I understand that a dollar is a dollar. You work hard for it and it is valued. But, in my past 16 years at the helm of Marco, growing the business and buying others, I have learned that not all sales revenue is equal. Some is actually better than other…
