Jeff Gau
Negotiating: Lessons Learned
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
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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…
Increasing Your Presence
There are people who walk into a room and are naturally recognized as leaders. They seem to gain followers without even trying. They have a presence about them. Who do you know like that? Is it you?
What We Can Learn From The Minnesota Twins’ Turnaround
Why are the Minnesota Twins playing so well this year (so far) after having the worst record in baseball three years ago? They went from being one of the worst teams in history to busting one record after another, and are one of baseball’s best stories this year.
