Create Your Dashboard for Success
Driving down the road our eyes frequently scan the vital instruments on the dashboard that monitor speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The modern vehicle also has many more devices that constantly monitor various systems for fuel mixture, exhaust gasses, timing adjustment and others. If there is something amiss, sensors trigger the "check-engine" light. As long as the instruments register within their normal range the "check-engine" light stays off and we drive along confidently that we will reach our destination safely and without problems.
Just like an automobile, a business is a complex system with many factors to be monitored. Sales volume, past-due accounts, cash-flow, employee turnover, new customer acquisition, inventory turns, margins, balky vendors, and quality measurements are just a few of the endless number of systems vital to the health of a company. It is difficult, if not impossible to watch all these systems constantly so I advise business owners to create a few, vital measurements to scan daily in the same manner we scan our cars' dashboard, then delegate a second set of items that others monitor. When things go outside normal levels they are instructed to inform you in the same way the computers in your car turn on that "check engine" light.
Of course each business is unique. Each has different needs and different items to monitor. Ask what is vital to the safety of the company, to smooth, efficient administration, and to increased customer satisfaction. Determine the factors that measure these important aspects of your business.
Design a dashboard to measure activities and tasks that are vital to your business. Monitor the delegated systems that alert you to matters that suddenly become abnormal. With a dashboard and delegated monitoring systems your business will arrive at its destination safely and profitably.
You don't want your car to run out of gasoline or your business to falter by running out of a vital resource so keep looking at your dashboard.
Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com Questions??? Send an email to larry@larrygaller.com
Latest News
Single Source Introduces New Advanced Quote Management (AQM)(TM ... MarketWatch - All functions seamlessly integrate to the inherent back-office financials, inventory, purchasing and management reporting functionality of SM-Plus-meeting ... KANA Recognized by Leading Industry Publications for Innovation ... |
![]() RTE.ie | Manufacturing index at 26-year low CNNMoney.com - based Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index declined to a reading of 36.2 from 38.9 in October. It was the lowest reading for the ... Manufacturing index drops to 26-year low CORRECT: Manufacturing falling at fastest pace in 27 years The week ahead in business, at a glance |
Reuters | AIG sells wealth management unit to Abu Dhabi group International Herald Tribune, France - NEW YORK: American International Group, the troubled insurance giant, said Monday that it had agreed to sell its wealth management provider AIG Private Bank ... UPDATE 1-AIG to sell AIG Private Bank to UAE's Aabar AIG to Sell Private Bank to Aabar AIG Unloads Wealth Management Business (AIG) |
The Apogee Companies, a Leading Property Management Company ... MarketWatch - "These upcoming new deals will broaden our abilities to grow throughout the US" The Apogee Companies is a leader in property and real estate management with ... |
![]() Telegraph.co.uk | New Star Plunges, Regulator Denies Suspension Request (Update1) Bloomberg - 1 (Bloomberg) -- New Star Asset Management Group Ltd. dropped 71 percent in London trading after the UK fund company, founded by John Duffield, ... New Star shares fall as it begins fresh debt talks New Star in urgent negotiations with bankers New Star: Reaction from financial advisers |
Tendenci(R) Online Management Software Helps Housing Authority of ... MarketWatch - Tendenci's rich content management system makes it simple to add and edit content on the HACLA Web site, which means the information stays current and the ... |
Research and Markets: Software as a Service Human Resource ... MarketWatch - Human resources management - or human capital management, to use the trendier term - was one of the first markets addressed by software-as-a-service (SaaS) ... |
Mexico's Number One Security Provider Selects NavStar's Fleet ... MarketWatch - The NavStar Fleet Management System will allow Grupo Diamante to track assets, and provide security and risk mitigation service solutions for wireless ... |
![]() WNCT | '12 Days of Christmas' items would cost $86609 The Associated Press - That's this year's cost, according to the annual "Christmas Price Index" compiled by PNC Wealth Management, which tallies the single partridge in a pear ... Video: 12 Days of Christmas' Items Would Cost $86,609 Costly Classical Christmas Swans push up the cost of the 12 Days of Christmas |
Aberdeen Asset Management Full-Year Profit Rises 30 Percent Bloomberg - 1 (Bloomberg) -- Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, Scotland’s largest independent money manager, said full-year profit rose 31 percent, buoyed by new revenue ... UPDATE 1-Aberdeen Asset Management's year profit up 0.8 pct Aberdeen Asset Mgmt targets costs as FY profit up |
Resources
-
AdWords | Google AdWords | 21 Ways to Maximize ROI by Andrew Goodman
Get the original Google AdWords handbook by Andrew Goodman. This 155-page e-book is packed with advanced tips to help you maximize your AdWords campaigns. Download and get free December 2005 update.
-
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
-
Restaurant Checklists: restaurant menu design, cafe training, business plans, restaurant marketing a
Full package of restaurant information including restaurant menu design, training, restaurant business plans, restaurant marketing and Management forms and templates
-
Castlemelody.com: Web design and creative design of graphics
Web design with content Management system for dynamic and flexible websites.
-
...MySoftwareTemplates.com high-quality Microsoft Word templates for Software
Development, Proposal
Write successful Proposals, White Papers, Case Studies with slick templates, checklist and forms.
-
Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way!
"
-
PARENTING TOOLS to design the family of your dreams! What does your dream family look like?
Powerful tools for parenting, anger Management, and creative blocks!
-
Productivity. Improve business productivity through work measurement and method study.
Set of resources to improve worker, workplace and office productivity. Learn to measure productivity, calculate a productivity index and construct a total factor productivity index. Resources include team productivity and employee productivity.
-
Construction Information Services - Construction Management
Construction Information Services include Construction Management ebooks - Construction Software - Articles - Firm directories - Forecasting and Trends of the building industry
-
Landlord Property Management Rental Guide
Looking to manage your own rental property? Use our beginners guide for landlords and rental property investors!


