Skillful Communication and the Future of Work
By Rachell Smith At Collaboration, we take our core values to heart. As "Relentless Learners", we agree that continuing our professional education is integral to our growth. I recently attended two educational seminars that inspired me to take a look at the future of...
Highlights from the 2018-2019 Central Coast Economic Forecast
By Rachell Smith For the second year in a row, I wanted to share the important information I learned as I recently attended the 2018-2019 Central Coast Economic Forecast. Just like last year, business leaders in the community gathered at the Madonna Expo Center to...
How to Build a Strong Senior Management Team
This article was originally published on Forbes. By Michael Gunther Entrepreneurs are visionaries. They excel at creating a company that fills a void in the marketplace through their drive and grit. Later in their business’ life cycle, entrepreneurs become aware that...
5 Business Worries and How to Solve Them
By Marie Lopez It takes a fearless person to start up and run a successful company. Yet, with all the risks involved in running a business it’s a given that there are certain aspects that keep business owners up at night. Earlier this year, we conducted a survey...
Introducing Our New Interview Series “Wine with an Entrepreneur”
By Marie Lopez Since February 2018, we have introduced numerous resources to help our clients and those in our network build their businesses and skills. From webinars to white papers to case studies, we intend to provide useful — and complimentary — information so...
Five Questions Your Team Has But Is Too Afraid To Ask
This article was originally posted on Forbes. By Erin Hoffman As a business consultant, I have the privilege of being an "inside outsider." Employees are comfortable talking to me about what concerns them, knowing that I have the ears of the managers to anonymously...
Succession Planning For Family Business: Who Will Lead When You Retire?
This article was originally published on Forbes. By Michael Gunther Family-owned businesses are led by unique entrepreneurs who strive to leave a legacy for future generations of their family. These businesses are at the heart of the American economy, accounting...
The Importance of Understanding Communication Styles in the Workplace
By Erin Hoffman Anyone who has worked in any industry knows that conflicting personalities take a toll on teamwork, morale, and the successful completion of a project. But what many people might not know is that they don’t have to just learn to deal with a co-worker....
Marketing Ecosystem: A Crash Course
By Kristin Mehiel Investing in an effective lead generation program is pivotal to organizations, both big and small. Establishing an official lead generation plan will astronomically boost sales and, ultimately, your bottom line. Simultaneously, your sales team will...
Consultant Corner: Spend More Time Determining the “What” of Your Business
By Rick Berard This is the first in a series of blogs from our dedicated team of consultants. Each month, we will address a commonly asked question, offer quick tips, and more. To submit an idea for discussion, email us at [email protected] In...
Leaders And Managers Are Cultivated, Not Born
This article was originally posted on Forbes. By Erin Hoffman Think of a great boss or leader you've had. What made them great? I've asked hundreds of my management trainees this question and the responses are always the same. "He expected a lot of me." "She inspired...
Three Elements To Recharge Your Sales Plan
This article was originally posted on Forbes. By Michael Gunther When you're in sales, the phrase "the art of selling" is heard all the time. Keep in mind that the art of selling is entirely subjective; artful salespeople use their intuition and relationship-building...