Author Archives: Dave Berkus

Stay in touch with your investors.

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Dave Berkus

Investors as a group have a common gripe – almost universal.  Information flows from the company irregularly, in fact most often when the company is urgently in need of more money. Investment documents usually call for quarterly reporting by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Raising money, Surrounding yourself with talent | 4 Comments

The five “Whys” a manager should ask

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Dave Berkus

This is a trick headline.  There can be three “whys” or twenty, depending upon the issue and the responses.  To make the point, the word “why” has to be one of the more powerful words in a manager’s vocabulary.  Asking … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 3 Comments

Hire slowly. Fire fast.

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Dave Berkus

New hires can shore up the weak areas of a business in ways existing employees cannot, if hiring is done to fill true needs.  Some employees lose their drive, or remain behind as the company grows, failing to gain the … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Surrounding yourself with talent | 6 Comments

You may burn your first professional manager.

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Dave Berkus

It seems to be a rule, not an exception. The first professional senior manager that an entrepreneur hires to share the growing workload does not last more than a year.   Why? Entrepreneurs start businesses with a strong vision of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Surrounding yourself with talent | 5 Comments

Be an Adaptive Business Leader.

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Dave Berkus

The title of this insight happens to be the name of a CEO roundtable organization I belong to, and have been a member since 1989 (Adaptive Business Leader Organization – or ABL).  The organization, like Vistage, manages roundtables of CEOs … Continue reading →

Posted in Surrounding yourself with talent | 3 Comments

If it can be counted, the CFO owns it.

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Dave Berkus

There is a simple way to define the responsibilities of the chief financial officer.  And it extends beyond the usual interpretation of the CFO position in many companies. If it can be counted, the CFO owns the responsibility for controlling … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business | 2 Comments

The five tactical skills of a great executive

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Dave Berkus

While we are on the subject of great leadership, let’s list the five principal tactical skills of a great leader.  These are not the strategic visionary skills, like leading companies through risky product launches, or steering the course through economic … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 4 Comments

Three qualities of a great leader

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Dave Berkus

By Dave Berkus There are lots of ways to measure a great leader.  Here are three that should resonate with you as leader and with those who follow you.  These qualities are applicable whether you are leading your company or … Continue reading →

Posted in Surrounding yourself with talent | 4 Comments

Two reasons to attack critical issues first.

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Dave Berkus

There are two reasons to consider reordering your priorities to attack your most critical issues first, before the easiest ones to knock off the list. First, you are fresher at the start of a day, and your best efforts should … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth! | 2 Comments

Don’t make assertions that will later prove untrue.

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Dave Berkus

Sometimes it is easy for someone at the top of an organization to make a statement that, in the enthusiasm of the moment or to make a point, crosses the line between fact and fiction.  Sometimes it seems to you … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 2 Comments