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Jonathan Hakakian

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Senior Consultant, SoundBoard Consulting Group, LLC

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April 27, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 2 other people answered this question

What is the future of small business? Where is it heading?

IMHO, small businesses will continue to niche themselves, becoming more and more localized and/or focused. Instead of having the "general store" that appeals to all, small business will have to adapt to a specific group of clients or products.
Ultimately, my guess is that as a ... more

Business Growth and Development

April 6, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 1 other person answered this question

what techniques do you use to inspire a shared vision with your associate team?

Keep it alive. You have to constantly speak to it and remind the team about it.
One specific technique we often recommend is to encourage open dialogue around the vision, wherein team members can speak freely to the vision. more

General Management

Employee Engagement

March 30, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian recommends this answer by Diane Helbig

What is the biggest mistake small business owners make in the first year?

They don't realize that they have to be salespeople. THey think that somehow when they put up a website and get a phone people will know they have a great product or service.
Without a sales strategy they will quickly find themselves struggling. more

March 16, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 8 other people answered this question

What are (5) key leadership traits for business leaders in small companies?

Leader not entrepreneur, right?
For a leader:
+ Clarity in communicating the message
+ Team building; inspires the team
+ Flexibility and endurance to do what needs to be done or direct it appropriately (i.e., nimbleness)
For an entrepreneur I'd have to add:
+ (Somewhat naive) belief in the venture; that ... more

General Management

Management Skills

March 16, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 7 other people answered this question

If you go into business with a friend what are some things you should do to protect yourself?

Was reading about this yesterday. Here's a piece from NY Times Corner Office http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/business/20corner.html
We [the three founders] didn’t know where it was going to go. But we spent a lot of time just forming our partnership agreement. What were our expectations of each other? How ... more

March 9, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian recommends this answer by Apryl Hanson

Team meetings: Are they the most efficient way to communicate to a team?

Having an agenda before a meeting is always a good idea, but what should be included, and what shouldn't? I always start meetings by stating the purpose of the meeting, and the decision we want to make (or discussions we want to have that may ... more

General Management

Conference Calls

Feb. 21, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 6 other people answered this question

What are some things that employers can do to foster employee engagement?

Thanks for the clarification Bob. Yes, there are other interpretations of that statement, but I don't want to go too far off topic here.
The entrepreneur I interviewed (in research & manufacturing) was commenting on how proud he was of his employees for their commitment and ... more

Employee Engagement

Employee Motivation

Feb. 21, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian recommends this answer by Nicole Lundholm

When taking a survey, how many questions will you typically answer before abandoning the survey?

I personally love when the survey tool has a bar at the top telling you what % done with the survey you are. When there is an end in sight, I'm much more likely to finish the survey.
Also, many surveys have sections that include ... more

Customer Service

General Management

Feb. 9, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 12 other people answered this question

How do you respond to "That's not how we do things around here"?

I agree with Andrea, it's all in the phrasing and how you go about it: being inquisitive and then gently making the suggestions. To take it even further, I wouldn't say "Well, this is how we did it at my last job" which is the ... more

General Management

Innovation Strategies

Feb. 9, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian answered this question

What is the most frustrating thing about being a project manager?

Communication is the most integral part of project management. So (in my experience) miscommunication or poor communication -- from teammates, subcontractors, and clients -- is the most frustrating thing, especially because the PM is the one who takes the heat from all parties. more

General Management

Information Technology

Jan. 19, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 30 other people answered this question

What is your favorite music to listen to while working on a big project?

Reggae (Pandora: Matisyahu).
Strange, I know. But it's relaxing while remaining a bit jovial and uplifting.

General Management

Jan. 12, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 9 other people answered this question

What's the one thing preventing "good" leaders from being "great" leaders?

Confidence without being stubborn or thick-headed. Believing in the mission, but knowing when to pull back and change course or admit mistakes. more

General Management

Jan. 12, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian recommends this answer by Joe McElhaney

How much is too much (info) when it comes to your email signature?

For formal messages (e.g., messages to people you don't know or messages to government officials or executives), I recommend a full signature block(i.e., full name -- first name, middle initial, and last name; title; company name; company address; office/work telephone number; facsimile number; mobile phone ... more

Customer Service

Jan. 5, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian and 4 other people answered this question

How do you turn an idea into a business?

Hi Dave, the advice above is key and a lot of it revolves around surrounding yourself with great people (mentors, coaches, advisers, other entrepreneurs/peers...) who you can turn to for advice on how to navigate through the journey of entrepreneurship. After creating your business plan ... more

General Management

Entrepreneurship

Idea Management

Jan. 5, 2011

Jonathan Hakakian recommends this answer by Scott Herring

What is your prediction for small business in 2011?

I hope Joel Johnston's prediction above is correct - I believe that startups and small businesses are the key to a jobs and economic recovery. The headlines are starting to say that business is improving and that cash may flow into the economy. Unfortunately, there's ... more

Dec. 22, 2010

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Dec. 22, 2010

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