The Bull's-Eye View

Welcome to the August issue of the Bull's Eye View.

The results of ExecuNet's July 2006 research reveal that despite a slowdown in GDP growth in the second quarter, executive recruiters do not expect employers to put the brakes on executive-level hiring in the second half of the year. Some 80 percent of recruiters say they are confident or very confident that the executive employment market will improve in the next three months, up from 72% one month ago. So plan to get some R&R whenever and wherever your time away from the office takes you this summer. It looks like it's going to be an especially busy Fall!

Leading During Times Of Change 'Transforming The Organization' Series

Of the many issues with which we wrestle each day, one certain truth is: the future will not look like the present. Competition, human creativity, and high technology will redefine the future. Yet many leaders continue to lead, manage, and operate as they have in the past.

There is a story by Price Pritchett in which he recounts his experience of viewing firsthand a life and death struggle that occurred just a few feet away from where he was sitting. He was watching a fly burn out the last of its short life's energies in a futile attempt to fly through the glass of a windowpane. The frenzied effort of the fly gave no hope for survival. Ironically, had the fly just flown in another direction, it could have easily escaped through an open door.

All too often, we are like the fly. Instead of trying harder, doing the same things, we need to do different things.

We must break the shackles of conformity, challenge the routine, and break out of existing paradigms.

At the core of succeeding in today's competitive environment is the ability to constantly improve, and reinvent the way we do business. The key to working smarter is knowing the difference between motion and direction, between activity and focused action.

To lead, we must be adept at balancing what must stay constant with what must change. Nurture a culture in which people are encouraged to seek new and better methods, while feeling secure in the familiar and in the future success of their organization. Align all resources and strategies toward the realization of the vision and goals.

- Adapted with permission from Executive Leadership. Copyright © 2006 Resource Associates Corporation. All rights reserved.

"Life in The Fast Lane"

• Competes on ideas. Netscape, for example, releases products on the Web before completion, thereby being first to market and engaging earl y users as co-creators.
• Competes on teamwork. The whole company must be built around it.
• Competes on knowledge and learning. Learning should be an everyday occurrence - part of how business is done.
• Competes on values-based leadership. Retired head of Perot Systems in Dallas, Mort Meyerson, defines leadership as "making sure the company knows and embodies what it stands for; recruiting, hiring, and developing the best talent; creating an environment where employees can do their best work; and being accessible to the whole organization for both business and personal issues."
• Implements like crazy. An organization has to be relentless in coming up with new ideas and putting them into practice quickly.
• Has a clearly defined vision and mission. The entire organization must know and embrace where the company is going and how it is going to get there. These actions must create excitement and enthusiasm among all co-workers and founders.

The US Post Office

The next time you need a zip code before sending off a letter visit the site www.usps.gov. Punch in the street address, city, and state and almost instantly you'll have the zip + 4 code necessary. This sure beats waiting in lines at the post office.

Cell Phone - Do Not Call List

Just a reminder that cell phone numbers not registered on the 'Do Not Call' list are susceptible to telemarketing companies and you may already be receiving sales calls. In most instances, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS... To prevent this, call 1-888- 382-1222 or visit www.donotcall.gov and register your cell phone number on the National 'DO NOT CALL' list.

It will only take a minute of your time and it blocks (registers) your number for five (5) years.

Not sure if you're already registered - visit the web site and find out.

A Quick Problem-Solving Strategy

1. Define the problem. Do some research and include all the details. If a series of tasks was mishandled, include notes on each job and try to pinpoint where each error occurred.
2. Brainstorm possible causes. List the factors that contribute to the problem, including those that seem out of your control - such as a customer who changed his mind or any last-minute mechanical problems - and those you know you can influence, including things such as poor performance and faulty methods.
3. Analyze the data. Try to identify any trends or patterns that could point out underlying problems. Describe how the problem is affecting other departments, your customers or team members' job satisfaction. This information will help you decide if the problem is worth trying to solve. If the consequences are insignificant, it may not be worth your team's effort.
4. Generate possible solutions. Challenge team members to come up with as many solutions as possible. To encourage creative thinking, don't let members judge either the ideas or the team members who present them.
5. Agree on solutions. After you've generated a list of ideas, use consensus to select the most likely solution.
6. Develop an action plan. Discuss and agree upon clearly defined action steps. Assign volunteers to those steps, and then agree on a time frame for each.

Target's hot jobs of the month!

Target Consulting Group is also looking for top sales talent!

*Please send your resume to: sales@targetconsulting.com or call us on our main line (888) 511-JOBS if you are interested and feel you that you meet the qualifications of one of these positions. You may also forward these descriptions to someone you may know that may meet these qualifications.

Congratulations to Members of Our Staff

We would like to Congratulate Ariana Zadek for filling the Director of Sales position for a fortune 500 advertising company with a Base salary of $118k

Increase Business with Referrals Increase business by asking for a referral from an existing customer. Referrals are one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to market. Referrals have more impact than any other marketing strategy or advertising because prospective customers rely on the confidence and trust that your existing customers have for you. A satisfied customer is usually glad to help you and can provide a strong testimonial for your company. This can open doors quickly for new customers. Candidate Referral Program Help a Friend and Earn $100 Target Consulting will pay you $100 for each friend that you refer who gets a job through our services. Client Referral Program Refer Target Consulting Group a client and we will donate $500 to a charity of your choice. Are you an HR or sales consultant looking to add value to your client with our service? Call us about our agent program at 888-511-JOBS for details. Call us at 888-511-JOBS for details. http://www.targetconsulting.com