The Alternative Board Blog

How to Run a 1:1 Meeting With Your Manager As A Business Owner

Griffin Nelson — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:49:36 GMT

Most employees treat a one-on-one meeting with their manager like a weather report: quick status, a few updates, back to work. Or they brace for a performance check-in. Either way, they leave with fuzzy next steps that dissolve by Tuesday. The fix is straightforward, and it starts with a single shift in who owns the meeting.

What a Good Manager's Weekly Routine Actually Looks Like

Griffin Nelson — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:24:37 GMT

Most managers don't lose the week on big decisions. They lose it in small, untracked promises, half-finished follow-ups, and meetings that exist because nobody stops them. A good manager's weekly routine isn't a packed calendar. It's a simple set of repeatable time blocks that turn last week's reality into this week's plan, without guilt or guesswork.

How to Give Your Managers Feedback That Actually Changes Behavior

Dave Scarola — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:24:16 GMT

Giving feedback to a manager can feel like stepping on a rake. You promoted them, you need them, and they lead other people. So you wait, hint, or soften the message. Then the same issues keep showing up.

How to Delegate to Managers Without Losing Control of Your Business

Dave Scarola — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:42:50 GMT

If you run a 5–50 person business, you already know the trap: you hired managers, yet you still answer the "quick questions," approve the small stuff, and jump into customer issues. It feels like control. It also keeps the business dependent on you.

The Transition From Employee to Manager: How Business Owners Can Help

Dave Scarola — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:09:02 GMT

Most new managers earn the promotion because they excel at their individual job, then struggle because leading people requires a completely different playbook. In a small business, you are often the only person positioned to close that gap quickly.

How to Onboard a New Manager So They Hit the Ground Running

Dave Scarola — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:02:11 GMT

You did the hard work. You screened for the right traits, ran the behavioral interviews, and made an offer to someone you believe can genuinely lead your team. Now comes the part most small business owners underestimate: actually setting that person up to succeed.

What to Look for When Hiring a Manager

Griffin Nelson — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:04:42 GMT

Hiring your first manager is one of the highest-leverage decisions you will make as a small business owner. Get it right, and you get your time back. Get it wrong, and you spend the next year managing the person who was supposed to manage for you. This guide focuses on real, observable behaviors you can test before making an offer, so you do not mistake a strong individual contributor for a true people leader.

Hire an Outside Manager or Promote Internally? A Guide for Business Owners

Dave Scarola — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:06:45 GMT

Deciding whether to hire an outside manager or promote internally sounds straightforward on paper. In practice, the trade-offs show up fast. An outside manager can bring fresh structure, tighter accountability, and a higher performance bar, but they also need ramp-up time and regular access to you to succeed. Experts guidance is direct on this point: without consistent interaction with the owner, a new manager can be quietly set up to fail.

Signs You Have a Toxic Company Culture

Dave Scarola — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:03:24 GMT

Toxic culture rarely shows up with a warning sign. It slips in quietly: one blow-up that gets dismissed, one star employee who leaves, one meeting where everyone stays polite and says nothing. By the time the numbers dip, the habits already feel normal.

Why You Should Care More About Your Company’s Culture

Phil Spensieri — Thu, 28 May 2026 19:15:00 GMT

If you want the straight business case for why company culture matters, look at what it changes day to day: how fast work moves, how often people quit, how customers feel, and how much time you spend cleaning up avoidable issues. Culture shows up in the choices your team makes when you are not in the room, which is why it directly impacts results. TAB puts it simply: you shape culture every day, even when you do not talk about it out loud.