The New Sloppy Joes

The New Sloppy Joes By Andre Taylor

It?s everywhere. Business people talking loudly on mobile telephones, entrepreneurs giving slide presentations to colleagues while at Starbucks, marketing plans being written on airlines; welcome to the new competitive jackpot.

Gone are the days where business strategies were only discussed safely within the four walls of oak paneled offices. Today?s mobile workforce, younger, less bound by traditional business parameters, and more inexperienced than ever before has extraordinary freedom; and your prized trade secrets, business plans, and marketplace insights could well be more vulnerable than ever. An alert competitor with a good ear and eye might easily be able to obtain information you may never have intended for public consumption.

Like many, I enjoy today?s mobile workstyle. I often visit Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and even sidewalk cafes to prepare for my upcoming keynotes and develop content for my newsletter and other services. Just recently, while sipping a latte I overheard plans for a new product launch of an impressive online real estate service, and in the parking lot I heard a salesperson shouting into a speakerphone about the composition of his firm?s vitamin line versus a major competitor?s. I have even had to advise someone distracted by a negotiation via cellphone that they were leaving sensitive documents behind at one of my favorite lunch spots.

Being able to work outside of the office and just about anywhere, anytime has exposed a band of ?Sloppy Joes? ? folks prone to carelessness who really should be confined to an office. But that may be unrealistic, and frankly, unproductive today. So what steps should business owners and professionals take to be sure that staff, and vendors are not broadcasting proprietary information to the world?

 Small companies, just like big companies, should have a confidentiality policy that governs how staff are to handle and store sensitive information including notes taken during meetings.

 Company policy should dictate that documents worked on publicly, mustn?t contain sensitive information.

 You should install laptop screen attachments that restrict what others can view on your screen even from close angles.

 Business conversations conducted on mobile phones should only occur in private places such as automobiles.

Perhaps the most important recommendation I have is not to give sensitive information to staff, colleagues, and vendors unlikely to safeguard your business privacy. In the end, what they don?t know cannot be shared.

Our sense of mobility and freedom today is a wonderful addition to the business landscape. But this doesn?t mean that we should be ?free? with our private strategies and plans. Taking these and other steps to safeguard your company?s confidential information will ensure that today?s Sloppy Joes don?t make a mess out of your business.

Andr? Taylor is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and advisor to growing companies and one of today?s dynamic voices on business and personal success. He?s the author of many audio and videos, courses, and coaching programs reflecting more than 25 years in enterprise management and the discipline of personal and organizational development. He provides an uncommon understanding of the lessons of business and personal resilience, and extraordinary insight and commentary on the subjects of entrepreneurship, leadership, sales, marketing, innovation, and growth.

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