Author Archives
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DESIGN THINKING
IDEO is one of the world’s most celebrated design consultancies. Based in Palo Alto California, with offices around the globe, IDEO is annually rated as one of the world’s most creative and innovative companies. IDEO’s General Manger Tom Kelley —… Read More ›
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A BIAS FOR ACTION
Although published a decade ago, “The Knowing-Doing Gap” written by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton remains one of my favorite management books. The book’s focus is why so many company’s who know what they should do to achieve success, simply… Read More ›
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MAKING YOUR POINT II: OPINION OR FACT?
In my initial posting about making your point, I referenced Chip and Dan Heath’s book “Made to Stick” and the characteristics the Heath’s believe make an idea memorable. Among the qualities the Heath’s and I believe are critical, is the… Read More ›
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MAKING YOUR POINT
One of the most difficult challenges we humans face on a daily basis is the task of communicating precisely what is on our minds to someone else. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that we must first translate… Read More ›
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MOTIVATING BY EXAMPLE
Recently, my wife and I had dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. We sat at the bar where my wife enjoys watching the cooking action in the open kitchen area. The Executive Chef and his wife own the… Read More ›
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THE GIFT
Suppose somebody tells you that you tend to ramble and repeat yourself in your meetings causing some attendees to tune you out. Or imagine that a colleague suggests that sometimes the emotion you express while making a point seems off-putting… Read More ›
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MANAGING A GO-TO PERSON
Recently a young manager was relating to me the “saving grace” quality of having his “Go-To” guy to rely on in a pinch. It brought a smile to my face and some found memories of my own. If you have… Read More ›
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A GOOD IDEA IS A GOOD IDEA
I was once asked how I would describe my management style? My reply, “an amalgamation of all those things that I have observed other managers do that work grafted onto the essential me.” It was the best I could do… Read More ›
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HIT THE GROUND LEARNING
In a recent posting regarding mentoring your boss, I referred to the phrase “hit the ground running” and why it has always struck me as a humorous and not always wise concept. While I understand the admirable motivation of a… Read More ›
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WHAT’S IN A NAME AND JOB?
What’s in a name and a job? To most subordinates at work, if it is their name and their job we are discussing, a great deal. During a recent business trip, I was asked what I did on such trips… Read More ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 