Posts Tagged ‘management’

In 100 Words: What’s Trending?

Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

Trend spotting is imperative in the world of fashion and design – move quickly or miss out.  For most organizations trends are less faddish, but no less important.  Does your leadership team value the discipline of watching and weighing the impacts of significant trends?

  • Are you considering both macro and micro trends in demographics, the economy, technology, society, and the regulatory environment?
  • Do you think through the influence these trends might have in the lives and businesses of your customers (2nd level impacts)?
  • Are these trends accelerating or slowing?

Your team should regularly assess key trends to remain alert and relevant.

“Facts are stubborn things.”   Ronald Reagan

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In 100 Words: Don’t Forget the Customer

Friday, September 15th, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

Serving the customer is the first objective of the business organization.  This is why it is puzzling to see organizations implement systems, processes or policies which make life more convenient for “managing the business” yet make life worse for customers or the frontline employees serving the customers.

Here are three important condition questions to ask when considering a new system, process, or policy. 

Will this:

  • Add more value to our customers?
  • Make it easier for customers to do business with us?
  • Make it easier for our customer-facing employees to serve our customers?

A business organization doesn’t exist without the customer.

“The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer.”  Peter F. Drucker

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In 100 Words: Work Your Craft Daily

Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

Your craft is the technical work through which you produce value for others – external customers or internal team members.  It is also work you enjoy and gives you energy.  You may get tired, but this work doesn’t drain you.

What is your personal craft?  How much time do you work your craft each day?  How can you:

  • Fill your schedule with more of your craft?
  • Build support systems which facilitate smooth transitions into your craft and keep you in the zone?
  • Identify tools and processes which help you excel at your craft?
  • Develop your skills to improve in your craft?

“Real success is finding your lifework in the work you love.”  David McCullough

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In 100 Words: Honor the Craft

Friday, June 16th, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

Every organization has between one and three technical crafts which spin its economic engine.  Leaders should ensure their organizations honor the craft and their craft workers.  How?

  • Spotlight excellence in the craft at an individual and collective level.
  • Help improve the tools of the craft to increase worker safety and efficiency.
  • Invest in the craft more broadly through associations or standards setting organizations.
  • Be a spokesperson for the craft throughout and outside your organization.

Your organization benefits as craft workers sharpen their skills and bring new perspectives, tools, and processes into your organization.

This helps guard your organization’s economic engine.

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”  Ernest Hemingway

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In 100 Words: Micro-managing is Not…

Monday, May 1st, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

There seems to be confusion around what is micro-managing.  Everyone’s definition is unique to them.

I hear many people complain about being micro-managed when their manager is simply bringing accountability to expected behaviors, attitudes, actions, or outcomes of a given project or job.  People don’t always appreciate accountability.

On the flip side, I hear managers say they “don’t want to micro-manage” as a reason for why they don’t check in on the work of their reports.  Or, as a reason for not being more directive.

Employees need direction.  Managers should be directive.  Providing guidance and accountability is managing, not micro-managing.

“Management must manage!”  Harold Geneen

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In 100 Words: The Inexperience Tipping Point

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 by AdvisorCatalyst

Is your staff younger than ever?  Are more than 25% of your staff new in the last 30 months?  Are you seeing an increase in mistakes in service delivery or quality?

If so, you have hit the “inexperience tipping point.”  Your organization isn’t alone.  Many industries have seen greater than 50% of the workforce leave the industry.  Leaders are grappling with the results – a far younger, less experienced workforce.

Leaders can create a reverse tipping point and change the momentum.  How?  Slow down and train new staff.  Reinforce the basic why, what, and how of value delivery for your organization.

“Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not, With the slightest push — in just the right place — it can be tipped.”   Malcolm Gladwell

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In 100 Words: The Great Fatigue

Thursday, December 15th, 2022 by AdvisorCatalyst

The challenging last few years are taking their cumulative toll on senior leaders – they are fatigued.  It’s understandable.  The market dynamics have been spectacular.  High market demand coupled with increasing employee turn-over.  Inflation combined with supply chain issues.

I see leaders counteracting these pressures by:

  • Re-prioritizing resources to only their current, best customers and vendors.
  • Resetting delivery timelines.
  • Slowing growth down to train new staff.
  • Guarding personal time for themselves and key leaders – for rejuvenation and whitespace thinking.
  • Increasing intake of inspiring, positive information.
  • Most importantly,… showing others kindness, patience, and understanding.

It’s important leaders remain refreshed and hopeful.

“Return to kindness.  Let it become your most important accomplishment.”  Bob Goff

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In 100 Words: We Can Talk Ourselves into Doom and Gloom

Tuesday, November 1st, 2022 by AdvisorCatalyst

Unfortunately, the human psyche can tend toward the negative.  We struggle to keep equilibrium around the good and positive, our progress and blessings.  Depending on your information inputs, the tendency can be amplified or balanced. 

Here are three simple actions leaders can take with their teams to shift their information inputs:

  • Begin meetings with each person sharing a bright spot from both their professional and personal lives.
  • Write an encouraging note (or email or text message) to several people each week.
  • Take time to celebrate monthly, quarterly, and yearly successes as a team.

I’m sure you have some additional ideas.

“If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.”   Calvin Coolidge

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In 100 Words: Sharpen Your Resilience Thinking – The Why

Monday, August 1st, 2022 by AdvisorCatalyst

Leaders have had a two-year crash course on a resilience mindset vs a mindset of maximizing efficiencies.  The global system which allowed for decades of squeezing ever greater profits out of systems, networks and supply chains has unraveled.  The pandemic and Ukraine war are simply two recent accelerators of a decade plus trend away from global inter-connectedness and toward nationalism (e.g., China policies, U.K. Brexit, and U.S. populist movement).

While change was always a norm, greater change will be the new norm so continue building the resilience mindset.  Think flexible systems.  Build sufficient financial and talent resources to weather turbulence.

Resilience is “The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and still retain its basic function and structure.”  Brian Walker and David Salt in Resilience Thinking

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In 100 Words: The Accountability Weakness

Wednesday, June 15th, 2022 by AdvisorCatalyst

Pat Lencioni calls accountability “the universal challenge” of teams.  In The Advantage he notes global data from their Five Dysfunctions of a Team Assessment show 65% of assessments are “red” for accountability (vs. green or yellow).

Surprising?  Maybe.  Consider how much accountability stings.  Do I want my attitude, behavior, or work to be scrutinized more closely?  Not likely.  Yet calling out others invites others to call me out.

Are you willing to lead by example?  If so, accountability can become a strength.  While there will be times you require help or forgiveness, you will also experience delivering on more commitments.

“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised.”  Walt Disney

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