Filling the Toolbox
For most of us, when we get right down to it, our focus is on solving our customers’ problems (whether they are part of the same company we work for or not is irrelevant). If we are wise, we are constantly searching for better ways to get the job done, either more efficiently to save resources, or more effectively to provide higher value. We’re always on the lookout to improve our repertoire of tools. Read more
Twenty Questions
So you have an idea for a new product, what could be a breakthrough product for your organization. You might have built pieces of this product to confirm that it is feasible, you may even have managed to get someone to invest in your idea. This is a big step, this is something that will take you to the next level with your business. How do you make it happen? Read more
Recognizing the Structure of Power
In his book The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene explores a wide range of examples of the application of power and influence with others. The book has a decidedly dark feel about it, a Machiavellian leaning that can make for a bad taste in your mouth. Entertaining reading, but not something I would consider a guide to live by. This stands in stark contrast with one of the sessions of the recent AYE Conference, where we explored the nuances of power in a setting that is much more aligned with the idea of common good rather than a zero-sum proposition. Read more
The Complexity of Change
I participated in the AYE (Amplify Your Effectiveness) Conference in Phoenix this week, which is clearly not your run of the mill conference. No PowerPoint allowed, no stodgy rows of chairs facing a lone speaker in the front, very little nodding off, and only the people with iPhones were distracted from the sessions. Indeed, the line between audience and speaker is intentionally blurred and engagement is increased significantly. A highly recommended conference. The topic of change comes up frequently, and these discussions are often centered around the Satir Model for Change. We all deal with change in our lives, generally doing so by avoiding it at all costs. Change is not trivial topic to deal with, which is likely one of the reasons it is so intimidating to all of us. Read more
