Five Techniques for Creating Time to Think
When I speak to groups and work with individuals, one of the most impactful topics is the notion of creating time to think.
Choices
Sometimes there isn’t a better choice, just a different one.
Legacy vs Lameduck
In a recent client conversation, we talked about an end-client relationship that was ending. The mindset here is often Lameduck — how do I move beyond this specific end-client. Fair enough, but what if you also view it as an opportunity for Legacy? For creating something meaningful for the end-client to leave for the organization? […]
A meeting in DC
And people ask me why I travel …
Is my team up to the task?
I’m asked this question frequently. My initial response: Do they know what the task is and why? Do they know how their self interests align with goals? Start here, then move on to competencies and skills.
Fresh Eyes
When was the last time someone looked at your product with fresh eyes? Without your internal biases, your knowledge of its history, your concern about sunk costs? When was the last time someone looked at your organization with fresh eyes? Without your biases and your blindspots? Don’t discard what you know, enhance it with a new […]
The Sweet Spot for Growth
All jobs are application of expertise.Growth and potential are realized when you align your expertise with your passion and with a market need. Have you articulated this for your organization and for yourself?
Brilliant Strategy ?
It doesn’t matter how brilliant your strategy is if the rest of your organization can’t connect their actions directly back to achieving it. To close your growth gap, ensure that your goals and objectives are understood, shared and then acted upon by everyone in the organization. It is February, what is the evidence that your […]
The Third Week
According to an article in the WSJ this morning, the third week of January is when we lose the behaviors that support new year’s resolutions. If you are losing your resolve, take time to review the underlying reason for the resolution, not just the resolution itself. Then take something off of your calendar that doesn’t […]
Top 5 Myths about Leadership: Quoted in US News and World Report
Excerpted (italics mine) from a US News and World Report article by Robin Madell: “The concept of great leadership is one of the most often discussed – and least understood – workplace topics. We may recognize certain people as exceptional leaders when we see them in action, yet have a difficult time pinpointing what it is that they do differently or better. […]
Mindset Matters
I was standing at the airport gate, waiting to board. A woman walked by with an innovative child carrier attached to her roll-aboard luggage. The person to my left said “wish I’d though of that,” from the other side I hear “I wish I’d patented that.” Guess which one sat in first class?
Coach, Don’t Just Manage
Part of your job is developing your staff but this doesn’t have to be always done in performance review style. Get an informal rhythm set up with your staff where you check-in with them – how are they feeling about their work, how can you support them? It’s one of those quick & easy actions […]
That time of year
Yes, it is planning season. The fourth quarter is a flurry of activity in preparation for the new year. Here are three tips to make your planning more effective: Spend time for a true debrief of 2014 Ensure that your functional groups share their goals with each other Proactively schedule time now for 2015 to […]
Tough Choices
Sometimes clients get hung up on how to rank their most important initiatives (all of which need to be done). If you’ve looked at the variables, your priorities, your customer needs, etc and everything is still really close, just pick one and get started. Not taking action will be far more detrimental than putting priority […]
Bullseye
Have you provided context for your employees – do you have it for yourself? The ten thousand decisions we make every day are improved by understanding the context (pick a word — the big picture, the intention, the sweet spot) for our work. Without it we are blindly throwing darts at a wall. How much […]
For Customer Satisfaction — Apply This!
Ritz-Carlton employee to very satisfied guest: “This is not a hotel, it is a customer experience.” This viewpoint is core to customer satisfaction in any industry. What is the customer experience that you are trying to create? Does everyone in the organization understand it and the part they play?
Transitions
We like to think of a change as a moment in time — a product launch, a move. Most changes, though, occur as transitions over time, occasionally with a visible date marker ( see above). It can be difficult to see the beginning of the transition, often we are only aware toward the end of […]
Straight “A”s
Agility, Ambiguity, Alignment. Three great “A”s to accelerate growth: the ability to quickly respond with agility to the new or to the unforeseen, the ability to deal comfortably with the ambiguity that is 21st century life, and the ability to align actions with priorities and strategy.
Speak THEIR Language
Another tip from your salesforce – speak the language of your audience! Senior leaders must learn to communicate in ways that enable others to understand. If someone needs detail, figure out how to give it to them even if that’s not your preference. For broader communication make sure all of the bases are covered: big […]
Sustainable Growth Expert Karen Walker Shows CEOs,CXOs …
Sustainable Growth Expert Karen Walker Shows Atlanta CEOs, CXOs How to Tap Unrealized Organizational Potential ATLANTA, Oct. 14, 2014 – Most companies aren’t getting the maximum value from the execution of their business strategies, according to Karen D. Walker, president of Oneteam Consulting, the global expert at exploiting unrealized organizational growth potential. As an early […]
It’s not just you —
To keep on top of your priorities, good intentions aren’t enough. They are necessary but need the support of skills, prioritization and accountability. Find a way to acquire these through development and systems. Friends, colleagues, coaches can help. You don’t have to go this alone!
Compounding Mistakes
When you make a mistake, learn from it and move on as quickly as possible. Giving it more mindshare isn’t useful — it’s detrimental. Focus forward!
Short but Sweet
This applies to me, of course, but also to the kinds of impactful messages that you can deliver to your staff. It’s great (and necessary) to have formal reviews; but a short, in-the-moment message to someone praising their performance has a big impact. Send one now. You’ll feel better for it, too.
Atlanta CEO Council – September 22
Click here for details This month’s #OBIseries speaker is Karen Walker. After joining Compaq Computer during its start-up phase, Karen created a billion dollars in global infrastructure in her role as Vice President. Her work now is focused on enabling organizations to exploit their previously unrealized growth. Her talk, Closing the Growth Gap, shows leaders the essential […]
Extra-ordinary Service
Visiting a large client site this morning, I tried in vain to find a cup of coffee (one of those days!). Both of the dining facilities were closed. As I began to walk away from the main cafeteria, the executive chef approached me and asked if she could help. I stated my quest, she unlocked the door, found a take-away […]