A colleague recently told me that she was going to get her Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship ...
... and she's never owned a business.
Is it me, or is that a little weird?
She's going to learn about the rigors of the marketplace by sitting in a classroom and writing a dissertation?
IMHO, she'd be better off starting her own business.
Everyone who has owned a business for more than five years qualifies for a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Living for the 70's....
When I consult with organization, sometimes the process requires me to interview various employees up and down the management chain.
I was recently consulting for a mid-size company, and as I walked around I consistently heard employees proudly say:
"We do things here the same way we did them 30 years ago!"
one variation even went:
"We do things the same way we've been doing them for years ... except that we have email now!"
(Honest. Someone actually said that.)
Um...............
See the problem?
Unless you're a maker of 70's fashion, doing things the same way you did them 30 years ago is a serious problem. Processes that are 3 decades old are not points of pride--they are red flags that something has been seriously missed.
BOTTOM LINE: Emotionally Intelligent leaders listen carefully for signs of stagnation in their organization. Stagnation means the same thing as "someone else will eat our lunch".
I was recently consulting for a mid-size company, and as I walked around I consistently heard employees proudly say:
"We do things here the same way we did them 30 years ago!"
one variation even went:
"We do things the same way we've been doing them for years ... except that we have email now!"
(Honest. Someone actually said that.)
Um...............
See the problem?
Unless you're a maker of 70's fashion, doing things the same way you did them 30 years ago is a serious problem. Processes that are 3 decades old are not points of pride--they are red flags that something has been seriously missed.
BOTTOM LINE: Emotionally Intelligent leaders listen carefully for signs of stagnation in their organization. Stagnation means the same thing as "someone else will eat our lunch".
Friday, March 09, 2007
Harry Potter as Leader
To learn more about the leadership qualities of Harry Potter (and to read my predictions about "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the final book in J.K. Rowling's best-selling series), visit my blog about Harry Potter here.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Whew! Finally back!
Hi all!
My apologies to my regular reader ... been experiencing some technical difficulties, but they seem to be resolved.
I'll be back to blogging regularly quite soon!
Regards,
Tim
My apologies to my regular reader ... been experiencing some technical difficulties, but they seem to be resolved.
I'll be back to blogging regularly quite soon!
Regards,
Tim
Monday, December 04, 2006
GREAT Idea, BAD Execution....
"What IS this?!?"
My client, Karen, flipped the envelope across the desk with disgust. The long white envelope slid to a stop in front of me, with the word "Karen" written across it in a beautiful feminine script.
"What's wrong?" I asked Karen.
"The president of our company just sent us all holiday cards."
"...and...," I asked, more than a little puzzled.
"The cards are embossed inside with the president's name and the name of our company."
"So what's bugging you?" I asked, still confused.
"THE PRESIDENT PROBABLY NEVER TOUCHED THESE CARDS!" Karen shouted. "I expect to get these kind of cards from my car dealer ... but the president of my own company?"
"Well," I offered, "at least she signed your name on the envelope."
"Our president," said Karen quite dryly, "is a man."
****************
Karen's frustration points out a common dilemma among employees these days. So many employees--from division managers down to line-staff--are starving for personal recognition. By sending these coldly embossed (albeit beautifully) cards to his employees, the president of the company was blowing his chance to build emotional engagement in his company ... and the bottom line will suffer.
Great leaders recognize the importance of personal recognition. While few company presidents have time to sign Christmas cards by hand, leaders in organizations need to be careful...because--as in Karen's case--sometimes a Christmas card can destroy emotional engagement rather than build it up.
(above names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality).
BOTTOM LINE: SUPERIOR LEADERS PAY ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT BAD EXECUTION DOES NOT DAMAGE A GREAT IDEA.
Holiday
Christmas
Leadership
Emotional Engagement
My client, Karen, flipped the envelope across the desk with disgust. The long white envelope slid to a stop in front of me, with the word "Karen" written across it in a beautiful feminine script.
"What's wrong?" I asked Karen.
"The president of our company just sent us all holiday cards."
"...and...," I asked, more than a little puzzled.
"The cards are embossed inside with the president's name and the name of our company."
"So what's bugging you?" I asked, still confused.
"THE PRESIDENT PROBABLY NEVER TOUCHED THESE CARDS!" Karen shouted. "I expect to get these kind of cards from my car dealer ... but the president of my own company?"
"Well," I offered, "at least she signed your name on the envelope."
"Our president," said Karen quite dryly, "is a man."
****************
Karen's frustration points out a common dilemma among employees these days. So many employees--from division managers down to line-staff--are starving for personal recognition. By sending these coldly embossed (albeit beautifully) cards to his employees, the president of the company was blowing his chance to build emotional engagement in his company ... and the bottom line will suffer.
Great leaders recognize the importance of personal recognition. While few company presidents have time to sign Christmas cards by hand, leaders in organizations need to be careful...because--as in Karen's case--sometimes a Christmas card can destroy emotional engagement rather than build it up.
(above names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality).
BOTTOM LINE: SUPERIOR LEADERS PAY ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT BAD EXECUTION DOES NOT DAMAGE A GREAT IDEA.
Holiday
Christmas
Leadership
Emotional Engagement
A Little Nonsense Now and Then.....
...is relished by the wisest of people.
'Tis the holidays, and nothing says "Christmas" more than the Transiberian Orchestra and someone with too much time on their hands....
Watch the video.
This scene always brings a smile to my face.
BOTTOM LINE: Smart leaders make time for silliness and humor.
tags:
Leadership
humor
Transiberian Orchestra
Christmas lights
'Tis the holidays, and nothing says "Christmas" more than the Transiberian Orchestra and someone with too much time on their hands....
Watch the video.
This scene always brings a smile to my face.
BOTTOM LINE: Smart leaders make time for silliness and humor.
tags:
Leadership
humor
Transiberian Orchestra
Christmas lights
A Little Nonsense Now and Then.....
...is relished by the wisest of people.
'Tis the holidays, and nothing says "Christmas" more than the Transiberian Orchestra and someone with too much time on their hands....
Watch the video.
This scene always brings a smile to my face.
BOTTOM LINE: Smart leaders make time for silliness and humor.
tags:
Leadership
humor
Transiberian Orchestra
Christmas lights
'Tis the holidays, and nothing says "Christmas" more than the Transiberian Orchestra and someone with too much time on their hands....
Watch the video.
This scene always brings a smile to my face.
BOTTOM LINE: Smart leaders make time for silliness and humor.
tags:
Leadership
humor
Transiberian Orchestra
Christmas lights
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