I was in a Board meeting recently where three different phones rang loudly over the course of about ten minutes. In all cases, the person speaking politely continued, not wanting to embarrass the owner of each totally distracting loud phone. This is unfortunate because I missed several sentences and I’m sure I was not the only one. I know one of the people was expecting an important call. That happens and I trust people to use good judgment about that. His phone was out on the table where he could not miss the vibration and the sudden bright image. Why did he also need
We’ve Got to Stop Meeting Like This! – 10 Surprising Reasons for Wasteful Meetings You are invited to a special complimentary teleseminar! August 6, 2013 at 12:00 noon EDT Learn about the 10 obstacles that prevent meetings from being short and powerful. Sign up today and I think you’ll be surprised; these are not the same old tips you’ve heard before. This is the first step toward saving half the hours you spend in meetings, eliminating unnecessary meetings, and accomplishing more in every meeting you attend. Feel free to pass this on to friends and colleagues whom you believe might be interested. Registrants will also receive an MP3 download of the presentation so you can listen to it at your convenience.
I’ve heard too many excuses from high level leaders this week! “The culture is the problem.” “I did my part. He didn’t do his.” “People just don’t like change.” I’m sorry, but if you are earning the big bucks, it is your job to be sure
Strategic planning is an oxymoron. Throwing these two words around together constantly has done a lot of damage. When I help clients with “strategic planning,” I have to undo a lot of that harm. The distinction between strategy and planning is critical, especially if your goal is to create a compelling and successful future. When you develop a strategy, you need to be looking at:
His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge acquired his name just two days after his birth. Two days is incredibly fast by royal standards. His grandfather had to wait a month and his father, a week. Thus, all are pleasantly surprised to get results so quickly! I do not know what tradition, objectives, or complexities are behind these royal delays. I do know everyone I’ve ever met has figured this out in advance and named the baby as soon as the gender is certain. But here is my question for you: What royal standards are preventing you from getting results quickly? What traditions have left you accustomed to slowness? What complexities have you learned to accept? Well, enough of that! Call your royal standards by their real name: S-L-O-W. Raise the bar and determine how to improve results.
The email was a mistake no matter how you look at it. Sender: Dayne-gerous – A clever way to avoid my spam filter? Subject: Just left you a message … – No one had. It looked like spam. Yet the company and address below the name looked legitimate. Furthermore, it arrived while I was on the phone with another person at the same company. So I forwarded the email to my contact. Dayne got back to me with this:
“Why Men Need Women” (New York Times, 7/21/13) provides data and observations of significance to every business. While you can’t affect the number and gender of your employees’ siblings, there are other insights here that could help you increase collaboration, generosity, and fair treatment of employees. Here are two top lessons: Women in top management positions can increase collaboration, motivation, and innovation. Assembling diverse groups of people, who must rely on each other for success, builds understanding, acceptance, and cooperation. Any business can utilize both of these for immediate gains.
I used to play the cello. I guess. Sort of. I say sheepishly. When I listen to something like this, all I can say is I have a cello, and I wish I could play like this: So why can’t I? I love the cello. I love the way it sounds. I’ve played it enough to believe I could play well, even if not by this standard. So why can’t I?