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Archive for November, 2005

7 Powerless Words to Eliminate

Sunday, November 20th, 2005

7 words

if – wish – want – can’t – try – think – but

Our language is powerful in more ways than some may have routinely considered. Many years ago, long before we had “languages” that were verbally complex, people still communicated. As populations grew and groups separated to become tribes of their own, new languages and tongues developed

Now, in our current era, we have many distinctly different languages. The good news is we are able to at least master our own (native) tongue. As with any language, many strains and influences have entered in. Some combinations are specific such as one and one, and some (combinations) are potentially more open to conjecture or a variety of understandings.

Many people do admit that certain ‘words’ are not always required for optimum communication. Still others sometimes use “softer” words. Words with a weaker application when used in casual context. The following is a brief on a basic tool set of seven (7) words and how they may be effectively replaced in support of absolute or more affirmative communications.

The key is to listen to what we are saying first. When we hear one of the selected words we have elected to be aware of in our own talk or communication, we can immediately re-state the message or thought with a more affirmative combination. Immediate correction before continuing works the best to eliminate any questionable habit that may prove worth changing.

We all know that it is not necessary to say; “I can’t.” There are probably millions of talks or writings on this particular word combination. At minimum, it is a first person and need not be said. The alternative is simply to focus on and state what we, or others, can do. Granted, it may be a truth to say; (for some) “I can’t write you a check for one million dollars (that will clear).” Or, we may be able to say; “Hey, I can’t go through that brick wall,” or etc. No problem. These are certainly potential or assumed truths (for now).

The gift is; as we re-phrase with what we can do, or what we truly mean without a doubt, we begin to reduce the possible rote usage of the conservative or limiting word combinations. Plus, we are more inclined to focus on what we, as well as what others, can do.

As we eliminate the selected words as illustrated in the reminder poster, we not only begin to verbally communicate more affirmatively, we also commence a more productive internal communication process. Another gift of committing to the most affirmative or thought specific language combinations possible is; we reduce the risk, through rote or otherwise, of using one of the 7 words noted in a questionable fashion when communicating. There may also be some who might respect our authority or our position and potentially believe more, or in error, the simple or even the complex message that we are innocently or sincerely intending.

No more kinda, sorta, woulda, shoulda – anything with an “a” at the end, re-phrase with confindence. Get this and you can take control of any conversation.

How FUN is that?

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Questions?

Sunday, November 20th, 2005

What is the smartest thing to ask?

A question.

When did we ask our first question?

At birth?

How do we know anything?

By asking questions.

When did we stop asking questions?

Why did we stop asking so many questions?

Where did we learn to ask questions?

Who stopped us from asking so many questions?

What? When? Where? Who? Why? How? Ask often. It’s fun to learn.

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The Modern Landscape of Strategy

Friday, November 18th, 2005

Cut through all the crap. Here is some of the leading books on strategy summed up quickly

Less is More – Jason Jennings

In summary
Focus everyone on getting the job done, streamline everything, map every process and eliminate waste, build cultures not bureaucracies, and keep everyone moving in the right direction.

1. A simple BIG Objective: Sell it, Live it, Deal with Cynics, Fire, Abandon, and make sure your in it for the Long Haul
2. Openness: Open Book Management, Open Communication, Supplier Communication, and Criticize (Processes not People)
3. Bureaucracy: Adapt, Innovate, Make sure Employees are the Right Fit, Kill Silos, Decentralize, Flatten, Foster Passion, rely on Performance
4. Remove Obstacles, No Layoffs, Accountability, and Fire Weak Managers and Leaders – Have you ever fired anyone too soon?
5. What is the good business reason for doing this? Question every decision
6. Systemize everything: Process Map it – Everyone does it the same, best practices, zero variations, and continuous improvement (always changing)
7. Compensation: team based (weed out the weak), reinforce culture, create layers with stock options, bonus, all based on performance, create common goals, easy to understand, reward smart work
8. Digitize: flow first, seek out objectives, cost, soft cost, ROI, performance
9. Motivation: Create an external US against the WORLD – Safe and Secure (give meaning, stakeholder, diversity, allow mistakes, and foster teamwork), find an external enemy (FedEx had to invent UPS to be successful), and get out of the way
10. Lean Culture: Attention to detail, high moral fiber, simplicity, competitiveness, long term focus, disdain for waste, coach leadership, humility, reject bureaucracy, belief in others, and trust

In search of excellence – tom peters

1. A Bias for Action
2. Close to the Customer
3. Autonomy and Entrepreneurship
4. Productivity through People
5. Hands-On, Value-Driven
6. Stick to the Knitting
7. Simple Form, Lean Staff
8. Simultaneous loose-tight properties

What really works (4+2)

1. Strategy- Clear and Focused
2. Execution
3. Performance based cultures
4. Structure – flat and fast
5. Committed Leaders
6. Develop and maintain talent
7. Create innovative industries
8. Mergers and Partnerships

Built to Last – Jim Collins

1. Be a Clock Builder, not a Timekeeper
2. Your Company must have a set of ‘Core Values’
3. Preserve Your ‘Core Ideology’
4. BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)
5. Have a ‘Cult-Like” Culture
6. Don’t be Afraid to Evolve
7. Look Inside for your Top Management
8. Constantly Innovate
9. Make the Core Ideology/Values a Reality
10. No Strong Dynamic Leader Necessary.
11. No ‘Great Idea’ Needed to Start a Company

Good to Great – Jim Collins

1. Level 5 Leadership – Will & humility
2. Talent on the bus
3. Ever fire anyone too early?
4. Truth is heard
5. Hedgehog – one simple unifying concept
6. Passionate people
7. A culture of discipline
8. Technology accelerator
9. Creativity
10. Excellence

One thing you need to know – Buckingham

1. Find the one thing that is universal
2. Find the unique aspect of each individual
3. Do only what the things you like and forget the rest

Kotter – Culture & Performance

1. Establish culture emphasizing attention to all stakeholders (customers, stockholders, & employees)
2. Demanding leadership at all levels

Porter

1. Competitive Advantage
2. Porter Model

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Simplicity and Branding

Friday, November 18th, 2005

Think about it…

Apple = design
Starbucks = experience
Dyson = innovation
Virgin = fun
Dwell Magazine = modern
Jobing.com = local
Herman Miller = art
Heavenly Bed = comfort
W Hotels = cool
Mercedes = class
BMW = performance

So, what does your company equal?

McDonalds = fat
K-Mart = cheap
Enron = unethical

Hmmm, where are these companies?

Know your personal brand, your companies brand and the perception in the market place. It might save you a lot of headaches, your marriage, and even might help you figure yourself out.

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