Probably one of the most misleading things in organizational life is the concept of best practices. The idea that we can copy or duplicate the practices of a particular business or organization and we will get the same results. Copy the success of Company A, and Company B will experience the same success. This has … More The myth of best practices
Over 40 years of working at both large organizations and small ones; profit and non-profit; I have been fascinated with the degree of contentment people have with their employer. (by employer I mean the overall organization not your specific supervisor) I have seen and experienced the full spectrum: from absolute disgust to total endearment. I … More Loving where you work
I rented a car awhile back that was fully equipped with the current trend in warning signals. It would warn you when you were backing out of a parking space and got too close to the curb, or another car. It would also warn you as you were driving and a car in the other … More Blind Spot Warning Signal
To compromise is to be flexible. In the business world it could mean to collaborate with others for the purpose of gaining insights. It could involve a sense of ‘give and take,’ in which not all of your ideas are used but you take some of yours and some of the ideas of others to … More Compromise or Compromising?
Congruence…. OK, a big, not commonly used word. The definitions are: (adjective) agreeing; accordant; congruous. In Geometry: coinciding at all points when superimposed: congruent triangles. (dictonary.com) Something is congruent when it “fits” with something that would be “normal” or standard for us. It “fits” when it lines up with or is consistent with something we … More Does it “fit?”
What would it be like if our leaders were motivated by love? What would it be like if their main focus and concern was the well-being of the people within their organization and the constituency of that organization? Frothy? Pie in the sky? Unrealistic? If as a leader you are motivated by and lead with … More Loving People Creates Business Breakthroughs
Last week I talked about being unique and different in a world of sameness and to find ways to stand out. This week I want to talk about being your own version of a micro-brewery. In a world of mass manufacturing of everything from Baby-Food to Beer, micro-breweries have emerged as a highly desired differentiator … More Be Like a Craft Beer
We live in a world of sameness. Yet each organization, each seller of goods and services, seeks to be different and distinct. The ‘Big Box Stores’ all have a similarity. Most restaurants do a good job yet struggle with the same issues, thus, it feels somewhat the same wherever you dine. When it comes to … More Sameness
We are so absorbed and addicted to numbers we can’t get away from it. It seems all our goals and targets are numbers related. Every year we review the past and aim at the next year goals. We want to increase sales, traffic counts, guest loyalty, and decreases expenses, inventory, and other related costs. We … More Success first, numbers second
When it comes to culture, feeling is everything. When we walk into the arena of culture, we get distinct feelings, some more acute than others. But be clear about this, every organization emits a cultural feeling. The feelings we have shape our perspective, right or wrong. And that perspective shapes our experience with that organization; … More Culture Mood
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