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Any time I see a “proposal” or “recommendation”, I cringe a little.
The problem is that this almost always entails adding work into whatever system we’re talking about. Want to improve marketing? Add more money, more people, more work. We should start this valuable program? More money, more work, more time.
That’s how we get overloaded.
Read the rest of this entry »Are you ever happy in your job?
I’m often shocked by the number of people who are hating their work every day, slogging through the grind. As a leader, wouldn’t you like to do better than that for your people?
Are our lives really just about surviving?
Read the rest of this entry »I don’t know about you, but most of the things I do I’m … barely competent at.
Not incompetent, mind you, but enough to get by. There are a few things that I’ve gotten quite good at, and during my life may have even excelled at something.
So I was heartened today by seeing a thoughtful quote that:
Read the rest of this entry »As the boss, you think your role is to tell everyone else what to do. And it kinda is, in a way.
The trap is to think that it makes you more important than the other people. It doesn’t. Sure, your decisions might be complex and challenging. But you’re probably not the one who is actually, directly, delivering value for the customer.
And if you look at the big picture, ALL work is worthy of respect and honor. Even the planning you do.
Read the rest of this entry »I always find it useful to work with my clients to examine the nature and needs of all the stakeholders in their business. That discussion starts off with customers, partners, supplier, and investors. But there are more!
Sometimes leaders forget that their employees are stakeholders. They care if the company succeeds, because it’s often their primary livelihood and source of income.
But I often find that people forget about one of the most crucial stakeholders in any business: Yourself.
Read the rest of this entry »I’ve been pondering lately how I can possibly make a difference when we have such huge, intractable problems. I’m just one person with limited resources.
It feels hopeless.
But the truth is that big changes are made in small increments. Even though it may feel ineffective at times.
Read the rest of this entry »I recently got a new camera. Yeah, a real camera that takes pictures and videos and stuff – not a phone.
And I confess that I didn’t take the photo here – I don’t yet have the talent to use the camera properly. That’ll come.
But my point today is what an absolute delight it is! It’s solid, capable, and seems to have prepared for my every whim.
Read the rest of this entry »I’m involved with several organizations for which this is the beginning of the new year. Not on the traditional calendar, but in the way we think and plan and organize.
January 1st is just an arbitrary date, right?
So now might be a good time – as good as any – to make some decisions.
I see the world as an abundant place. In a real sense, we’ve never had more possibilities open to us.
Even though it can feel like there are lots of restrictions in our lives right now, that’s only relevant to certain dimensions. You’re still free to go out there and reinvent your products, form new relationships, even rethink the norms of your industry.
And that’s a great mindset for starting out with a blank slate, as I discussed last week.
Read the rest of this entry »This is an insanely busy time for some of you, while others are taking the chance to settle back a bit and prepare for next year’s challenges.
But wherever you’re at, it’s always good to maintain perspective. That’s what leaders do, right?
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The Values-Based Business 