Contact (mis)Management

Categories: business, communication

So, my final complaint with working in the "cloud" is contact management.   I was very excited this week to discover that Google Sync for Blackberry had added the capability to syncronize not only my calendar, but also my contacts.  Woo Hoo!!! Finally, all my email addresses and phone numbers TRULY in one place.  Oh man.  I've been through hours and hours of recovering from that adventure.  So, this is how it went: First, I thought, well... I'm going to sync my blackberry with ... Read More

How Good is Good Enough, Part II

Categories: accountability, business, commitment, philosophy, solution

I'm not sure how many parts this will actually end up being.   It is a much bigger issue than I thought originally. What if we woke up tomorrow and walked into work and, suddenly, everyone in the organization was focused on thinking: "What can I do today which will make my company more margin, more profit, more efficient and more focused?"  Some of them would be focused on making your product or service better suited to your customers' needs.   Others would be focused ... Read More

How good is good enough? A multi-part entry.

Categories: accountability, business, communication, philosophy, process

Do you always purchase, or go for, the best thing you can afford, or do you prefer to purchase thrifty items?  If you purchase thrifty items, do you feel that you are getting sufficient value from them?  How do you judge? Not everyone can afford to always buy the "best" thing.  We can't all drive Ferrari's, Lamborghinis, or Cadillacs.  I realize that my question presupposes some bias in what is the "best", but the real question I'm asking is do you "compromise" on ... Read More

Leadership: Consensus vs. Conviction

Categories: business, commitment, consulting, philosophy, process, solution

When it comes to leadership, which is better, building consensus or steering with conviction and trusting that others will follow? In many management circles, you will hear that consensus building is the appropriate target.  Management schools and books will teach you how  to listen to others' viewpoints and mirror their thoughts in order to gently persuade them to the group, or collective opinion.  The goal is to get everyone on the same page, so we are all marching to the same drum.   Then ... Read More