Leadership
-
Reliable measures make good decision-making easy.
The efficacy of critical decisions is based on the reliability of the measurements and supporting data that informed those decisions. Data reliability is therefore crucial. However, there is a surprising level of confusion related to how we characterize, assess and even manage our data. One of the aspects of data curation that is frequently misunderstood –…
-
The Undeniable Power of Focus
Light is a remarkable thing. It defies characterization on some levels. In one instance it behaves like a particle. In another it seems to clearly exhibit wave-like tendencies. Light is also capable of enormous work potential. It can be readily converted to heat and to electrical power indirectly. It is an endless natural phenomenon that is useful in innumerable ways. One…
-
Adapting to the post-Covid new normal
The year 2020 will be remembered as a stark turning point for all businesses. The global pandemic wreaked havoc as it swept across the globe. Some prospered in the chaos, but most were devastated. Everything has changed. Change is certainly inevitable, but the scale and breadth of this change was unprecedented. We still aren’t certain what things will look…
-
Recovery is just around the corner.
Everyone is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and most organizations are taking a real hit, particularly with human capital. Lay-off, furloughs, and scale-backs are a serious problem for everyone because successful recovery might be contingent on poorly documented best practices. Were people with critical knowledge casualties of the 2020 virus war? Chances are that unless we’ve paid…
-
The Criticality of Good Knowledge Transfer
There’s no doubt that the world we knew prior to COVID will look very different from the world we experience afterwards. Human contact, even in professional contexts, will be less tactile. Cubicle farms will likely become less common. Working remotely will probably become the norm in many circles. The age of remote meetings has dawned. These post-pandemic realities might…
-
What your approach to Innovation?
It’s interesting to me how the word innovation is applied to nearly everything nowadays. I dare you to watch a car commercial where the term innovation isn’t used – though they rarely clarify what was actually innovative about the vehicle. The notion of innovation is thrown about so cavalierly that it’s steadily been stripped of any real meaning. This needs…
-
Innovation: are we really “All In”?
Companies rise and fall on the strength of their innovation: innovation in the products and services they offer customers, innovation in the methods and means by which they create their wares, and innovation in the way they carve their niche in resolving society’s challenges. Innovation is just the evolution of how we deliver value; and like…
-
Can’t We Just Manufacture Leaders?
A debate raged years ago over nature verses nurture. Which is the dominant influencing factor in our success in life? Is it the genes passed on by our parents or the support and access to opportunities that determine our lives’ course? While the debate was never definitively resolved, nurture still holds the upper hand. The prevalent thought is that…
-
7 Keys of Servant Leadership
There is no shortage of buzzwords in our evolving lexicon. With misuse and overuse, many are drained of real meaning, leaving them to be used as punchlines more often than not. Servant Leadership is one of these peculiar terms that is used often but only practiced sparingly. You may be surprised to learn of some of the remarkable benefits…
-
Once and Done Doesn’t Work
Often we can fall into the trap of believing that a process is “fixed” once we’ve applied our continuous improvement magic. Simply perform a kaizen or post some data trends, and now the problem is resolved. If Toyota taught us anything it is that the act of improvement can never stop, stall, or relent. If…