Author Archives: ven00kat

#145 Assessing reliability

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In an earlier blog, we talked about assessing dependability. That is only one part of the equation for evaluating your capability to execute. The other part is the reliability.

In measuring dependability, we look at whether a promise was kept. In reliability, we look at the speed of keeping a promise.

Measuring reliability

Measuring reliability

This is not meant to be a six sigma level measurement. Often a quick assessment is not only cost effective, but a career saver. Be sure to use data, not your opinion. One fail safe way to implement this is to make a clear and explicit request. Then measure how quickly you got the request serviced.

Be sure to understand your role in this equation. If you do not have clarity on outcomes or what success looks like, you should spend time getting this, or ask for help to define success. Clarity includes matters like budget and timeline, and any constraints that you may be aware of. If you make a foggy request, it is unfair on your part to hold your partner or service provider accountable.

If your partner or service provider does not understand your request or cannot help you clarify it, it is definitely time to get a new partner or service provider. Don’t settle for second best, because that is what you are going to get.

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#144 Das Boot

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Well made movies have great story telling that communicates messages in a very simple and easy to understand manner.

Recently, I saw Das Boot. I was bored and could not find another movie to watch. But it turned out to be the best 3 hours I spent in a long time. It has some surprising lessons in leadership, not something you’d expect to get from a movie told from a German’s point of view.

Das Boot

Das Boot

The whole thing about World War II and Nazis trying to take over the world and the way history is being told seems to paint all Germans during World War II as the bad guys. If you’ve seen Valkyrie, you know that is not true.

Valkyrie

Valkyrie

Was it Sun Tzu who said you can learn a lot from your enemies? For your purposes in the workplace, I’d replace “enemies” with people you thought were less than perfect, or otherwise guilty of bad behavior. What would happen in the workplace if you took the time to learn from people who are in your opinion, dysfunctional?

There are no enemies in today’s day and age, just people in pain looking for help. Violence is their cry for help. I could write a whole book on that subject. The leadership challenges we face are not trivial, or easy, or going to be solved any time soon. The only thing you can do is to give yourself a chance to succeed!

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