Category Archives: Management

#16 Perspective

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If you send out an email to your team asking for topics to include when presenting to your boss, what kind of replies do you get?

  • Some suggestions may be very focused, revealing top of mind pain points.
  • Others may relate to an initiative that is not owned by the sender, indications they do not have anything of note to offer.
  • Yet others may highlight an enterprise level effort that needs attention.
  • The suggestions will reveal the perspective and interest taken by the sender in matters outside their immediate job responsibility.

    The most useful suggestions will be those that appeal to your boss. After all, your point is to look good in front of your boss. Don’t forget, you cannot look good if your team does not look good.

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    #15 Golf or Basketball?

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    This has to do with what you think is the ideal environment for productivity.

    If you play basketball, there are time limits, elbows in your ribcage, and hands in your face. The game moves with a speed where thought becomes a luxury. During timeouts, the coaches yell and plead, but it is unclear what difference that makes on the players. Time pressure requires strategy and tactics to be created swiftly and communicated with clarity. Cheering fans can help or hurt your cause, either way it can be a distraction.

    If you play golf, you have time on your hands. Pick the club you need, everyone stands back and silence reigns. No distractions, just you and the ball. Shadow practice your stroke all you want before you attempt it. There are no bad calls by referees, the rules are very clear. Your success is clearly dependent upon how well you hold our nerves.

    So which one is easier?

    Which environment do you execute your strategy in? Do you wish for one when you have then other?

    Time to stop wishing, either switch your work environment or start doing what it takes to execute your strategy.

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