Category: Continuous improvement

A Pathway to Wisdom in the Business World

Mike 0 Comment Collaboration, Communication, Continuous improvement, Expert Advice, Uncategorized , , , ,
Businesswoman in office drinking coffee and looking at computer

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Wisdom equals knowledge plus courage. You have to not only know what to do and when to do it, but you have to also be brave enough to follow through. – Jarod Kintz

Perhaps we think of the workplace as being too busy to spend time learning. But if we are wise, we will use every opportunity to gain knowledge. Here are some tips on how to gain wisdom during the time we spend at work:

  • Never stop learning / learn from diverse sources

Be open to learning in non-traditional ways. New information can come from sources other than books or training seminars. Being open minded and steadfastly curious will create a pathway to continuous learning. For more on this, check out my post Work and Jazz on how guitar lessons helped me understand my learning style and how to get outside of my comfort zone:

  • Find ways to apply your knowledge

Driving change and improving systems and processes is an important role for each member of a business team. Knowing that status quo is an undesirable state helps to create an environment for continuous improvement. Finding ways to drive tangible, positive change with newly found knowledge should be in the business DNA of each employee and influence his or her ways of working. Always be looking for ways to apply your learning.

  • Use new and emerging technologies to enhance your knowledge

Having an open mind about continuous learning includes embracing technology and being open to using new tools to gain knowledge. The features of today’s hand-held devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are amazing. Wifi and streaming video services have made learning much more accessible because it can take place on our individual schedules. The variety of ‘platforms’ available for learning seems limitless and will continue to grow. If trying new technology is difficult for you, find ways to understand it and become more comfortable. Being on the cutting edge can be very exciting.

  • Gather support along the way and take risks

In the business world, risk-taking is viewed differently in every organization and even varies within organizations from department to department. As we learn more and consider the use of new tools to improve systems and processes, it often takes a mentor or sponsor to gain support for improvement projects or process enhancements. Depending on the perceived risk level, getting the boss to ‘try’ something new can be very challenging. However, developing the supporting justification for a change and finding the courage to ask for support will show dedication and initiative.

  • Follow through on plans and actions

Ideas and plans are nice to have, however putting them into action will take considerable effort and courage. The people in the organization who develop the vision, generate an action plan, gather support, and then execute these plans effectively will be extremely valuable.

In the workplace, wisdom is gained by those who remain curious, stay open to new ideas, find support, and successfully execute their plans. In the business world, as in the world outside of work, the pathway to wisdom is a journey we can choose. May you find your own path to wisdom.

 

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Who Drives Vision to Reality?

Mike 0 Comment Collaboration, Communication, Continuous improvement, Expert Advice, Management Skills, Metrics, Project Management, Uncategorized , , , ,

Hand holding classic Edison light bulb

Thomas Edison was a visionary, and one of the most influential people in modern human history because he understood the effort it took to successfully execute a vision.

Vision without execution is delusion. Thomas Edison

During my 30 plus years in a large corporation, I worked with many people who had vision but not everyone was able to turn their vision into reality. Although it is true that in many organizations Leadership is responsible for developing the vision, implementing their plans was usually left to others in the organization. Unfortunately, if a solid connection was not made between Leadership’s vision and the plan for execution, the project wouldn’t succeed.

 I’ve had the good fortune to work on several successful teams and it became clear to me that the success of a project was usually a function of Who was on the team. I noticed the successful team members consistently took the following action steps:

  • Connected the vision to the work. The team members who were successful at execution were able to connect the project’s goal (vision) to their current work and the overall success of the organization. The path was clear to them on how the vision could be achieved and how it would positively impact their jobs and the success of the company.
  • Developed an effective plan. Successful members were well organized and able to develop an effective plan for themselves and enlist their teammates in the effort. Their plans for success were well documented and communicated to the team. This communication fostered a sense of ownership and a feeling of transparency that was inherently healthy.
  • Obtained access to accurate and timely data. Success was possible when accurate information and data were readily available. The successful team member knew how to obtain and use the information effectively to drive the project. Those who were able to execute the plans were well versed in using the data management tools available to them. If the tools weren’t available, they would develop their own set of tools that made gathering data and reporting very efficient.
  • Provided clear and concise communication with all stakeholders. This means they developed and published the progress of the project to all interested parties. Communicating pertinent information on a timely basis allowed for discussion of the results and insights. If the information was clear, complete, and concise, it provided guidance to Leadership and facilitated an honest discussion of the project’s progress. In this environment, the project had a greater chance of success.

A team member who understood the planning and hard work it took to achieve the vision got noticed and was always given more opportunities to be successful.

Thomas Edison had many quotes, but this one pulls it all together: Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

 

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Staying Sharp

Mike 5 Comments Continuous improvement, Expert Advice, Management Skills , , ,

Businesswoman in office drinking coffee and looking at computer

“Even if you’re on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

I participated in a Dale Carnegie course many years ago and I remember the final speech from our instructor, Debbie. The point of her speech was to say that now that we have a new set of skills from the course, it’s important to keep them sharp. Debbie emphasized the point by telling a parable: A young, ambitious lumberjack was sent out for the first time and in his first few days he chopped down an impressive number of trees. However, after a week he noticed that even though he worked just as hard as he had those first days, he cut down fewer and fewer trees as each day passed. His frustration grew and finally he asked a veteran lumberjack why his productivity was dropping. The veteran asked a simple question, “How often do you sharpen your ax?”

When we come out of academia or training programs we have a set of skills and knowledge that we want to utilize to make a difference. If we are fortunate, we are placed in a position to use some of these skills and contribute to the success of the organization. However, as time marches on and the world changes, the original set of skills will need updating periodically. As with most things worth doing, staying current takes time and effort. But as the young lumberjack learned, it’s important to take the time to sharpen your ax.

Here are some ideas for staying current and keeping your skills sharp:

  • Schedule time to specifically work on maintaining or improving your skills. Make self-improvement a priority and plan for specific activities.
  • Read as much as possible. The internet and the library make it easy to find relevant content that may help in the quest to stay sharp.
  • Read blogs related to areas of interest. Staying current in your area of interest will help to identify the skills needed to be successful. Searching for helpful blog sites can be a little tedious, but once a few are identified, they can be a great source of information for what is taking place in your industry.
  • Be open to ideas from other disciplines. Looking for information as it applies to areas outside of your expertise or industry can be an interesting way to develop alternative ideas. For example, project management techniques used in one industry may be applicable to another industry.
  • Look for tools that will improve your effectiveness. Being able to use software to a greater extent is always helpful. Understanding and practicing the use of programs such as Excel and Power Point will always be helpful when you are faced with new challenges involving data analysis and communicating ideas to an audience.
  • Be willing to spend time learning new skills. If time isn’t available during the workday to ‘play’ with a program or on-line tool, e.g. project management software, then take the time after the workday or on a weekend to work with it. The time spent exploring the use of a tool will come in handy down the road when the opportunity presents itself.

A person who has a ‘continuous improvement’ attitude will be motivated to stay sharp and will always look for ways to improve. Conversely, it is clear that having the attitude of ‘that’s the way I’ve always done it’, is a good way to start down the slippery slope of obsolescence. It’s always going to be better to say, ‘Let’s find a better way to do it’.

Attitude is very important in today’s workplace. Showing a willingness to grow and improve will go a long way toward building a successful and fulfilling career. With Will Roger’s quote in mind, stay ahead of the pack to avoid being passed by.

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