Management Information |
Listening Strategically
Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages out to others. But finding ways to hear what's going on around us can be just as important. Let's start by identifying three different types of listening we do. The first type - informal listening - comes naturally, as in listening to another person. I take in what you have to say, and how you say it. A second type, competitive intelligence, is a systematic process for monitoring sources and gathering information. That information is aggregated, processed to bring out the important points, and distributed to others who can use it to make decisions. In this article, we look at a third type, a less rigorous approach to competitive intelligence, one that falls somewhere between simple listening and formal competitive intelligence. Call it strategic listening, a relatively simple way to stay on top of issues that affect your organization. Let's start with objectives, which we normally do when looking at something strategically. Ask two key questions, "Why are we doing this?" and "What will we do with the information we gather?" The first question focuses our efforts by putting them into the context of our overall goals. The second question, "What will we do with the information we gather?" relates to more immediate issues. It helps us articulate how we will use the material, and that in turn, affects the way we see our objectives. Next, we need a process for gathering, managing, and storing the information we gather. What sorts of sources? How will we get them? What will we do with the material? How will we store it? Once we've listened and gathered our information, we need to manage it. All those mounds of paper and electronic files must be boiled down into chunks of information that others can use easily. This part of the process might involve the selection of excerpts or it might involve writing summaries. It might require an argument or simply a statement of facts that allows others to draw their own conclusions. The final step in the strategic listening chain is to provide feedback to those who provided raw information, and to get feedback from those who used the processed information (or intelligence) we provided. Giving feedback to those who provided raw information could be considered a courtesy, and a way of encouraging them to keep supplying us. Gathering feedback from those who used the processed information will help us determine whether or not we met the objectives that got us started. In summary, one important form of listening is strategic; that is, informally gathering and processing information that helps us stay on top of issues that affect our organizations. The four key steps in this process are: setting objectives, developing processes, managing the information, and gathering and getting feedback. Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at: http://www.communication-newsletter.com
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Conflict Resolution Training- When Personal Safety is an Issue Conflict generally arises by having your needs, desires, perceptions and values challenged.When a person feels that their values are being challenged they generally respond the strongest. Are You Cascading Your Strategy, or Fragmenting It? INTRODUCTIONThe typical approach executive teams use to cascade, or roll out, their strategic direction is to produce a clear set of goals, objectives, critical success factors or a scorecard and then get each departmental or functional manager to take this on board and customize it for their part of the organisation. The trouble then begins?A TYPICAL APPROACH: EACH DEPARTMENT ADOPTS OR ADAPTS A VERSION OF THE CORPORATE STRATEGYThe first phase of most organisational planning processes is that the organisation's executives design and express a strategic direction using a framework of some kind. The DNA of Motivation It really is about motivation. After all, what impels someone to climb a mountain, or go to college, or save for a car, or learn a new language or anything of a thousand things? What is it that moves someone to action from a position of comfortable stasis? The answer is motivation. The 6 Steps to Six Sigma Step 1Get the proper level of Six Sigma expertise at the executive level of the company. If the top leaders don't understand the advanced six sigma principles, the company has no shot to attain total quality. What is the Most Difficult Part of an Improvement Program? Answer: Starting one.Most of us realize that there is probably a better way to perform certain functions or tasks, but improvement programs seem to take second seat to getting the product out the door. Creativity and Innovation Management - Feasibility Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas. Creativity and Innovation Management - Money Doesnt Do It Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas. Problem-Solving Success Tip: Look For Sponsors And Solution Owners Look for sponsors and solution owners rather than problem owners.Everyone participating in the situation owns the problem, like it or not-and nobody likes it. Employee Retention: Its a Changing Game As a management consultant, I have seen some poorly conceived retention policies at otherwise well-run companies. The philosophies underlying these policies lack some basic knowledge of two things:1. Innovation Management: What Problem Is Being Solved? Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Squeezing the Blood Out of that Old Turnip I suspect all of you out there have someone that you rely on for insight and perspective - that wise old mentor that seems to have an unlimited depth of experience to draw from in helping you navigate life's little challenges. You know, those little parables and anecdotal tales that always relate perfectly that very problem you're trying to solve. What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate Today's successful organizations are the ones which carry on open and honest communications with their employees. If employees know and understand the mission, they will help communicate it to customers. Effective Multi Cultural International Business Meetings Of the many areas in international business where cultural differences manifest is in the corporate meeting room. International meetings are an area where differences in cultural values, etiquette, interpretations of professional conduct and corporate rules are at their most visible and challenging to control. How To Turn Business Losses Into Cash Flow When the typical new business operator starts a business, they concentrate on making the business succeed. That is necessary but not the only thing that a business operator should concentrate on. Status Quo Pep Talks That Can Threaten Your Leadership Organizations live and die by results. Yet most organizations get a fraction of the results they are capable of. Dont Wait for Tax Time to Look at the Bottom Line A curious thing happens to entrepreneurs in the spring of every year. They wake up one day and realize they had better figure out how much money they made last year so they can pay their taxes. ISO 9001, What Next? The overriding goal of ISO-14000. (History 1995)As ISO-9000 becomes a way of life for the global business community, ISO-14000 is almost ready to debut with its own set of standards for voluntary environmental compliance. How to Hire the Right People One of the biggest challenges any business owner or manager has is hiring the right people. I've recently discovered a simple, inexpensive yet very effective way which will help you get it right. Feedback - Make it Descriptive Have you ever heard yourself say to a team member - "You'rereally great" - "You're a star" - I think you're brilliant"- "You're doing a great job!"It's got to be a plus point that you're giving ConfirmingFeedback and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with any ofthe statements above; however, they could be better. Thereis also the danger that these statements could come acrossas a bit patronising. Writing and Revising Your Life Story Change is not simple. Why do we repeat behavior that doesn't work? Those actions that lead to stifling debt, disappointing careers, or stuck relationships? Then do it harder, yet expect a different result? Why is it not obvious that trying to exit an old story by simply writing a "better ending" only recreates the same story, and ensures that we remain in it? That a thousand better endings to an old story don't create a new story? That the past cannot be changed and is a settled matter? That too often, we see ourselves as the victims of the stories that we author and the feelings we create?We actively construct what we think, feel, and experience. |
home | site map | contact us |