| |
| |
|
Management Information |
|
Try It Out On Your Team First
Wow! You're brilliant! You have a great idea. You've looked at it every possible way to find holes in your logic, fallacies in your assumptions. You know it will work and you can't wait to turn your new brainstorm loose then reap the rewards of your genius. I know you're excited but before you unleash your great idea, first try it out on those around you for analysis, discussion, improvements, and (gasp!) criticism. The problem is that the creator of an idea rarely has the mental discipline, the insight, and ability to view their idea objectively. They are blinded by the excitement, the energy, and the optimism created by their creativity. Very few great ideas are flawless, some are seriously terrible, most need at least some tweaking, honing and polishing before they enter the marketplace of commerce. Your staff and others close to you are well suited to be an evaluation team and part of the creative process because they will look at this new initiative through eyes unclouded by your optimism and enthusiasm if you request their effort in a manner that elicits their input in an "idea improvement" process. Be warned however that the way you prepare them to offer their critique is critical. Don't cloud their judgment by presenting your brainstorm in terms that will set them up to placate you, stroke you, or otherwise attempt to satisfy your ego. Present it to them in a matter-of-fact manner: "I'm thinking of pursuing this project and I'd appreciate you're your input" will get your audience in a more objective mood than, "I've just come up with the greatest idea I've ever had!" If you lay out your logic, the improvements, features and benefits of your great idea without embellishment then sit back and listen to the alternative views the team offers, basic flaws or minor tweaks for improvement will possibly be discovered. Try your brainstorm out on your team, stand back and watch it improve. Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Resolve Differences Resolving conflict doesn't come easily to too many people. Most of us want harmonious relationships and smooth interpersonal interactions. The Leadership Imperative: Making Your Leadership Your Life Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a fraction of the results they are capable of. How to Set Up a Conference Call The methods in which you set up a conference call vary between the different services you use, and what type of conference calling you are using. There are three main types of conference calls, all with different methods of set up. Outsourcing NOT Just for Big Business Outsourcing has become a controversial issue and a hot topic among presidential candidates this year. But have you stopped to think how your business can benefit from the efficiency, functionality and cost savings of outsourcing? If you have, you might find that, like many others, you are already outsourcing-and enjoying its benefits. Build Rapport Fast! - Eight Easy Steps Building rapport is all about creating a relationship, in the moment. And this is vital in business, education, friendships and many other areas of life. Employee Motivation: Make Everyone A Cheerleader For Your Company Do you manage by walking around? What do you see? People excited about their job or people just going through the motions? Here are seven ways, that do not cost much if anything, to turn the "it's just a job" employee into one that is powered up and willing to give their best every day.Spend time out in the field. Dialogue: the Four Dialogic Principles For Successful Communication "But you don't understand!" exclaimed the manager, "this new initiative is vital for our team. If it doesn't work we could all be out of a job!" "Uh-huh. Beyond Management Coaching: When Things Are Getting Out of Control Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do when you have tried to coach and counsel an employee about a performance concern, and the employee has not responded?Unfortunately, we see far too many cases where the leader hasn't, in good faith, tried to coach the employee or to put the leader's concerns into words. Often, leaders look for a quick fix alternative to what is perceived as a difficult and painful confrontation. Innovation Management - Reducing Hierarchy 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. Effective Meetings Begin With a Real Agenda Everyone knows that an agenda is the key to an effective meeting. But an agenda that consists of a list of nouns, such as budget, software, and picnic, is useless. A Corporate Facelift With Sound Bytes If Baby Boomers can get botox and tummy tucks, then why don't companies receive facelifts to improve their image as well? The telephone is the lifeblood of any business. Use it respectfully. Knowledge Management - Keys to Successful Communities of Practice (Networks) How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How can I prevent my network becoming a "notwork"?Communities of practice (networks) lie at the heart of successful knowledge management in most organisations. They are the lifeblood of informal exchanges of knowledge. The 70% Solution: Practical Testing and Version Control "What do you mean you need to push back the launch date?"Says the CEO. Says the CFO. Top 10 Things Every Business Should Provide for Every Worker - Including the Boss! Doing business and meeting the needs of workers is increasingly complex. Employees and managers often prefer a cafeteria-list of fringe benefits (a "flexible spending account") so they can choose increased health care, child care or more time off as their individual preferences dictate. Where Businesses Fall Short 1. No vision. Offshore This! (Outsourcing Tech Support Overseas) So I call my telephone company and someone picks up 15,000 miles away. I asked the rep where she's from. Diversity Training: The Worst Possible Reasons to Request Executive Funding You're on your organization's diversity committee. You have the best of intentions. Internal Communication: 12 Essential Elements There are 12 essential elements of a successful internal communications strategy:1. Effective employee-directed communications must be led from the top Effective communications require the active commitment and endorsement of senior managers. Organizational Capital in Politics, War, Sports and Business Intangible Corporate Assets such as Organizational Capital, Blue Sky and Brand Name Capital, actually they all have a common thread in my opinion. Here are some thoughts on these issues. Hiring Your First Business Personal Assistant: Some Guidelines for Successful Hiring Hiring the first personal business assistant is an exciting time for new business owners. It means that the business is doing well enough that the business owner can no longer keep up effectively with the demands of the new business.
|
| home | site map | contact us |