Debriefing with a client the other day, I asked about the biggest leap his company had made this year. “That’s easy”, he said. “When we decide to act, it used to take us six months to get rolling. Now, we’re out of the blocks within a couple of weeks.”
“And YOU know the reason why …”
Read MoreI spoke with a friend who had recently been appointed CEO of a business with diverse sources of revenue. He was excited by the new challenge, but was puzzled as to why the business systems were so much more complex than in his prior business.
The reason, it turned out, was quite simple.
Read MoreWe’ve all seen examples of over-sharing—everyone with a smartphone has access to technology that can spread information to hundreds or millions in the blink of an eye.
While individuals tend to overshare details of their personal lives, businesses are missing opportunities to connect. We have the technology, but haven’t figured out where to draw the sharing line.
Read MoreApparently, I left you hanging at the end of my Don’t Copy Paste post. A lot of readers have asked that I tell the story of the happy ending.
So here it is …
Read MorePick a sport. Any sport. Now think about the top ten teams or individuals in the world. Name one that would be on that list if they’d never been coached.
Many of us coach our kids. So tell me why so few of us coach in the workplace.
Read MoreSetting the right expectations is important is the first and most important step to success.
Read MoreYour systems don’t restrict innovation? Of course they do – that’s how you built them!
Anticipation is the key to flexibility.
Read MoreIt takes all kinds to make a business work, many skillsets. Diversity rules.
But customer engagement is one skill that we should all polish.
Read MoreWhen you’re solving a problem, it’s all too easy to obsess on the issue at hand and ignore the overall context.
The answer’s simple – keep in mind the distinction between fixing a problem and simply moving it some place else. In the long run, out of sight is rarely out of mind.
Read MoreYour Business has an out of box experience. Great insights await if you can make a subtle shift in perspective. And we’re all better user experience designers than we think, for one simple reason.
Read MoreInformation is only useful when it flows. Making sure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time is, typically, a hit and miss process. And that feels like a great opportunity to me.
Read MoreClarity is the best investment you will make. Miscommunication is a killer. Fortunately, that’s a match made in heaven.
Read MoreI make suggestions regularly to my favourite suppliers. When their response exceeds my expectations, I'm their happiest customer. Whether it be my favourite exercise app or a major technology provider, I like to help my suppliers get better. It's common to complain about the bad ones, but I find that providing the leaders with suggestions to be the most fruitful path.
Read MoreLast week’s failure of VISA’s European systems caused widespread losses. It’s a prompt for you to check your own exposure.
Read MoreMaking decisions can be tough, but procrastination is worse.
I'm often asked to help business leaders make tough decisions. Usually, the stakes are high and the outcome pivotal to the future of the firm. Difficult decisions can often be expedited by looking at them in a new light.
Read MoreGDPR 2016 is now in force. But the sentiments behind it have been growing for years.
The real shame is that most businesses didn't design privacy rights into their operations.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence is at the peak of the hype cycle. For those of us in the business of delivering solutions, there's a need to cut through that hype with a crisp definition.
Read MoreI had the great pleasure of keynoting this year's Research Day at Durham College. The program is an inspiring example of the power of collaboration between research and business.
Read MoreI've enjoyed the benefits of meditation for some time. When a friend asked me to sum it up in one word, I chose "Awareness".
It turns out that awareness of the everyday experiences we take for granted is also a great trigger for innovation in your business.
Read MoreI hosted my latest CEO Breakfast today. I love these events—a room full of wisdom and great conversation. They demonstrate the value of getting out of our zone once in a while.
Conventional wisdom has it that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know it gets me off on the right footing. So what better time to gather together an influential group of business leaders for conversation on a topic of general interest.
Read MoreSimplifying your technology investments to drive customer success
