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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Finding & Keeping Top-Notch People - some questions

by Rick Baker
On Sep 16, 2013

Some questions to consider…

  • What’s your most-successful recruiting technique?
  • What 3 words would you use to sum up your best younger person?
  • When it comes to recruiting, what’s changed in the last 10 years?
  • Training leaders & managers: how do you go about that?
  • Do younger people have an attitude of ‘entitlement’?
  • Do you take special actions to take care of your best people? If so, what actions?
  • Can you influence your people’s loyalty? If so, how?

 

Tags:

Leaders' Thoughts | Questions?: The Art of Asking Good Questions

Delegation - some questions

by Rick Baker
On Sep 13, 2013

About “Delegation”… some questions to consider:

 

 To what extent do we want to delegate?

o   What’s our natural inclination?

o   About our experiences  […the best of times…the worst of times]

o   What makes us feel comfortable when we are delegating?

o   What makes us feel uncomfortable when we are delegating?

 

When we delegate – What are the best practices?

o   Do we set & communicate guidelines or rules for delegation?...if so, How?

o   What’s the #1 thing we have learned about delegation?

o   How do we help others feel comfortable when we delegate?

o   How do we maximize accountability when we delegate?

o   How do we use delegation to influence behaviour?

o   How do we use delegation to develop people? 

o   How do we use delegation to develop teamwork?

Tags:

Delegation & Decisions | Leaders' Thoughts | Questions?: The Art of Asking Good Questions

Is Self-Confidence a manifestation of Self-Esteem?

by Rick Baker
On Sep 9, 2013

Recently I read a book by a well-established and reputable self-help organization. It taught that self-confidence is an external manifestation of one's self-esteem.

I don't agree.

Or, more accurately, I don't find that sort of education helpful.

Self-confidence is a state of mind that defines how a person thinks and feels about his or her ability to successfully handle a given situation1 [or, at least, survive it]. Presence of self-confidence is a Good Habit2. Lack of it is a Bad Habit3.

Self-esteem is a state of mind that defines a person's regard for self.  It too can be composed of Good Habits or Bad Habits.

Self-esteem doesn't generate self-confidence. If anything, the opposite is more likely to be true. Regardless, it seems to me the important thing to do is concentrate on building self-confidence. To the extent a person succeeds at building self-confidence, that person's self-esteem will increase. The path to building self-confidence is paved with Courage.

 

Footnotes:

  1. A situation is a snapshot of an instant in business life…the people, the ‘props’, and the immediate environment.
  2. A Good Habit is a thing we think or do that takes us towards our goals.
  3. A Bad Habit is a thing we think or do that takes us away from our goals.

Thought Tweet #816.5

by Rick Baker
On Sep 2, 2013

Thought Tweet #816.5 Why do so many people let so many problems arrive as surprise packages?

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

A salute to risk management...

Tags:

Questions?: The Art of Asking Good Questions | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #815.5

by Rick Baker
On Aug 30, 2013

Thought Tweet #815.5 Who is responsible for this work? [Do you ever ask questions about Delegation?]

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Does this person have the authority to take the required actions...to do the required tasks?

Does this person have the natural talent to do the required tasks?

Does this person have the knowledge to do the required tasks?

Has the path been paved, providing the opportunity for this person to do the required tasks?

Has this person practiced the required action...does this person have the proven skill doing the tasks?

Does this person feel accountable for doing the work and communicating on work progress?

Tags:

Delegation & Decisions | Questions?: The Art of Asking Good Questions | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #813

by Rick Baker
On Aug 28, 2013

Thought Tweet #813 Accountability: How much? How often? On a 1-to-10 scale, how do you rate your average accountability at work items?

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

How often do you feel accountable for work items?

Once a year, say, when they sit you down for a performance review?

Once a month?

When you attend one of those monthly team meetings?

Once a week?

Because of those weekly team meetings?

Once a day?

All workday?

7/24...dammit, I own a business! 

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.