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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #629

by Rick Baker
On Dec 13, 2012

Thought Tweet #629 When business leaders express their difficulties, we should listen well before we attempt to suggest solutions.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Often, when business leaders express difficulties we either:

  • wave them off and change the topic,
  • reply with a difficulty of their own, or
  • reply with a quick and concrete piece of solution-advice.

These 3 reactions provide little if any value to the business leader [or to us].

If we want to help business leaders then we need to change the way we react/reply when we hear them express their difficulties. We need to listen better. We need to do our best to get into their shoes. We need to think, coming at the difficulty from different directions/perspectives. We need to do these things to (1) improve the quality of our response and (2) build trust with the leader.

When these things are done, then we can help with solutions.

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Solutions & Opportunities | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #628

by Rick Baker
On Dec 12, 2012

Thought Tweet #628 Problems wave eagerly at me...huge flags of action & opportunity.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Some leaders take every day and situation as it comes...with a strong belief they can handle things as those things arise.

Some leaders are risk identifiers & risk managers. Problems jump out at them, waving huge flags. Sometimes the flags are red; sometimes the flags are green; always, the flags demand attention and thought.

To some degree, the differences in leaders are innate, 'natural-born' differences. To some degree, the differences are planned, developed skills & strengths.

Link to some thoughts on optimism vs pessimism.

 

 

No more racking our brains

by Rick Baker
On Dec 7, 2012

From time to time, we all do it. We rack our brains. We mull over the facts, the people, the situation, and the opportunity at hand...or the problem at hand. Time passes and, still, we see no real clarity and we find no solution. It's not that we are indecisive. We just don't have the experience or perhaps it's knowledge of the facts. Or we cannot get comfortable about the possible outcomes or actions and changes. Regardless, we are not comfortable making the decision. So, we are racking our brains.

When that happens, wouldn't it be nice if we had a proven way to stop racking our brains.

Here's a suggestion: ask a string of questions, focusing on each question and writing a simple & clear answer to each question before moving to the next question.

Questions:

  1. About People: who is involved in the situation?
  2. About People: why are these people involved in the situation?
  3. About Process: what key tasks are involved?
  4. About Process: when, where, and how are the tasks being done?
  5. About People & Process: who is doing each task and why? And how?
  6. About Process: what could change for the better?
  7. About People: how will the people react to these Process changes for the better?

After writing the answers, set the facts and the decision aside...let it simmer...then a good decision will pop into your mind.

 

 

Tags:

Brain: about the Human Brain | Solutions & Opportunities

Thought Tweet #624

by Rick Baker
On Dec 6, 2012

Thought Tweet #624 When business leaders can step aside, understand their challenges, and express them without bias...solutions are at hand.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When you are in the heat of day-to-day business work, leadership work, it seems difficult to free up the time to be objective...to step aside and consider the situation in an unbiased way. Regardless, this needs to be done if challenges are to be kept in context and understood. And, these are the first steps toward taking significant business-growth steps.

Tags:

I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Solutions & Opportunities | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #605

by Rick Baker
On Nov 9, 2012

Thought Tweet #605 Wouldn't it be nice if we had X-ray vision so we could see the roots of our problems!

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Often, the sources of our problems are like chameleons...they appear to be one thing when they are really something quite different.

So, it would be even nicer to have X-ray vision and Ultrasound....and RADAR...etc.

Tags:

Solutions & Opportunities | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #603

by Rick Baker
On Nov 7, 2012

Thought Tweet #603 Solving Problems: that's the essence of growing relationships with clients and growing business.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Problems are the seeds that allow opportunities to flower. And, when problems are solved the results are things of beauty and value. And, from the customers' shoes, providing value is the only reason your business exists.

Tags:

Sales | Solutions & Opportunities | Thought Tweets

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