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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #899

by Rick Baker
On Dec 26, 2013

Thought Tweet #899 Change is tough. Some can't do it. Some won't do it. So they struggle with leadership.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Perhaps too many people attempt changes that are too large?

Perhaps too many people believe too much of the criticism they receive?

Perhaps failure to change is more about not knowing how than not wanting it?

Certainly, the epidemic captured in words like "I don't have time" plays a major role in opposition to 'changing for the better'.

 

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change | I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #898

by Rick Baker
On Dec 25, 2013

Thought Tweet #898 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Indeed, we are fortunate!

Tags:

Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #897

by Rick Baker
On Dec 24, 2013

Thought Tweet #897 Raise your hand if a positive mental attitude has hurt your ability to perform your job. 

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Now, how about vice-versa...raise your hand if a negative mental attitude has helped you perform your job.

So, what you gonna do?

 

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Thought Tweets

The reality inside TVs is burying the reality outside TVs

by Rick Baker
On Dec 24, 2013

It's the grand illusion of the 21st Century: the reality inside TVs is burying the reality outside TVs.

In support of Reality...

Just the other day an acquaintance explained just how foolish I am because I refuse to watch Duck Dynasty. Next thing I know I will be chastised for missing ED commercials. If I want to see a Duck Dynasty I will help the Mallards in the back pond scheme to gain ground on those prolific Canada Geese.

Superficial reality. Mind-rotting programs wrapped in mind-rotting advertising. Watched by people who are too busy.

Not to get too philosophical or too physicistic...

Perhaps our perceptions are illusions? Perhaps we are living in a multi-dimensional multi-universe? Perhaps life itself is a deceptive illusion?

We should not fret these questions.

Nor should we be distracted.

We have more important things to focus on.

We have reality on TV!

Tags:

Beyond Business | I'm too busy! - I don't have time!

Thought Tweet #896

by Rick Baker
On Dec 23, 2013

Thought Tweet #896 Habits come in two flavours: green for Good and red for Bad. When you Influence others, don't make them see red.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

There are only 2 ways to Influence others: (1) doing Habits & (2) doing New Things. Why not show your good habits and, at least once in a while, try some new things? 

Tags:

Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | Influencing | Thought Tweets

Don't blame the People

by Rick Baker
On Dec 23, 2013

Business contains only 3 things: People, Process, & Situations. 

When it comes to forecasting people's behaviour, place your bet on Situations over People. [We learned this from Mark Weber] Another way of looking at it...When it comes to commenting on people's behaviour, place your blame on Situations not on People.

  • Learn how to observe better - make that a life-long goal. 
  • Learn how to observe people better, with a view to understanding them better - as Stephen Covey taught, Seek First to Understand.
  • Learn how to observe situations better, with a view to identifying patterns in real-time and knowing the consequences of those patterns in real-time.
  • Learn how to anticipate Situations - that is key to leadership and success.
  • Do not set the bar so high people will fail to hurdle it...recognize you and most other people would likely act the same way in the same situation.
  • Do not back people into corners. For example, do not ask questions that any reasonable person might answer with a lie maybe a little white lie but nonetheless a lie.
  • Do not criticize others: know from personal experience, constructive criticism is an oxymoron.

When it comes to discovering why things are not working, place your attention on People before Process.

  • Processes cannot talk on their own behalf. Processes do not explain themselves to People.  Processes rely on People to talk to People.
  • People-memory is prone to fail. Remember, People are prone to misremember. So, you must help your people improve memory & recall. To do this - get attention, generate interest, tell stories, provide real-life and relevant examples, strive to make your messages stick
  • Provide tools to help strengthen the bond between People and Process. Customize your tools so they fit both your People and your Process. Checklists are terrific tools. 1-Page Tools are terrific tools. 
Summing up...
  1. Anticipate Situations.
  2. Design Processes that will help People perform better in given Situations.
  3. Explain that good Process to your People. Then repeat, repeat, repeat.
  4. Provide tools that help People bond with Process, in Situations.
  5. Don't blame your People.

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