What You Measure is What You Get
Developing a compelling vision and mission statement as well as a sound strategy is vital for any organisation. Equally important is the translation of the strategy into the day-to-day business. This step becomes even more critical for multi-national companies with their need for regional adaptation and alignment with corporate at the same time. So, how do we make sure our mid- and long-term plans – developed in the head quarter – make sense to business leaders and employees in other regions? Continue reading →
Managing Volunteers
Olympic Games are unthinkable without the invaluable support of thousands of volunteers. For most organising committees, this fact alone posts a major challenge in preparing and running the games since they often do not have experience in managing an army of unpaid workers. The always available IOC ‘cook book’ is not more than a good start, since the behaviour and attitude and hence the requirements for hiring and managing the crowd of helpers depends much more on the culture of the people with their upbringings, beliefs and traits, than it is influenced by instructions and SOPs. After all, an unpaid worker has nothing to lose. If he perceives being treated unfairly, he walks! Continue reading →
What Makes A Good Leader for Change
In response to evolving conditions, you came to realise that your organisation must change. You are now ready to move into action. As the leader of the organisation, one of your first and critical decisions is to appoint the team that will lead the project. Typically, the leadership consists of project sponsor, with overall responsibility, seconded by project managers focusing on specific aspects. These people will be your change agents – the ones upon which success of your initiative will rely. What makes a good change leader then? Continue reading →
Seven Habits … – Habit 1: VOC
Habit 1: Know Your Customers and Their Voice
‘Ting’ is a sophisticated traditional Chinese character (Figure 1) that exemplifies the most important activity related to customer service in an impressive way: Listening. The old Chinese already knew that when listening with your ears you better treat the speaker as a king, focus wholeheartedly with 100% attention.
Only by doing so you learn about your customers’ requirements, the mentioned ones and – often more important – the unsaid. Continue reading →
The Best Coach I Ever Had
At some point in our life, some of us may have experienced a person who helped us to see our own strengths, who shaped our thinking and spurred us to move on. Often, this person does not even know how much impact he had on us. We probably never told him. Continue reading →
Business ABC – Inspired by Beautiful Nature
Captured on a sunny Sunday Morning in Singapore – Inspired by our beautiful nature. Photos by UK.
Contextual Thinking – The Key to Success in Communicating Innovative Proposals?
You may have heard and read much in the last few years regarding creativity and innovation. Or you may even have attended a creativity workshop that you found interesting and fun that has helped you come up with some new ideas. Now your current employer may be requiring innovative input. However, you find that your suggestions are mostly ignored or frowned upon. This is mainly because nobody has told you the „The Secret”. Continue reading →
Lean Six Sigma Deployment Q+A
Here are some typical Questions and our Answers regarding the deployment of Lean Six Sigma in an organisation. If you have more questions, please feel free to add them as a comment and we will try to answer. Continue reading →
Management by Walking About
“People leave bad managers, not companies …,” is one of the results of a famous Gallup survey conducted at corporations in the US. This does not mean we have “bad” people as managers. It rather means that not every high-performing employee is really suitable for a managerial position. Other surveys have shown that less than 30% of high performers have the ability to do well as supervisor. Continue reading →
