....the NEW business solutions consultant...: 2012-03-25

3/31/12

map out outstanding decisions...

use your tools: (shared) knowledge is power...outdated leadership concepts are ineffective and counterproductive in the knowledge economy -- the intuition of a single heroic leader is dead...
use technology: leverage social media as a key communication vehicle - to LISTEN...so your customers will see you are in step with them...
use your advisors: when setting objectives, motivate your team to brainstorm solutions to problems...it is not about giving up authority, but USING authority to encourage debate to solve those problems...
use your ears - hear all views: have your decision making processes flourish in an environment where debate and dissent are encouraged, keeping the idea pipeline open at all times...
use analysis: those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it...keep in mind your great and not-really-great decisions and learn from them...
use your eyes - keep focused: important decisions are not a one time moment for a single individual...hold tight to the broad analytical tools for better solutions over time...

get a handle on videoconferencing....really....

dress - yes, this STILL has to be addressed. conservative, comfortable, skip the stripes and big jewelry, dress like a tv broadcaster - solid colors...at least from the waist up...
sit up - this impacts your message through your body language...what did your mother tell you...
locate - what's behind you?..distractions?...try to arrange for a quiet spot and a plain backdrop...
ban glitches - practice using webcam or teleconferencing gadgets before meeting time so you are not fumbling with video and sound setup...
go into the light (in a good way) - good lighting makes all the difference. practice ahead of time and adjust the lighting to your advantage...
look - make eye contact by looking into the camera...this takes some practice, particularly if the camera is not situated on the monitor where you are viewing the other participants....
slow down - v-conferences move at a bit slower pace than typical meetings due to a 2 - 3 second delay for systems communication...make sure there are sufficient pauses after asking a question...
stay jazzed (at the same time) - keep your enthusiasm level UP...confidence counts but on video it counts MORE...

spend less / do more -

be a fixer - solve the complex problems OR just handle the small stuff people do not want to deal with and you can make serious $$$...
time/knowledge/money = 3 main resources available. how can you solve a problem/issue without money = many problems cannot be solved without an investment of $$$ but, through a brainstorming process, many other resources become unveiled...
work backward - figure out what your customer wants and THEN sync it with production; i.e., how much will people pay for a widget, then decide how much you will spend making it...
cultivate loyalty - don't ask everyone to do more with less while you fly around in a lear jet...
look back (in a good way) - read "small is beautiful: economics as if people mattered" by e.f. schumacher (1973)...

sandbox etiquette...march to your principled drummer...

assist others - short and sweet - do unto others, etc...make friendship a fine art...your rep is your most important asset...
use your time wisely - each day, you have only 86,400 seconds to achieve and, guess what, you do not get a do-over...
never let anyone play any harder than you - cannot expand on that.
play together - do everything possible not to let your team and customers down...be the cog of the well functioning team - selflessness, high morale, peak performance and fear of failure...
play smart - the only way to have a smart team is to have one that is fundamentally sound...make your responsibilities become habits...
and for god's sake don't lie - never promise what you cannot guarantee...

cover your website bases (WEB-butt)...

create top content - substantive, free information helps your customers learn something NEW...build a relationship with whom you do business...
prioritize - great looking, user friendly websites are pretty to look at but do not substitute for high quality content...DO YOUR HOMEWORK, WRITE WELL...
produce volume - sharp, short pages -- more of them -- optimized for web searches...do not re-post other's content unless necessary to make a point; you will come off as lazy...
mobilize - more people acess web from smartphones than on a PC...get your website mobile-friendly AND product mobile content...
integrate - add to search engine optimization; employ social media optimization...reduce marketing costs, create quality customer relationships and benefit from online presence...