Take the Gold for Problem Solving — Olympic Style
Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash This blog often shares perspectives on innovation and leadership, traits we see in spades during the Olympics. As this Winter Olympics unfolds in China, though, let’s discuss the awesome problem-solving skills of the Olympians and what we can apply to our own business endeavors. The performances of Olympic athletes can seem unbelievable. Part of the joy of watching the Games is seeing these amateur athletes accomplish seemingly super-human feats. As we all…
What I Learned About Business Apologies During the Pandemic
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash It has been difficult to conduct business during the pandemic. Travel is curtailed. Clients and staff are working from home, relying on video technology. This has resulted in delays and unavailability of services. It’s also led to the need for some business apologies. Otherwise, what would we tell our clients? Research and communication experts tell us that the most important part of business apologies is an authentic and clear message. The apology must occur…
Innovation and Leadership in Unusual Times: Learning from History
Photo by Ugur Arpaci on Unsplash We are all facing the most unusual time and trying to figure out how to vaccinate billions of people. There are many smart people coming up with new ideas to lead this effort. With innovation and leadership, I am sure that we will succeed. Let us go back to the winter of 1925 in Nome, a remote Alaskan territory about 160 miles from the Arctic Circle. Nome had, at the time, 1,400 residents and one doctor. This doctor examines a boy complaining of labored…
Always Be Learning Leadership Skills
Photo by Mathias Jensen on Unsplash One way to be a better leader? Always be thinking about ways to become a better leader. I see lessons about leadership skills in my reading about sports, current events and more. Today, I thought I’d share some examples that have prompted personal leadership insights as I look to constantly develop and embrace change. First, leadership requires taking full responsibility for the company, project, process or whatever you are leading. What are some examples?…
Business Building and Anger
Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash I wouldn’t recommend anger at work, but sometimes engineers do get angry at a process, problem, or piece of equipment. On the other side, in technical consultative sales, we try not to get angry at our clients, at least not directly. After all, in the business world, anger is often viewed as an unsavory emotion. The individual has lost self-control — a cardinal sin in business, right? In an article addressing anger in the business world, Forbes…