Tag: managing people

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When’s your most productive time?

My most productive time – having Teh-C and planning the day before 8am.

I’m crafting a video introduction to an upcoming SMU-ExD Executive Development session on strategy… how can I impress on my Middle-manager participants how IMPORTANT strategy is to them, and how their job revolves about being a strategy carrier for the organisation. First in INQUIRY mode by providing senior management with real insights into what’s happening in the real world and the in ADVOCACY mode cogently engaging with front liners about how to use the strategy to create beneficial outcomes?… Read more

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Ten Critical questions for change

How do you approach difficult situations requiring major change in strategy?   Typically, military metaphors come to mind demanding a ‘commanding’ presence, ‘directive’ action, focus and urgency of activity.  All this needs determined leadership to get the right results; right?

This was certainly my preferred approach as a task focussed manager — I got to work leading and planning and cajoling and arguing— on my way to ‘shake things up’.… Read more

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Six simple rules to manage complexity

In a  TED talk by BCGs Yves Morieux suggested six simple rules to manage complexity and improve agility and effectiveness.

These rules are worth sharing. The world is getting increasingly complex. There are more demands from customers, shareholders and regulators. There is ever-increasing competition. The change is occurring faster and it is getting difficult to create value. Organisations typically respond by adding more rules, structures and scorecards.… Read more

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How executives learn…

I’ve been involved in Executive education (andragogic learning) for almost five years and have slowly built up experience about how we executives learn best. Here’s me at the beginning as I spent a lot of time talking and not enough time encouraging learning.

Here’s three  ideas from my experience

  • Tell me WHY
Our participants are well past childhood when they were looked after by their parents or looked up to their teachers!
… Read more