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Archive for the ‘Problem Solving’ Category

Is the Boss always the problem?

June 18th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 1 Comment | Filed in Business, Doing, Inspiration, Problem Solving, Solutions, Thinking, Tools & Resources

I’ve commented recently on the need to retain an innovative mindset to make the best of the current economic situation. In fact I’m certain that those who are creative at this time are building innovative businesses for the future.

But whagordon-ramseyt about everyone else? I’m not really a TV watcher but One Reality TV genre has me facinated and is providing some insights. It’s the “business makeover” show. You know the type – Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, Ruth Watson as The Hotel Inspector, and Tabatha Coffey’s Salon Makeovers. I’m sure there’s others.

I know that these are highly produced and edited for dramatic effect – BUT – they all have a common thread.

The Boss is always the problem.

 

So this made me think. If these programs highlight bad operators, what are the characteristics of a good operator? Here’s a list that I’ve put together (in no particular order). What would you add or take off this list? Leave me a comment and let me know.

  1. Understand why customers choose you and make that experience better.
  2. Value every customer and put a value on every customer.
  3. Provides value to the customers (note: this does not mean cheap!)
  4. Builds good people and trusts them to deliver.
  5. Invests in quality infrastructure, systems and processes.
  6. Looks for ways to maximize revenue.
  7. Watches the pennies.
  8. Builds trusted relationships with experts and advisors.
  9. Doesn’t do things just because everyone else does.
  10. Doesn’t over complicate things (keeps it simple).

All these characteristics create an environment where the objectives of the business are clear, risks are managed, and opportunities for creative thought are encouraged, welcomed, and actioned. So, if you’re the Boss get your head around this list. And you can’t don’t blame the troops, they’re doing the best they can in environment you’ve created for them. Go set the example and they will follow.

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More ways to share your ideas

June 15th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 2 Comments | Filed in Doing, Ideas, Problem Solving

All thinkers, creators and innovators need to be able to share their ideas with others in order to give them value and life.

As the saying goes: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Yes, mostly true. Here are ways of communicating complex ideas that have caught my eye recently.

new-math-concentration

  • Telling one story well (though this may be a case of using statistics to suit a purpose…).

plattblog_square_feet_per_person

  • And finally, explaining REALLY big things such as the US Stimulus package. See the full series of illustrations at Life of HOK

stimulas-9m

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Does brainstorming still have value

June 11th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 2 Comments | Filed in Business, Problem Solving, Thinking

In a recent post I posed  the question:

Does “business” actually have the capacity to deliver on the innovation promise? (click to read)

Often, when a business wants to jump into the innovation lane their first stop is a brainstorming session. “Ahhhhh, not again” I hear you say!! (No wonder innovation is so toothless….)

Well you are not the only one who cringes at the thought. I’ve seen quite a bit of commentary recently on the subject. A good article that discussed the Pro’s and Con’s was written by Mark McGuiness at Lateral Action. Another more recent is from Business Week – Brainstorming for Better Business – which gives some real life examples of brainstorming in action.

From my perspectives Brainstorming is an effective part in a process, and should not be viewed as a singular isolated event. By this I mean that there has to be some type of “focus” prior to the brainstorming to make sure it addresses the right problem. This helps keep the ideation on track.

Following the brainstorming is evaluation and the same people need to be involved. This helps train the participants to think of future ideas within the evaluation criteria – thereby improving the quality and effectiveness of future sessions.Those that use brainstorming regularly and embed it in their working practices become effective at it, and find it valuable. Those who view it as a chore or an ineffective practice end up making it so.

Several weeks ago I saw this illustration. In the accompanying article it explained how some items travel along a “Value” path and ultimately pass through a trough where they have so little value that they are actively trashed. I think that brainstorming is in this part of the cycle. Hopefully this useful tool’s value will again be appreciated.

where is brainstorming in the value trough?

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