The skills that make a good player are the same as those that make a good coach. A good individual contributor isn’t necessarily going to make a good manager. A good follower doesn’t make a good leader. We tend to promote based on past success. We see who does well in their current role, and …
No one likes missed commitments. Slipping timelines, rising costs, poor quality – they’re all bad. Particularly when we fail to meet the other party’s expectations. The obvious answer is the old cliché, “under promise and over deliver.” We can even take it a step further if we want. If we never make a firm commitment …
Under Sergio Marchionne’s leadership, FCA decided to sit back and wait. While their competition poured money into the development of electrified vehicles, FCA was content to do the bare minimum. They checked the boxes to meet regulations, but didn’t go any further. At this point in time, it seems to be a brilliant decision. Gas …
I can sit at my desk all day, respond to emails, check items off my to-do list, and feel really productive – even though these administrative-type tasks rarely move the needle. Alternatively, I can spend time casually catching-up with past customers, put my feet up on the desk to think strategically, and end the day …
Everyone comes to a discussion with their own motivation. One person might want to save money. One might need to make sure the timeline is followed. One might want to develop the best possible product. One might want to build a relationship. And one might just want the meeting over quickly so they can start …
There’s a story (which is almost certainly false, but that’s besides the point) that Michelangelo was once asked how he could’ve possibly envisioned and created the famous David from a blank piece of marble. As the story goes, his response was as follows: The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start …
One of the fears in bid-based work is losing a project to a competitor because they offered a lower price. A bid rarely represents the rock-bottom price that you’d be willing to accept. It’s an educated guess that takes a variety of factors into account – including the market conditions, expected competition, available capacity, profit …
Silly question – Did you know that Mona Lisa is wearing a veil? Seriously, in the famous painting she has a very thin veil over her face. It’s not really a subtle detail either. If you look, you can clearly see the outline of the veil alongside her hair and the muting effect that it …
When we have something fun planned, we can’t wait for it to start. We suffer through work or school, distracted and not doing much productive. We struggle in the days and weeks leading up to the event, but it’s ok because just the thought of how great it will be is enough to put a …
I’ve been doing seated cable rows in the gym for years. It’s one of my favorite back exercises, and I’ve gotten to the point where I can move a good amount of weight. I don’t usually think much about how the weight moves. I take the handle in front of me, pull it until it …