Scope creep can sneak up, morph, and destroy a project. Here’s how it occurs, and how to keep it at bay. Have you ever had a project that seems to be getting bigger all the time? At first it was manageable, but now it seems that everything, including the kitchen sink, has been tossed in? [...]
Once, an old farmer was known around town for being exceptionally good at making sure the furrows in his field were absolutely straight. One day, a young man asked the farmer to tell him his secret. The old farmer quietly explained that, while plowing each row, he picked some sort of object, like a tree, [...]
Effective communication is the real work of leadership—and a skill you can learn. Learning how to engage Assertive Respectful communication will improve every aspect of your life. Do you have any processes that aren’t yielding the results you were hoping for? Most of us do, right? S0, what do you do about it? Is it [...]
Deadlines can help you increase your overall productivity. In the comic series “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson, Calvin once says “You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet, you have to be in the right mood.” When asked what this magic mood is that facilitates creativity he replies “last minute panic!” Now to [...]
Every change, large or small, presents known and unknown opportunities and dangers. If you’re currently leading an organization or team through a change, being able to identify and articulate these opportunities and dangers is essential. How do you go about identifying these? By working with your group on an ODI list. With an ODI list, [...]
Some of the most popular shows on TV are cooking shows. Have you ever watched a real chef prepare a meal? A big part of a chef’s success is because they’re extremely organized. In the kitchen—and even out of the kitchen—chefs have a place for everything. In fact, they’re trained to organize their work space [...]
What happens when everyday, every employee’s behavior, attitude, and practices bring you closer to your strategic objectives? Then you have a “Process Culture.” Here are the 5 ways you can develop your Process Culture. What's a Process Culture? If you’ve ever had a Big Mac at McDonald's, you’ve probably noticed it tastes the same whether [...]
You always have time for the things you put first--but how do you know which things to put first? You need to discover your priorities. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and wondered, “Where did all the time go?” I know I have! When people say that they don’t have enough [...]
