http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisorsJoin us for 30-minute “to-the-point” episodes on tough leadership challenges. Send in your questions by following the link below. Every other week explore how to stimulate initiative and accountability to rapidly boost your business performance.enBlogTalkRadio.com. All Rights Reserved.Sat, 15 Jun 2019 11:45:00 GMTFri, 13 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMTBusinessBlogTalkRadio Feed v2.0https://dasg7xwmldix6.cloudfront.net/hostpics/54b8ac93-034d-42e9-aebf-b3dbc9e84612_btr_strategies_for_change_5.jpghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisorsJoin us for 30-minute “to-the-point” episodes on tough leadership challenges. Send in your questions by following the link below. Every other week explore how to stimulate initiative and accountability to rapidly boost your business performance.feeds@blogtalkradio.comBlogTalkRadio.combusiness,leadership,management,team building,performance,strategy,team dynamics,effective meetings,engagement,accountabilityBusiness AdvisorsnoJoin us for 30-minute “to-the-point” episodes on tough leadership challenges. Send in your questions by following the link below. Every other week explore how tepisodichttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/12/13/create-team-alignment-engagement-and-accountability-yes-but-howBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/12/13/create-team-alignment-engagement-and-accountability-yes-but-how/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/12/13/create-team-alignment-engagement-and-accountability-yes-but-howFri, 13 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMTCreate team alignment, engagement and accountability. Yes! But how?Change is not easy to implement but when it fails to happen, leaders usually forget that it is not because obstacles are unsurmountable but because the people involved are not on the same page, and therefore resist change.  People get in their own way. It is a continuous challenge for leaders to make the improvements that are needed, but continuing to do the same things that brought the situation on in the first place will definitely not work. Creating change in an organization means finding new ways for the leader to engage with the group. Join us as we discuss how a leader can take a courageous step into the unknown and initiate an organic process of change. For more information read our blog article The Basics for Team Engagement and Performance   00:31:00Business Advisorsnoteam alignment,engagement,accountability,leadership,successChange is not easy to implement but when it fails to happen, leaders usually forget that it is not because obstacles are unsurmountable but because the people ihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/10/01/when-one-on-one-conversations-dont-get-results-1Businesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/10/01/when-one-on-one-conversations-dont-get-results-1/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/10/01/when-one-on-one-conversations-dont-get-results-1Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:00:00 GMTWhen one-on-one conversations don't get results “I have already talked to everybody involved about this problem but nothing makes a difference” is a common complaint of leaders. One-on-one conversations prevents the concerned individuals from being on the same page at the same time. When team performance is in question, one-on-one conversations are like Ground-hog Day: a constant revisiting of the same problems with the result that instead of finding ways to move forward together, finger-pointing becomes prevalent as everyone feels they are “doing their best” to work through the issue. Although leaders and staff are more comfortable having critical conversations one-on-one, it is in group interactions that solutions can be found and have a chance of getting implemented.     00:27:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Success,Team Building,Business,Results“I have already talked to everybody involved about this problem but nothing makes a difference” is a common complaint of leaders. One-on-one conversations prevhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/07/29/find-the-gold-in-your-next-construction-projectBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/07/29/find-the-gold-in-your-next-construction-project/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/07/29/find-the-gold-in-your-next-construction-projectMon, 29 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMTFind the "Gold" in Your Next Construction Project Join Alain Bolea, President of Business Advisors Network and Steve Hall, President of Chandler LLC as they discuss a radically different approach to the management of construction projects that abandons the traditional conflictual process that pervades the construction industry. Starting at the time of design, deep collaboration in a project team prevents errors and accelerates construction,  and allows the team find  optimal solutions specifically adapted to the building. With this new approach, substantial savings are realized not only during construction but also during the building's operating life. These combined benefits drastically and immediately improve the valuation of a property. For more information about Chandler LLC, please visit ChandlerLLC.com Send us your questions here 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoSteve Hall,Chandler LLC,Construction,Project Management,Green BuildingJoin Alain Bolea, President of Business Advisors Network and Steve Hall, President of Chandler LLC as they discuss a radically different approach to the managehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/04/03/practical-tips-for-better-team-dynamicsBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/04/03/practical-tips-for-better-team-dynamics/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/04/03/practical-tips-for-better-team-dynamicsWed, 03 Apr 2013 17:00:00 GMTPractical Tips for Better Team Dynamics We focus on leaders creating better team dynamics: how does one generate better conversations in the moment when leaders and their teams get stuck? What do you do as a leader when the conversation spins without generating agreement; when people either retreat into silence, or disapproving passivity, are constantly off topic, or push their point of view agressively. The key is changing the behaviors of all participants including the leader's toward more balanced active listening and open talking. We will discuss how to create the environment for more productive interactions.   00:29:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Team Dynamics,Management,Team Building,Productive MeetingsWe focus on leaders creating better team dynamics: how does one generate better conversations in the moment when leaders and their teams get stuck? What do yohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/03/15/the-challenges-of-a-multi-organization-teamBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/03/15/the-challenges-of-a-multi-organization-team/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/03/15/the-challenges-of-a-multi-organization-teamFri, 15 Mar 2013 17:00:00 GMTThe Challenges of A Multi-Organization Team How work gets done by teams whose members come from different organizations is a challenge that is faced in many areas of activity from construction projects to the work of large international humanitarian initiatives such as AIDS in Africa. For such teams the stakes are often high and the consequences visible and dramatic: delays, cost overruns, waste. Almost always team participants begin their work with high intentions and delve rapidly in what needs to get done. What is invariably missing is taking time to ensure that the group of people in the room comes together as a real team where trust among individuals fosters open communication and active cooperation. 00:29:00Business AdvisorsnoProject Team,Team Leadership,Effective Teams,Team Building,TrustHow work gets done by teams whose members come from different organizations is a challenge that is faced in many areas of activity from construction projects thttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/28/dont-wait-for-the-crisis-to-actBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/28/dont-wait-for-the-crisis-to-act/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/28/dont-wait-for-the-crisis-to-actThu, 28 Feb 2013 18:00:00 GMTDon't Wait for a Crisis to Act In the fast pace of modern business, overwhelm is a common occurrence in all types of organizations. Overwhelm happens when a team is overextended and by definition it is not a sustainable way to operate. The challenge for leaders is to recognize whether overwhelm is a temporary state and will correct itself with the passage of time or is the sign of other issues that will not go away. In our experience, leaders that are slow to deal with overwhelm find themselves on a slippery slope that increase the risk that their teams will experience a major breakdown that could  cost unprepared leaders their careers. In this episode, we explore the telltale signs that a team has moved from overwhelm to chaos, and how a leader can avoid getting dragged into a crisis situation. 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoOverwhelm,Chaos,Crisis,Leadership,TurnaroundIn the fast pace of modern business, overwhelm is a common occurrence in all types of organizations. Overwhelm happens when a team is overextended and by definhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/19/seven-signs-your-team-is-not-a-teamBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/19/seven-signs-your-team-is-not-a-team/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/02/19/seven-signs-your-team-is-not-a-teamTue, 19 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMTSeven Signs Your Team is NOT a Team What goes on during meetings reveals whether a team is effective or not. Leaders need to recognize the signs and confront the situation when their teams are not really functioning as such even if if feels uncomfortable. Poor team cohesiveness will prevent the group from reaching the superior performance needed for its success. We will explore 7 tell-tale signs that the group is off track and what you as the leader can do about it. Also read http://bit.ly/XJMMCW 00:27:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Team Management,Motivation,Management,Effective MeetingsWhat goes on during meetings reveals whether a team is effective or not. Leaders need to recognize the signs and confront the situation when their teams are nohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/28/four-unchecked-assumptions-that-undermine-team-spiritManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/28/four-unchecked-assumptions-that-undermine-team-spirit/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/28/four-unchecked-assumptions-that-undermine-team-spiritMon, 28 Jan 2013 18:00:00 GMTFour Unchecked Assumptions that Undermine Team Spirit Also read article http://bit.ly/14otMQ5 Too many project teams fail to achieve the kind of cohesiveness needed right out of the gate. We will explore the assumptions that team leaders too easily fall prey to/ fall into, such as believing everyone really knows what the team is supposed to produce. Learn how to avoid the consequence of ignoring assumptions around purpose, communication, strategy, and team approach. Learn how to move the group from individual assumptions to actual team conversations that lead directly to the full exchange of ideas, creative approaches to problem solving and making decisions that stick. 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoTeam Building,Purpose,Team Alignment,Project Management,LeadershipAlso read article http://bit.ly/14otMQ5 Too many project teams fail to achieve the kind of cohesiveness needed right out of the gate. We will explore the assuhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/03/messy-conversations-that-lead-to-true-team-alignmentManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/03/messy-conversations-that-lead-to-true-team-alignment/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2013/01/03/messy-conversations-that-lead-to-true-team-alignmentThu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:00 GMT"Messy" Conversations That Lead to True Team Alignment Bringing teams into alignment around complex projects requires dealing with the hidden emotional component that is held in the fears and concerns of each individual. Also read article http://bit.ly/Vwzo8g At first, this process involves some messiness that is critical to creating true team alignment. Individuals do not "learn", i.e. hear the answer until they know what the question is. The solution cannot be fully appreciated if the complexity of the problem is not understood. Instead of providing an orderly exposition of solutions, which most leaders pride themselves in, the first phase needs to be about raising the critical questions about what could make the project fail. Most teams do not respect this natural process of learning and therefore alignment is generally superficial if not outright fake. Only authentic open conversations can truly align teams. What we do is provide the safety needed for these conversations to take place and ensure that no topic gets swept under the rug. The work of the team is cognitive but is based on emotional understanding. Many team leaders don't know how to tackle this role.  It needs skills and experience to patiently hold a safe space for work groups.  This is hard to train in team leaders as even experienced coaches tend to want to provide the 'right' answers. 00:30:00Business AdvisorsnoTeam Building,Engagement,Effective Meetings,Leadership,Critical ConversationsBringing teams into alignment around complex projects requires dealing with the hidden emotional component that is held in the fears and concerns of each indivhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/12/17/the-performance-trap-when-things-go-bad-with-teamsManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/12/17/the-performance-trap-when-things-go-bad-with-teams/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/12/17/the-performance-trap-when-things-go-bad-with-teamsMon, 17 Dec 2012 16:00:00 GMTThe Performance Trap: When Things Go Bad with Teams Also read our article http://bit.ly/UXXp7I It usually all starts with something having slipped off track badly. When objectives are visibly missed, leaders get activated to find solutions quickly; the old standbys are to ask the staff to work longer and harder and not make more mistakes.  At this point the culture of the group starts to break apart with stress, blaming, work longer hours. Team members are less and less clear about how the situation will improve. People feel they are being dumped on and getting discouraged.  More and more of the negative aspects of the culture take hold – people work more on their own, communications suffer, which in itself feeds a new level of dysfunction and errors, missed deadlines, etc.  We will discuss in times of crisis, leaders often fall into the same rut. How does one stay aware of what is going on, does not become of victim of circumstances and redirect the energy of the team to turn things around? 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoTeams,Leadership,Management,Teamwork,CrisisAlso read our article http://bit.ly/UXXp7I It usually all starts with something having slipped off track badly. When objectives are visibly missed, leaders gehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/26/how-to-rein-in-the-high-cost-of-failing-it-projectsBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/26/how-to-rein-in-the-high-cost-of-failing-it-projects/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/26/how-to-rein-in-the-high-cost-of-failing-it-projectsMon, 26 Nov 2012 18:00:00 GMTHow to rein in the high cost of a failing IT project? Take our survey here   A quick search on the internet about IT project failures brings up voluminous statistics about the high percentage of IT projects that fail and the astronomical costs of incomplete, abandoned and cancelled projects. On the other hand, there is also  voluminous writing about what some of the root causes are and what needs to be done to avoid them.   We will review some of the key tenets of Agile and how they shed light on the fact that client satisfaction, project leadership and team dynamics questions need to receive greater focus to prevent repeated problems.  Much work is being done both on the technical and the training sides to address these issues for the long run.   What happens, however, when you have a project failing NOW? We will address the frustration that senior leaders (CEO, CFO, CIO…) experience when confronted with failing IT projects, the feeling of having limited options and the near impossibility for them to get to the bottom of why the project is not working.   We will explore the solutions that we have used over and over to rapidly turn around the performance of project teams that were in crisis.  How can a project that has gone off track be put back on course in a few days?   00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoIT Projects,IT Failures,Agile,IT Costs,IT TurnaroundTake our survey here   A quick search on the internet about IT project failures brings up voluminous statistics about the high percentage of IT projects that fhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/08/how-to-fix-the-roi-of-high-stake-projectsManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/08/how-to-fix-the-roi-of-high-stake-projects/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/11/08/how-to-fix-the-roi-of-high-stake-projectsThu, 08 Nov 2012 18:00:00 GMTHow to fix the ROI of high stake projects Take our survey here Also read Turning Around Failing Projects In business project teams are everywhere. Project teams are generally put together to deliver a high-value outcome that requires collaboration between different people over a long period of time; individuals come from different organizations, sometimes departments within the same organization, sometimes different organizations ,e.g., client-supplier teams, outsourcing of critical project services such as IT. What projects have in common is that they require the pooling of information, skills and knowledge across entities to get the work done. What they also have in common is a high rate of failure ranging from outright cancellation, cost overruns, delays and damaged relationships. Most projects get off track right away. When we are called in to help a project in trouble, what we find invariable missing is a true sense of identity and clear purpose for the project team. Teams usually jump into the project without checking their assumptions and their understandings about how they will work together. Taking a few hours to set up the project team properly as to issues of leadership, strategy, culture and process from the start is key. 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoDysfunctional Teams,Project ROI,Hybrid Teams,Leadership,Effective ManagementTake our survey here Also read Turning Around Failing Projects In business project teams are everywhere. Project teams are generally put together to deliverhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/25/are-meetings-keeping-you-away-from-getting-things-doneBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/25/are-meetings-keeping-you-away-from-getting-things-done/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/25/are-meetings-keeping-you-away-from-getting-things-doneThu, 25 Oct 2012 17:00:00 GMTAre meetings keeping you away from getting things done? Meetings seem to be the bane of business life: on the one hand they generally produce few results; on the other hand, when crises arise, it always feels like there were not enough of them. How to move from information sharing and fire-fighting approaches to coordinating commitments and tracking progress against common goals. Ask your questions here 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoEffective meetings,Team Coordination,Effective management,Getting things done,Working smartMeetings seem to be the bane of business life: on the one hand they generally produce few results; on the other hand, when crises arise, it always feels like thttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/12/do-your-employees-even-careManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/12/do-your-employees-even-care/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/10/12/do-your-employees-even-careFri, 12 Oct 2012 21:00:00 GMTDo your employees even care? Are your employees committed to the success of the organization as much as you are? Or do they seem to just be along for the ride? Are they coming up with fresh ideas, or turning everything into a problem? Every one cares about something, but how can a leader make that care relevant to what needs to be accomplished? Ask your questions here 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoEmployee initiative,Engagement,Motivation,Leadership,Management skillsAre your employees committed to the success of the organization as much as you are? Or do they seem to just be along for the ride? Are they coming up with freshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/09/25/how-to-stand-in-your-power-as-a-leaderManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/09/25/how-to-stand-in-your-power-as-a-leader/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/09/25/how-to-stand-in-your-power-as-a-leaderTue, 25 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMTHow to stand in your power as a leader As individuals grow into leadership positions they are often reluctant to step into their power as leaders. For them power equates to force, and in their search for consensus they recoil from the full role of leaders: setting directions and handling breakdowns.  Ask your questions here 00:29:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Personal power,Management,Setting direction,Handling breakdownsAs individuals grow into leadership positions they are often reluctant to step into their power as leaders. For them power equates to force, and in their searchttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/08/14/can-people-with-different-personalities-work-togetherBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/08/14/can-people-with-different-personalities-work-together/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/08/14/can-people-with-different-personalities-work-togetherTue, 14 Aug 2012 16:00:00 GMTCan people with different personalities work together? Also read our article Personality Types in the Workplace Much time is spent trying to define and understand personality types because personalities have on an obvious impact on how a team can work together. The problem is that personalities are just about impossible to change. What we have found, however, is that what is often described as a personality trait is merely the expression of a particular mindset. Mindsets have a much greater impact on people’s attitudes and behaviors than their personalities. Mindsets can also change and they can change quickly and profoundly with great impact on team performance. Our advice is give up on understanding personalities and focus on mindset. Ask your questions here   00:36:00Business AdvisorsnoPersonality types,Mindset,Team work,Performance,BehaviorsAlso read our article Personality Types in the Workplace Much time is spent trying to define and understand personality types because personalities have on anhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/07/26/sparking-initiative-in-your-people-dos-and-dontsManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/07/26/sparking-initiative-in-your-people-dos-and-donts/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/07/26/sparking-initiative-in-your-people-dos-and-dontsThu, 26 Jul 2012 17:00:00 GMTSparking Initiative in your People — Do’s and Don’ts Privately many leaders complain to us that they cannot get their staff to step up and take initiative. In this episode, we explore with our listeners 1) what can be done to foster an environment conducive to individual initiative and 2) what are the behaviors in leaders that act as wet blankets on their staff’s initiative, and must be avoided at all costs. Ask your questions here 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Initiative,Management,Innovation,InspirationPrivately many leaders complain to us that they cannot get their staff to step up and take initiative. In this episode, we explore with our listeners 1) what chttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/06/19/why-is-accountability-such-a-dirty-wordManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/06/19/why-is-accountability-such-a-dirty-word/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/06/19/why-is-accountability-such-a-dirty-wordTue, 19 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMTWhy is Accountability such a Dirty Word? Also read our article Why is Accountability a Dirty Word? Leaders and their staffs alike generally display some discomfort at discussing the subject of accountability. Yet if leaders conceive of accountabiltiy as a collaborative process, it rapidly sharpens the effectiveness of any group action by connecting the dots from strategy to outcome. Proper accountability is actually a relief as it gives each individual a clear picture of how they link the high-level ideas of the planning meetings to what they need to do when they get back to their desks. Ask your questions here 00:30:00Business AdvisorsnoAccountability,Leadership,Collaboration,Team Action,ManagementAlso read our article Why is Accountability a Dirty Word? Leaders and their staffs alike generally display some discomfort at discussing the subject of accounhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/31/is-overwhelm-an-excuse-for-poor-performanceManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/31/is-overwhelm-an-excuse-for-poor-performance/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/31/is-overwhelm-an-excuse-for-poor-performanceThu, 31 May 2012 16:00:00 GMTIs Overwhelm An Excuse for Poor Performance? No time to sit and think; overwhelm is ofter the excuse for not working on fixing the very conditions of overwhelm. There is an irrational fear that creating accountabiltiy for all is going to bring on more pain and no benefits. What needs to happen is a sustained focus on changing patterns of behavior and team interactions. 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoOverwhelm,Team dynamics,Leadership,Performance,ManagementNo time to sit and think; overwhelm is ofter the excuse for not working on fixing the very conditions of overwhelm. There is an irrational fear that creating ahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/10/leadership-transitions-how-to-do-it-rightManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/10/leadership-transitions-how-to-do-it-right/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/05/10/leadership-transitions-how-to-do-it-rightThu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 GMTLeadership Transitions: How to Do It Right   The arrival of a new leader at the helm of a department, division, or organization typically follows the same ritual. The leader benefits from a few months of relative calm, the honeymoon period, where he or she is not expected to have answers yet or be fully effective. The clock is however ticking and the leader feels increasing pressure as the days go by.  The mature leader will know that this is the period to withhold judgment and decisions and explore as openly as possible the new situation. Meeting people one-on-one ads up to hours and weeks of exploration. The leader collects the many views, often in conflict, and has to decide for himself what is real. We commonly see transition periods stretching out to 6 months. This process is not effective; our experience is that with the support of the organization, the new leader can be have a fully operational team in a matter of 3 months. Join us as we discuss a different approach. 00:32:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Transitions,Management,Change,OnboardingThe arrival of a new leader at the helm of a department, division, or organization typically follows the same ritual. The leader benefits from a few monthshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/26/igniting-team-productivityManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/26/igniting-team-productivity/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/26/igniting-team-productivityThu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMTIgniting Team Productivity   The collective thinking about productivity is for the most part a remnant of the industrial age: productivity improvements are expected to be slow, marginal gains. In an economy dominated by services and knowledge-based industries, productivity is less and less dependent on capital assets, machinery, and more on human interactions. In many organizations, we have found that team productivity improvements can be not only fast but also dramatic, not 5% but 50% and more.  00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Productivity,Performance,Team Building,ManagementThe collective thinking about productivity is for the most part a remnant of the industrial age: productivity improvements are expected to be slow, marginalhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/12/every-day-team-building-for-leadersManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/12/every-day-team-building-for-leaders/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/04/12/every-day-team-building-for-leadersThu, 12 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMTEvery Day Team Building for Leaders Team building must be an every day concern for leaders. Team building exercises at the annual retreat are potentially doing more harm than good; focusing on all getting along has often a chilling effect on the ability of individuals to express openly what is of concern to them. 00:39:00Business AdvisorsnoTeam building,Leadership,Management,Communications,AlignmentTeam building must be an every day concern for leaders. Team building exercises at the annual retreat are potentially doing more harm than good; focusing on alhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/21/staying-the-course-implementing-your-stragegy-without-failManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/21/staying-the-course-implementing-your-stragegy-without-fail/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/21/staying-the-course-implementing-your-stragegy-without-failWed, 21 Mar 2012 17:00:00 GMTStaying the Course: Implementing Your Strategy without Fail How to make sure that what has been decided and committed to gets documented, tracked and delivered. Teams need to keep practicing how to hold productive meetings that stay focused on what is needed to meet the team outcomes rather than getting lost in the minutia of what they have done so far. Leaders need support too to provide proper guidance: keeping the clarity of vision upfront, resolving the issues that no one else in the team can tackle, and holding regular accountability interactions. Too many leaders get busy on others issues right after the strategy setting, and fail to make accountability a clear priority. 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoStrategy,Leadership,Strategy Implementation,Motivation,AccountabilityHow to make sure that what has been decided and committed to gets documented, tracked and delivered. Teams need to keep practicing how to hold productive meetihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/01/converting-your-strategy-into-a-blueprint-for-actionManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/01/converting-your-strategy-into-a-blueprint-for-action/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/03/01/converting-your-strategy-into-a-blueprint-for-actionThu, 01 Mar 2012 16:00:00 GMTConverting your Strategy into a Blueprint for Action   In this episode, we discuss a simple proven approach to convert your strategic decisions into a blueprint for action rapidly. This is a critical step because for a strategy to be implemented, it needs to be understood by those that are to implement it. Why certain choices of direction have been made must be clear.  Yet if you leave it at that, most people will have a hard time reconciling how to get from where they are to where you want them to be. The high ideas of strategy will die on the “messy” realities of everyday issues. For everything to come together, the high level strategy has to be articulated into a blueprint for action drawn with the participations of implementers. The blueprint will identify initiatives in detail: what, by whom, when, milestones, etc. and check those tasks against the organization’s ability to deliver them with existing capacities.  00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoStrategy,Leadership,Performance,Blueprint for action,Team engagementIn this episode, we discuss a simple proven approach to convert your strategic decisions into a blueprint for action rapidly. This is a critical step becaushttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/17/why-could-you-possibly-need-a-strategyManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/17/why-could-you-possibly-need-a-strategy/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/17/why-could-you-possibly-need-a-strategyFri, 17 Feb 2012 18:00:00 GMTWhy Could You Possibly Need a Strategy?   Join us as we explore what a well conceived strategy can do for any organization whether business, agency, or NGO. From its conception to its implementation, what gives impetus to a strategy is whether participants are fully engaged with it. A strategy cannot simply be a document that people read for information, it has to be a common agreement that makes it clear to all involved what the ultimate objective is, what each one will do to contribute toward that outcome in their day to day decisions. As Michael Porter, the Harvard University strategy professor, said: “The #1 purpose of strategy is alignment.”00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoStrategy,Leadership,Engagement,Performance,AlignmentJoin us as we explore what a well conceived strategy can do for any organization whether business, agency, or NGO. From its conception to its implementationhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/02/what-is-rational-leadershipManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/02/what-is-rational-leadership/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/02/02/what-is-rational-leadershipThu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 GMTWhat is Rational Leadership?   Sticking to the facts? Avoiding emotional time-wasters? Keeping on task? OR... is it really? 00:30:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Emotional,Rational,Management,Team performanceSticking to the facts? Avoiding emotional time-wasters? Keeping on task? OR... is it really?http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/01/16/fear-and-self-protection-the-seeds-of-team-failureBusinesshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/01/16/fear-and-self-protection-the-seeds-of-team-failure/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2012/01/16/fear-and-self-protection-the-seeds-of-team-failureMon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMTFear and Self-Protection: the Seeds of Team Failure We sometimes hear that fear is a powerful motivator. It may be so on the battlefield, but in organizations, fear, and the accompanying need to protect oneself, is actually what brings teams to fail or under-perform. Leaders, in their desire to see results and to get things done fast, invariably drive team meetings to focus on technical discussions and how things are going to get. Yet things are not going to get done if individuals commit to tasks that they know they cannot deliver or team members cannot coordinate their actions properly because they have not been able to speak truthfully. Leaders need to foremost create the space where individuals feel safe to talk openly about what they think should be done, or what is preventing them from completing what is asked of them. 00:30:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership Skills,Team Dynamics,Build Effective Teams,Team Performance,Team DevelopmentWe sometimes hear that fear is a powerful motivator. It may be so on the battlefield, but in organizations, fear, and the accompanying need to protect oneself,http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/12/16/mistakes-to-avoid-when-leading-a-critical-meetingManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/12/16/mistakes-to-avoid-when-leading-a-critical-meeting/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/12/16/mistakes-to-avoid-when-leading-a-critical-meetingFri, 16 Dec 2011 20:00:00 GMTMistakes to Avoid when Leading a Critical Meeting There are 3 mistakes meeting participants commonly make that negatively impact the implementation of the decisions taken during the meeting. In this episode we discuss our experience and three very simple strategies to make the meetings you hold productive. 00:31:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Effective Meetings,Management,Team Dynamics,LeadingThere are 3 mistakes meeting participants commonly make that negatively impact the implementation of the decisions taken during the meeting. In this episode wehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/29/handling-emotional-conversations-productivelyManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/29/handling-emotional-conversations-productively/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/29/handling-emotional-conversations-productivelyTue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 GMTHandling Emotional Conversations Productively Are you avoiding the conversations that are potentially emotional? Or are you repeating the same angry unproductive exchanges? What is it costing you personally and your organization? Is there a path other than fight or flight? 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoConflict,Leadership,Management,Productive meetings,Team dynamicsAre you avoiding the conversations that are potentially emotional? Or are you repeating the same angry unproductive exchanges? What is it costing you personallhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/09/is-a-fun-culture-key-to-a-companys-successManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/09/is-a-fun-culture-key-to-a-companys-success/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/11/09/is-a-fun-culture-key-to-a-companys-successWed, 09 Nov 2011 18:00:00 GMTIs a fun culture key to a company’s success? Technology start-ups pride themselves in having the type of fun culture that attracts young talent.  As the companies grow, they experience that newcomers don’t necessarily have the same view of what fun is, and that, as new concerns emerge, new skills and new practices are required.  We explore what people value in a workplace, and what are the elements of a “fun” culture that are worth keeping. 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoCulture,Start-ups,Leadership,Management,ChangeTechnology start-ups pride themselves in having the type of fun culture that attracts young talent.  As the companies grow, they experience that newcomers don’http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/27/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-2Managementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/27/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-2/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/27/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-2Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:30:00 GMTImproving Team Coordination and Follow-through—Part 2 Team meetings usually focus on what each participant has done since the previous meeting.  A lot of minute details are brought forward that are mostly not relevant to others.  As individuals perceive that the meeting is not directly relevant, their interest and attention diminish.  How can a leader bring focus to such meetings, keep them short and at maximum relevance for all to ensure that all team members are fully engaged? 00:35:00Business AdvisorsnoTeam Meetings,Productive Meetings,Leadership,Managing meetings,PerformanceTeam meetings usually focus on what each participant has done since the previous meeting.  A lot of minute details are brought forward that are mostly not relehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/13/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-1Managementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/13/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-1/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/10/13/improving-team-coordination-and-follow-throughpart-1Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:00 GMTImproving Team Coordination and Follow-through—Part 1   Even with the best intentions, project implementations often flounder because teams rush forward to carry out tasks without full understanding of the desired outcomes, and of all the parts  needed for the implementation to work.  The price for not investing time upfront is paid over and over once the project gets off track and pressures build to correct course.    In this 2-part series, we explore how leaders can keep teams on target without delving into micro-management.00:29:00Business AdvisorsnoTeam meeting,Leadership,Management,Implementation,PlanningEven with the best intentions, project implementations often flounder because teams rush forward to carry out tasks without full understanding of the desirehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/29/moving-from-conflict-to-productive-conversationsManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/29/moving-from-conflict-to-productive-conversations/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/29/moving-from-conflict-to-productive-conversationsThu, 29 Sep 2011 17:30:00 GMTMoving from Conflict to Productive ConversationsDo conversations need to be confrontational or at least blunt in order to get to the bottom of things?  We discuss our experience on how to have authentic productive conversations that get results by applying a few simple skills in interactions with colleagues and team members. 00:32:00Business AdvisorsnoProductive conversation,Conflict resolution,Leadership,Team building,Building trustDo conversations need to be confrontational or at least blunt in order to get to the bottom of things?  We discuss our experience on how to have authentic produhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/16/improve-your-teams-results-in-one-dayManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/16/improve-your-teams-results-in-one-day/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/09/16/improve-your-teams-results-in-one-dayFri, 16 Sep 2011 16:00:00 GMTImprove your team's results in one day Whether you, as a leader, need to define a new strategy, improve performance, or implement needed changes, the most effective point of leverage you have is to improve the mindset of the team that will carry out the objectives. Leaders we work with often think of this as nearly impossible.  In this episode we discuss our experience of turning around the mindset of a group from apathetic to positive in one day. 00:36:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Team building,Change management,Fast results,MindsetWhether you, as a leader, need to define a new strategy, improve performance, or implement needed changes, the most effective point of leverage you have is tohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/19/getting-off-the-treadmill-not-so-easy-for-leadersManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/19/getting-off-the-treadmill-not-so-easy-for-leaders/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/19/getting-off-the-treadmill-not-so-easy-for-leadersFri, 19 Aug 2011 16:00:00 GMTGetting off the treadmill: not so easy for leaders.   Meetings; making sure that everything is taken care of; balancing short-term results and long-term strategy, the day of a leader is often an incessant barrage of demands with little time to step back and consider if their time is used in the best way for themselves and for the sake of the organization they lead.  We discuss the common traps and how to work your way into leading instead of sweating the details. 00:35:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Get off the treadmill,Management,How to lead,the art of delegationMeetings; making sure that everything is taken care of; balancing short-term results and long-term strategy, the day of a leader is often an incessant barrahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/10/how-to-have-more-productive-team-meetingsManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/10/how-to-have-more-productive-team-meetings/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/08/10/how-to-have-more-productive-team-meetingsWed, 10 Aug 2011 17:00:00 GMTHow to have more productive team meetings   Meetings are key moments in the life of an organization but are generally viewed as time drains because they are often ineffective. In this episode we discuss two types of meetings, the status report meeting and the planning meeting and some of the traps that a leader can avoid in order to energize meetings and improve outcomes. 00:37:00Business AdvisorsnoEffective Meetings,Leadership,Management,Team,ProductivityMeetings are key moments in the life of an organization but are generally viewed as time drains because they are often ineffective. In this episode we discuhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/20/how-to-define-an-activating-purposeManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/20/how-to-define-an-activating-purpose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/20/how-to-define-an-activating-purposeWed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMTHow to Define an Activating Purpose?Some organizations or teams have especially challenging missions.  Others are in a more supporting function.  Others yet don’t see them involved at all in the end results.  This affects morale, the ability to benchmark how they are doing, and takes away real incentives to keep them checking on the efficient use of resources and value-added outcomes.   00:30:00Business AdvisorsnoPurpose,Mission,Leadership,Management,VisionSome organizations or teams have especially challenging missions.  Others are in a more supporting function.  Others yet don’t see them involved at all in the ehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/06/summer-time-for-a-break-or-move-forwardManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/06/summer-time-for-a-break-or-move-forward/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/07/06/summer-time-for-a-break-or-move-forwardWed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMTSummer: Time for a Break? Or Moving Forward?Given summer is upon us, do you hold off on major action to reorganize/transform teams, or is now the opportune time?  Many leaders don’t see summer as the ideal time to step back and reflect on their vision, strategy or restructuring.  Wise leaders, however, know that there is no ‘real’ best time to do this work and take advantage of the summer season to initiate these vital conversations, knowing full well the discomfort they may bring to their teams. 00:26:00Business AdvisorsnoStrategy,Leadership,Planning,Change management,Team dynamicsGiven summer is upon us, do you hold off on major action to reorganize/transform teams, or is now the opportune time?  Many leaders don’t see summer as the ideahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/15/whole-system-thinking-for-strategy-alignment-performanceManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/15/whole-system-thinking-for-strategy-alignment-performance/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/15/whole-system-thinking-for-strategy-alignment-performanceWed, 15 Jun 2011 16:00:00 GMTWhole System Thinking for strategy, alignment, performance   How to create strategic vision, alignment of people and implementation performance.  Whole system thinking prevents common pitfalls that groups easily fall into by missing their own blind spots, jumping to conclusions without considering unintended impacts, focusing on the solutions that the more forceful members of the group put forward.  Whole system thinking considers all the parts of the system, and its interactions with its functional environment.  Used effectively it leads to common ground faster, generates solutions that everyone believes in, and accelerates implementation of change because everyone understands how their own tasks integrate with the common goals. 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoWhole system,Leadership,Strategy,Performance,Change managegementHow to create strategic vision, alignment of people and implementation performance.  Whole system thinking prevents common pitfalls that groups easily fall ihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/03/re-energizing-teams-demoralized-by-failureManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/03/re-energizing-teams-demoralized-by-failure/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/06/03/re-energizing-teams-demoralized-by-failureFri, 03 Jun 2011 17:00:00 GMTRe-energizing Teams Demoralized by Failure     How do leaders revitalize teams that are demotivated from having experienced failure for outcomes they were not totally responsible for?  We explore the pattern of how the downspin occurs, and offer insights into effective ways to re-energize teams that have needed experience and knowledge into re-inventing purpose and approaches. 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoEnergizing Teams,Leadership,Management,Surmounting Failure,New purposeHow do leaders revitalize teams that are demotivated from having experienced failure for outcomes they were not totally responsible for?  We explore the phttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/19/how-to-make-your-board-meetings-more-productiveManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/19/how-to-make-your-board-meetings-more-productive/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/19/how-to-make-your-board-meetings-more-productiveThu, 19 May 2011 16:00:00 GMTHow to Make Your Board Meetings More Productive   Running or even attending board meetings is often a suboptimal experience.  There are many incarnations of boards from corporations, to charitable organizations to family businesses or professional partnerships.  There are elements that are characteristic of boards that create challenges in themselves; board members are often peers; they may not have access to the same information that managers have; they may not have the experience of organizations.  How can those individuals come together in effective gatherings to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities of oversight and guidance? 00:35:00Business Advisorsnoleadership,management,board meetings,board members,cultureRunning or even attending board meetings is often a suboptimal experience.  There are many incarnations of boards from corporations, to charitable organizatihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/04/how-to-avoid-team-burnoutManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/04/how-to-avoid-team-burnout/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/05/04/how-to-avoid-team-burnoutWed, 04 May 2011 18:00:00 GMTHow to avoid team burnoutPeople can work hard for short periods of times when they are clear about the purpose.  When overwhelm goes on for too long, it interferes with people’s life and raises stress.  Interactions become tenser, communications suffer, misunderstandings increase. It is vital to work on clarity; not let friction build. 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Burnout,Team building,Management,StressPeople can work hard for short periods of times when they are clear about the purpose.  When overwhelm goes on for too long, it interferes with people’s life anhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/21/the-impact-of-the-leaders-style-on-the-groups-cultureManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/21/the-impact-of-the-leaders-style-on-the-groups-culture/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/21/the-impact-of-the-leaders-style-on-the-groups-cultureThu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:00 GMTThe Impact of the Leader’s Style on the Group’s Culture[WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THIS RECORDING.  WE EXPERIENCED TECHNICAL PROBLEMS DURING THE SHOW]   A group's performance largely depends on its dominant culture, whether positive or negative.  Over time, culture is influenced primarily by the style of the leader.  The leader can therefore increase the group's performance by using a generative type of leadership.  On the other hand, a new leader may find that the group they are taking over operates in a negative culture that is the legacy of the previous leader.  Before it can be changed the existing culture needs to be understood by the new leader. 00:38:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Culture,Group performance,Team dynamics,team building[WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THIS RECORDING.  WE EXPERIENCED TECHNICAL PROBLEMS DURING THE SHOW]   A group's performance largely depends on its dominahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/08/creativity-and-innovation-in-the-work-placeManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/08/creativity-and-innovation-in-the-work-place/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/04/08/creativity-and-innovation-in-the-work-placeFri, 08 Apr 2011 20:30:00 GMTCreativity and Innovation in the Work PlaceHow can leaders stimulate the creativity and innovation that their organization absolutely needs in order to remain relevant in the current marketplace? How to motivate their staff to embrace initiative and new work practices? The tendency to push or make a rational case is generally met by resistance and defensiveness. Change comes from leaders engage their teams into new conversations where they can move from polarizing positions to a place where new solutions are free to be conceived. 00:33:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Creativity,Innovation,Team Engagement,Team InitiativeHow can leaders stimulate the creativity and innovation that their organization absolutely needs in order to remain relevant in the current marketplace? How tohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/23/operating-when-leadership-from-the-top-is-missingManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/23/operating-when-leadership-from-the-top-is-missing/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/23/operating-when-leadership-from-the-top-is-missingWed, 23 Mar 2011 16:00:00 GMTOperating When Leadership from the Top is Missing Teams generally expect supervisors to give them clear goals. They can then focus on how to get things done. When marching orders are vague or seem unrealistic, teams are ill prepared to deal with the uncertainty. They are walking, ready or not, into an environment where setting direction and handling problems are up to the team. Teams have to reinvent the way they work together if they want to succeed: personal high stress and withdrawal are the very factors that will prevent them from stepping up to the challenge. 00:34:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Management,Team Dynamics,Initiative,StrategyTeams generally expect supervisors to give them clear goals. They can then focus on how to get things done. When marching orders are vague or seem unrealistic,http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/12/the-productivity-sinkholeesManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/12/the-productivity-sinkholees/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/03/12/the-productivity-sinkholeesSat, 12 Mar 2011 16:00:00 GMTThe Productivity SinkholesProductivity is mostly discussed in terms of process efficiency or cost reductions, but we have found over the years that the factors that drain productivity the most show up every time someone has to move forward with a new task. Repeated hundreds even thousands of time during the day, these holdbacks and hesitations absorb huge amounts of time. Remove confusion, distrust and fear of failure, and reallocate the time absorbed by those factors, and your team’s productivity and performance will take off. 00:36:00Business AdvisorsnoLeadership,Productivity,Performance,Efficiency,InitiativeProductivity is mostly discussed in terms of process efficiency or cost reductions, but we have found over the years that the factors that drain productivity thhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/24/make-your-strategy-happenManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/24/make-your-strategy-happen/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/24/make-your-strategy-happenThu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:00 GMTMake your Strategy HappenJust a few months after the strategy has been set, the original intent is but a faint memory. Little has changed, plans have not been implemented and performance against the original goals is so off that they are no longer helpful. The seeds for things to unravel during implementation appear at the very beginning of the strategy planning. Implementation cannot an after-thought; it has to be included in evaluating whether the strategy is coherent from inception.00:36:00Business Advisorsnoleadership,strategy,implementation,planning,managementJust a few months after the strategy has been set, the original intent is but a faint memory. Little has changed, plans have not been implemented and performanhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/11/from-purpose-to-actionManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/11/from-purpose-to-action/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/02/11/from-purpose-to-actionFri, 11 Feb 2011 17:00:00 GMTFrom Purpose to ActionWhat is clear to leaders is often not understood by anyone else around them. And without being clear on what really matters, employees are ill prepared to take initiative, give the appropriate feedback and carry out their responsibilities in the most effective way. Create a clear picture of how the mission flows to the action steps, and the team begins naturally to operate at a higher lever, coordinating better, working smarter not harder, and improving follow-through in a matter of days.00:36:00Business Advisorsnoleadership,management,purpose,action plan,work smarterWhat is clear to leaders is often not understood by anyone else around them. And without being clear on what really matters, employees are ill prepared to takehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/26/mindset-and-performanceManagementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/26/mindset-and-performance/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/26/mindset-and-performanceWed, 26 Jan 2011 17:00:00 GMTMindset and PerformanceWe all know that people with a poor mindset have a hard time performing well. It shows up in sports in a striking manner. Much is said about boosting employee morale but for most leaders it is an elusive goal. We discuss how this can be resolved by helping employees feel less overwhelmed by understanding how they fit in the overall system, and how they specifically contribute to the team's success. 00:31:00Business Advisorsnoleadership,management,strategy,performance,mindsetWe all know that people with a poor mindset have a hard time performing well. It shows up in sports in a striking manner. Much is said about boosting employee mhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/13/the-elephant-in-the-room-1Managementhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/13/the-elephant-in-the-room-1/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessadvisors/2011/01/13/the-elephant-in-the-room-1Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:00:00 GMTThe Elephant in the RoomAlain and Scott discuss what to do when teams get stuck by avoiding the very issues that need to be dealt with.00:35:00Business Advisorsnoleadership,management,strategy,performance,changeAlain and Scott discuss what to do when teams get stuck by avoiding the very issues that need to be dealt with.