Qualities That Make A Great Leader

Qualities That Make A Great Leader

Having a great idea, and assembling a team to bring that concept to life is the first step in creating a successful business venture. While finding a new and unique idea is rare enough; the ability to successfully execute this idea is what separates the dreamers from the entrepreneurs. However you see yourself, whatever your age may be, as soon as you make that exciting first hire, you have taken the first steps in becoming a powerful leader. When money is tight, stress levels are high, and the visions of instant success don’t happen like you thought, it’s easy to let those emotions get to you, and thereby your team. Take a breath, calm yourself down, and remind yourself of the leader you are and would like to become. Here are some key qualities that every good leader should possess, and learn to emphasize.

Honesty

Whatever ethical plane you hold yourself to, when you are responsible for a team of people, its important to raise the bar even higher. Your business and its employees are a reflection of yourself, and if you make honest and ethical behavior a key value, your team will follow suit.

As we do at RockThePost, the crowdfunding platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses I co-founded, try to make a list of values and core beliefs that both you and your brand represent, and post this in your office. Promote a healthy interoffice lifestyle, and encourage your team to live up to these standards. By emphasizing these standards, and displaying them yourself, you will hopefully influence the office environment into a friendly and helpful workspace.

Ability to Delegate

Finessing your brand vision is essential to creating an organized and efficient business, but if you don’t learn to trust your team with that vision, you might never progress to the next stage. Its important to remember that trusting your team with your idea is a sign of strength, not weakness. Delegating tasks to the appropriate departments is one of the most important skills you can develop as your business grows. The emails and tasks will begin to pile up, and the more you stretch yourself thin, the lower the quality of your work will become, and the less you will produce.

The key to delegation is identifying the strengths of your team, and capitalizing on them. Find out what each team member enjoys doing most. Chances are if they find that task more enjoyable, they will likely put more thought and effort behind it. This will not only prove to your team that you trust and believe in them, but will also free up your time to focus on the higher level tasks, that should not be delegated. It’s a fine balance, but one that will have a huge impact on the productivity of your business.

Communication

Knowing what you want accomplished may seem clear in your head, but if you try to explain it to someone else and are met with a blank expression, you know there is a problem. If this has been your experience, then you may want to focus on honing your communication skills. Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is extremely important. If you can’t relate your vision to your team, you won’t all be working towards the same goal.

Training new members and creating a productive work environment all depend on healthy lines of communication. Whether that stems from an open door policy to your office, or making it a point to talk to your staff on a daily basis, making yourself available to discuss interoffice issues is vital. Your team will learn to trust and depend on you, and will be less hesitant to work harder.

Sense of Humor

If your website crashes, you lose that major client, or your funding dries up, guiding your team through the process without panicking is as challenging as it is important. Morale is linked to productivity, and it’s your job as the team leader to instill a positive energy. That’s where your sense of humor will finally pay off. Encourage your team to laugh at the mistakes instead of crying. If you are constantly learning to find the humor in the struggles, your work environment will become a happy and healthy space, where your employees look forward to working in, rather than dreading it. Make it a point to crack jokes with your team and encourage personal discussions of weekend plans and trips. It’s these short breaks from the task at hand that help keep productivity levels high and morale even higher.

At RockThePost, we place a huge emphasis on humor and a light atmosphere. Our office is dog friendly, and we really believe it is the small, light hearted moments in the day that help keep our work creative and fresh. One tradition that we like to do and brings the team closer is we plan a fun prank on all new employees, on their first day. It breaks the ice and immediately creates that sense of familiarity.

Confidence

There may be days where the future of your brand is worrisome and things aren’t going according to plan. This is true with any business, large or small, and the most important thing is not to panic. Part of your job as a leader is to put out fires and maintain the team morale. Keep up your confidence level, and assure everyone that setbacks are natural and the important thing is to focus on the larger goal. As the leader, by staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same. Remember, your team will take cues from you, so if you exude a level of calm damage control, your team will pick up on that feeling. The key objective is to keep everyone working and moving ahead.

Commitment

If you expect your team to work hard and produce quality content, you’re going to need to lead by example. There is no greater motivation than seeing the boss down in the trenches working alongside everyone else, showing that hard work is being done on every level. By proving your commitment to the brand and your role, you will not only earn the respect of your team, but will also instill that same hardworking energy among your staff. It’s important to show your commitment not only to the work at hand, but also to your promises. If you pledged to host a holiday party, or uphold summer Fridays, keep your word. You want to create a reputation for not just working hard, but also be known as a fair leader. Once you have gained the respect of your team, they are more likely to deliver the peak amount of quality work possible.

Positive Attitude

You want to keep your team motivated towards the continued success of the company, and keep the energy levels up. Whether that means providing snacks, coffee, relationship advice, or even just an occasional beer in the office, remember that everyone on your team is a person. Keep the office mood a fine balance between productivity and playfulness.

If your team is feeling happy and upbeat, chances are they won’t mind staying that extra hour to finish a report, or devoting their best work to the brand.

Creativity

Some decisions will not always be so clear-cut. You may be forced at times to deviate from your set course and make an on the fly decision. This is where your creativity will prove to be vital. It is during these critical situations that your team will look to you for guidance and you may be forced to make a quick decision. As a leader, its important to learn to think outside the box and to choose which of two bad choices is the best option. Don’t immediately choose the first or easiest possibility; sometimes its best to give these issues some thought, and even turn to your team for guidance. By utilizing all possible options before making a rash decision, you can typically reach the end conclusion you were aiming for.

Intuition

When leading a team through uncharted waters, there is no roadmap on what to do. Everything is uncertain, and the higher the risk, the higher the pressure. That is where your natural intuition has to kick in. Guiding your team through the process of your day-to-day tasks can be honed down to a science. But when something unexpected occurs, or you are thrown into a new scenario, your team will look to you for guidance. Drawing on past experience is a good reflex, as is reaching out to your mentors for support. Eventually though, the tough decisions will be up to you to decide and you will need to depend on your gut instinct for answers. Learning to trust yourself is as important as your team learning to trust you.

Ability to Inspire

Creating a business often involves a bit of forecasting. Especially in the beginning stages of a startup, inspiring your team to see the vision of the successes to come is vital. Make your team feel invested in the accomplishments of the company. Whether everyone owns a piece of equity, or you operate on a bonus system, generating enthusiasm for the hard work you are all putting in is so important. Being able to inspire your team is great for focusing on the future goals, but it is also important for the current issues. When you are all mired deep in work, morale is low, and energy levels are fading, recognize that everyone needs a break now and then. Acknowledge the work that everyone has dedicated and commend the team on each of their efforts. It is your job to keep spirits up, and that begins with an appreciation for the hard work.

Tips for becoming a true leader

Tips for becoming a true leader

1. Real leadership means leading yourself. Passing out orders is as easy as passing out business cards. But a prudent leader also knows how to lead himself or herself—not merely to provide a genuine example to others, but to become a working element of the overall machinery of your business. “It’s important that leaders have the ability to focus and motivate themselves as they motivate others,” says Larraine Segil, an author and consultant who teaches executive education at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

2. Don’t be a monarch. Thoughtful leadership likely means you already have a talented work force in place. That’s terrific. But be careful not set up a throne room in the process. Accidental leaders often inadvertently establish a system of guidance that’s unnecessarily restrictive. Guide employees, but don’t implement more parameters than are absolutely necessary. “It’s important to influence the people with whom you work,” says Segil. “Don’t see your business as a hierarchy.”

3. Be open to new ways of doing things. One potential land mine of a prosperous operation is to repeat anything that proves successful. It’s hard to argue against that, but an inadvertent leader will put far too much stock in sticking with what always works. By contrast, thoughtful leadership acknowledges success but also recognizes there are always ways to do things better.

4. Remember that white males are fast becoming a minority. Statistics show that white males now make up only a small fraction of the workplace population. Couple that with growing partnerships across borders, and it becomes obvious that blending a variety of cultures and backgrounds in a work environment is an essential leadership skill. A thoughtless leader will try to cope with this as best as he can. One with more vision will work to take advantage of differences. “Competition—the constant push for faster, better, cheaper — mandates that we learn to effectively deal with differences in the workplace,” says career consultant Susan Eckert of Advance Career and Professional Development in Brightwaters, N.Y. A company that weaves an appreciation of diversity into its cultural fabric will make itself “unbeatable,” Eckert says.

5. Establish a genuine sense of commitment. I must admit this is a personal sore point with me. I’ve seen too many company slogans and catch phrases whose import is no deeper than the paper they’re written on. Want to be “committed to superior service”? More power to you, but a genuine leader will see that as words and little else. Instead, put some meat on those bones—establish how to quantify excellence, design a cogent plan to achieve it, and set a reasonable but real timetable for its completion.

6. Finish the job. Many business leaders yak about their complete game, but how many actually finish what they say they’re going to start? A thoughtless leader who never genuinely finishes anything loses the confidence of clients and customers. That lack of follow-through isn’t going to be lost on his or her employees, either. Instead, set goals and establish pragmatic, accountable measures to actually finish what you start. “The ability to complete things is critical,” Segil says. “Nothing’s useful unless you actually complete it.”

7. Show genuine appreciation. Thoughtless leaders must have forearms like Popeye’s, what with all the back-slapping they do. That’s fine, but good performance requires a more substantive response. Leaders with an eye to the future hand out praise but augment it with real rewards: promotions, raises, bonuses, and other tangible tokens of appreciation. That motivates your people, not only to apply themselves with enthusiasm but to stick around your company longer than they might otherwise.

8. Know that leadership skills come from learning, too. Far too may business executives believe leadership skills stem from some sort of wondrous epiphany or other such flash of insight. Sure, great ideas can come to any of us, but being a bona fide leader also means study. Read books on effective leadership, attend seminars, and pick the brains of colleagues to see what works for them. It can be a long education, but one with rewards that multiply with the more knowledge you have under your belt.

Tips to improve your leadership skills

Tips to improve your leadership skills

 1. Verbalize your mission. Too few small business owners verbalize, document or communicate their goals and ambitions for their business. Staff can therefore only assume there will be little change in the coming months or years, and are therefore indirectly working against your growth ambitions.

2. Demonstrate leadership. Steve Jobs left a legacy, and despite the size and complexity of Apple, there was never a doubt in anyone’s mind that Steve was the leader. On the contrary, many small business owners are still engaged in the day-to-day transactions and routines, creating confusion for staff who seek a leader. Learn to work through your team, delegate responsibility, build competencies, and mentor staff progressively.

3. Let go to move forward. Business owners enjoy being connected to the daily dealings of their business, from making a sales call through to delivering the finished product or service, but many of us learned to let go when we first attended university or college. Learn to let go of accountabilities and tactical tasks related to your business and allow your team to do what you pay them to.

4. Shape up or ship them out. A colleague of mine owns a small business, and still operates with at least one of the staff he originally hired nearly six years ago. He feels indebted to this individual, who had stuck with him when times were tough, despite the fact that this individual is an under-performer, misses deadlines, and is rarely courteous to customers. Underperformers (UPR’s) are like a cold. They arrive at the worst possible time, never leave when you want them to, and their poor performance is infectious to everyone around them.

5. Invest in team development. Very few small business owners have the funds available to invest in training staff. However, many of these same businesses belong to local Chambers and trade associations, all of which run either low-cost or no-cost workshops and enrichment sessions. Rather than personally attending these events, provide the opportunity for staff to allow them to learn, grow, and bring greater value to your organization. Have them share what they learned upon their return to extract and spread value to others on the team.

6. Choose a leader. Recently, a peer who owns a small firm confided to me that his biggest challenge is in managing his time. He recognizes that, as the face of the company, he must invest time in business growth. However, since he is the most knowledgeable in business operations, the staff tends to bring him all of their problems and then stand back to admire his talent as he brings prompt resolution. There comes a time when you must invest in a leader, general manager, supervisor, or some other point person who can field staff issues.

7. Capture knowledge. In small companies, the sharing of knowledge is often rare. As individuals are given more responsibility, they become versed in their area but have little time or motivation to share their lessons with other staff, creating a hoarding effect that can reduce team cohesion. You must find means to capture and share tacit knowledge, allowing your operation to function effectively during vacations, sick time, or in the event of a sudden employee departure. By documenting basic processes and developing staff in multiple areas, knowledge becomes less of a secret.

8. Reward as a team. With the exception of an annual Christmas party, many small business owners do not invest in rewarding employees. Earlier in my career I was employed in a small family-owned business, and the most enjoyable time of every week was Friday afternoon. A small group would gather in the owner’s office and talk about anything but work; in fact, you were perceived as insipid if you discussed work-related issues during this time. Rewards don’t have to be monetary; keep in mind that many stay employed in small businesses because they seek more personal relationships with the company’s owner. Invest some time to talk with employees and develop an informal ritual. You might just find significant improvement in team morale.

9. Plan for the worst. Do you have a succession plan in the event of your sudden or unexpected departure from the business? The goal of being a business owner is to support your family, your community, and to provide a product or service that is beneficial to your customers or clients. Being a leader requires contingent plans in the event of your sudden departure or extended leave. Identify individuals who can lead the business, discuss plans with your team to ensure they are aware, and request feedback relative to training and knowledge gaps that may need to be filled.

10. Have fun. Remind yourself of why you entered the entrepreneurial life, and consider the satisfaction and happiness you bring to those whom you employ. Leading is not about being authoritarian or a purveyor of charity, it is about enjoying what you do, sharing your vision, providing direction and assistance, and satisfying customers. The key to any effective leadership is not to take yourself too seriously.

Things To Practice for Effective Communication Skills

Things To Practice for Effective Communication Skills

Having effective communication skills is imperative for your success. Positive communication will certainly increase the opportunities you find in your career and business. Having good communication skills will enable you to get ahead in certain areas where others who are less assertive may not succeed. A few things to keep your eyes on while practicing the fine art of communication are:
Body Language

Do not shy away from the person with whom you are speaking. Be sure to maintain a relaxed, but not slouching posture, regardless whether you are the one speaking or listening. Other things that ensure your body is communicating your attentiveness to the conversation can include:

    Making eye contact.
    Nodding occasionally to acknowledge a strong point in the conversation.
    Standing with hands clasped in front of you, never crossing your arms.
    Not displaying nervous ticks such as wringing hands, picking at your nails, or anything that the person communicating with you will view as a distraction from their conversation.

Speech and Attentiveness

When speaking, you need to be clear and concise. Speak on important matters directly and do not waste time with long drawn out stories that will cause your listener’s mind to wander. Make sure you ask whether they understand, and be willing to further explain any of your points. Do not expect someone to just “know” what you are saying, even if it is crystal clear in your own mind.

In addition, one of the most important aspects of verbal communication is the ability to practice active listening. This is not just actively waiting to talk. Always make mental notes of key points when someone is speaking to you. That way once you are given a chance to speak, you can respond to the most vital issues being dealt with. When others are speaking, try to think about the exact words that they are saying. If you practice this, you will comprehend and contain 75 percent more of the information that you hear.
Communication Consistency

Maybe your weakness is in the quality or quantity with which you communicate to your employees. Communication seems to have dwindled to superficial small talk. Great communicators practice the ability of consistent communication by remaining available. Do not be afraid to be the one who voices any concerns or difficulties. However, ensure that you are practicing open and honest communication with those who may depend on you. Be available and bold with tact.

Be sure to leave communication lines open to those who may need to address problems with you. You will find that you prevent the small issues that normally have the habit of becoming large ones by making those in your life aware that you are open to discussing issues at any time.
Patience

During your communications with others always give them time to communicate their issues as well. Remaining focused on what they are trying to communicate will show them that you are indeed open to assisting with their issues. Many of people’s communication lines tend to break down on the side where impatience is in a rush to get out of the conversation. Since you cannot control the other side, do yourself a favor and take a breath. The conversation you’re involved in is important.

If you are confused as to what someone may be requesting, than repeat back to him or her what you think they said and ask if that is correct. Often this will inspire the speaker to be more in-depth about their needs, which will help you to understand them fully.
Practicing Effective Communication Skills

If someone has communicated a need or an issue to you, then your main priority should be to aid him or her in repairing the problem. Following up on an issue is the only way to convince others whom you need to communicate with that you have listened to them and that their problems or issues are important to you as well.

Practicing strong follow-up will also leave the impression that you are involved in the bigger picture. When people see this commitment, they will know you are open to future communications. This creates a loyal and discerning surrounding that cultivates positive movement and communication. This will develop a strong sense of confidence in those with whom you communicate.
Conclusion

Since the world is so incredibly diverse and communications come in such a wide variety of forms, it is important to know many appropriate and helpful interpersonal skills. By practicing the few suggestions found here, you will find yourself understanding more of what people say and repeating yourself less to other people. Your co-workers and friends will have the confidence to come to you when they find themselves in need. Remember, great communication skills take practice. Do not give up on Day One. Your ability to express yourself will grow almost daily as long as you apply yourself in improving communication skills.

Tips to Increase Your Communication Skills

Tips to Increase Your Communication Skills

1. Awareness of your own interaction with other people is the first step in improving your communication skills.

Learn to identify which types of situations make you uncomfortable and then modify your behavior to achieve positive results is a critical step in improving your communication skills.

You can learn to become aware of behaviors in other people that prompt you to respond in negative ways and modify your own behavior to turn the situation into a positive experience.

2. You must accept responsibility for your own behavior and do not fear apologizing for errors in judgment or insensitive actions.

Asking others for honest feedback about the way you interact with others can be very helpful. Accept the negative feedback along with the positive and make changes accordingly.

3. Your non-verbal communication is equally as important as the things that you say. Positive body language is extremely important in your interactions with other people.

If your words and your actions do not match, you will have a difficult time succeeding in social situations.

4. In order to learn how to improve your communication skills, you must become a great listener. You must fight the urge to respond immediately and really listen to what the other person is trying to communicate.

Offering suggestions or criticism before you are certain of the other person’s intent can only lead to frustration for both parties.

5. Improving your communication skills is a process and cannot be accomplished overnight . Trying to improve or change too many things at once will be counter-productive.

You will become discouraged and overwhelmed if you attempt to change your entire personality all at once. Choose one or two traits at a time and work on those over a period of time. Learn to take advantage of your personal strengths and make a positive impact on others.

6. Maximize your positive personality traits and use them in your interactions with others. Good communication and great listening skills are the most important tools you can use in improving your communication skills.

You can learn how to improve your communication skills by developing excellent listening skills, learning to resolve problems and conflicts, understanding body language, and accepting responsibility for your own negative behavior.

Determination and self-awareness will make your desire to improve your communication skills a reality.

what is communication skills ?

communication skills

Developing the right communication skills for college includes the development of reading, writing, speaking, presenting and listening skills. The tips given below will help you improve all these aspects of communication:

1.      Choosing the right words

Choose words that will really symbolize what you mean. Whether you are talking or writing make sure you select words that will enable the reader or the listener to understand what you really mean. Using jargon may make you feel GOOD but the main point of communication – “the understanding” will be lost.

2.      Ask Questions

Whether it’s a professor, a colleague or even your friend ask questions to make sure you understand what the person really means. Don’t assume things because that can result in creating a negative relationship. It really won’t take long to ask a few questions and understand what he / she means.

3.      Listen Well

Listening well is a great way to AVOID CARELESS ERRORS. For you to become a great communicator you must be willing to listen to the other person’s point of view. You must fight the urge to respond immediately and listen to what the person is trying to communicate.

Even at a heated college debate it is only when you listen to opponent well, can you develop the right response.

4.      Polish your speaking skills

Speaking is an important component that improves in college. Even if you do not follow a public speaking course in most colleges you will be required to deliver presentations on a regular basis. In these instances you should be able to express your point in a SHORT AND SWEET manner.

You don’t need to be a good orator but you need to practice your presentation skills. Practice on how to deliver your point in a way that will INTEREST YOUR AUDIENCE and have an effect on them. By developing this skill at college it will be easier for you to face interviews and job presentations.

5.      Having the Right Attitude

Develop an attitude of dignity and respect for others and yourself. Be confident that you have the ability to communicate well and always be positive. Have an open attitude that is willing to understand people and accept their opinions. This will greatly improve your communication skills in ALL relationships.

6.      Pay attention to non-verbal communication

To communicate effectively, avoid misunderstandings, and enjoy solid, trusting relationships both socially and professionally, it’s important to understand how to use and interpret nonverbal signals.

Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, body postures and gestures, tone of the voice and the space between the speaker and listener.

By learning to manage stress during a communication you will be able to improve your nonverbal communication skills. This is because stress compromises your ability to communicate. When your stress levels are under control you will be sending POSITIVE nonverbal signals encouraging the communication.

Make eye contact with your listener / speaker to let him know that he has your full attention; Nod your head frequently encouraging the person to go on. Have the right personal space to ensure that both the speaker and the listener feel comfortable during the communication.

7.      Make the right judgment

Understand what you want to achieve through the communication. By making the right judgment you will know what to say and what not to say. This self-control will ensure that you don’t fall into any emotional arguments and you will reach the objective of the communication.

8.      Ask for feedback

The best way to know if you communicating right is to ask others. Ask your friends, colleagues, professors, parents etc. for their honest feedback about your communication skills. You need to be able to handle both the positive and negative feedback. Smile on your advantages and make improvements on your shortcomings. That’s all it takes!

career skills and tips for job interview success

career skills and tips for job interview success

Job search techniques change, the labour market changes and job descriptions change. But what more or less stays the same is the job interview. It’s your chance to sell yourself. The first 30 seconds of a job interview are the most important – so if you want to be a cut above the rest you need to be on the ball. Rob Yeung, a business psychologist, maintains that an interview is all about the three Ps. “You need to prepare, you need to practise, and then, on the day, you need to perform.”

Here are 10 tips for interview success.

1. First impressions count
Greet your interviewer with a smile and firm handshake. Give eye contact. Try to make small talk during the walk from the reception area to the interview room. Liz Anderson, a human resources manager says, “You have to sell yourself before you can sell anything else and the first 30 seconds are when the interviewer subconsciously makes decisions about whether they like you or not and whether you will fit into the team.”

2. Be prepared
Re-read your CV and the job advert just before the interview. Do your research thoroughly: Look at the company web site or obtain literature. You may be asked about the salary you are after so make sure you research that as well.

3. Don’t waffle
Answer questions properly – even if you need a few moments’ silence to collect your thoughts. Anderson advises, “It’s better to say you need a minute to think about your answer rather than speak instantly and regret it afterwards.”

4. Why should they hire you?
Most job adverts will list qualities they’re looking for – a team worker, a good communicator – so it’s up to you to think of examples of how you can demonstrate these skills. Be ready to talk about your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. Have at least three strong points about yourself that you can relate to the company and job on offer.

5. Be positive
Your interviewer will be thinking about what it would be like to work with you, so the last thing they’ll want to hear is you talking about your boss or current colleagues behind their back. Interviewers like to see someone who enjoys a challenge and is enthusiastic.

6. Remember your body language
It is not what you say, but how you say it. During the interview, do not fold your arms and lean back or look to the floor! Sit upright and try to maintain good eye contact. Use your hands and lean forward when making a point. Many people cannot think and control their body language at the same time, which is why you need to prepare.

7. Expect the unexpected
Your interviewer may try to catch you off guard: A survey by OfficeAngels has revealed that 90 per cent of employers ask ‘killer’ questions in interviews. It is impossible to plan for every difficult question, such as “How would your colleagues describe you?” but try to appear relaxed and in control. Ask the interviewer to repeat the question if necessary but do not evade it. Hopefully you will not befall the fate of those job candidates at B&Q who were asked to dance to “Blame it on the Boogie”!

8. Develop rapport
Show energy, a sense of humour and smile. Jean Smith, a social anthropologist says: “It’s infectious, being positive and enthusiastic.” Ask your interviewer questions about themselves and any issues the business is facing.

9. Clarify anything you are unsure of
If you are not certain what are meant by a particular question, ask for clarification. At the end, ask the interviewer if there is anything else he or she needs to know about. Do not be afraid to ask when you are likely to hear if you have been successful or not.

10. Remember your manners
It is better to choose than to be chosen. Tell the interviewer why you are interested in the company and job opportunity. Ask them for a business card and follow it up by sending a “thank-you” e-mail or letter, saying how much you enjoyed meeting them and how interested you are. Take the opportunity to detail the key advantages you bring.

most effective techniques for creativity

most effective techniques for creativity

A little over a year ago I launched an app that gives users access to more than 150 creative techniques and thinking methods. The app is called “oflow.”

Within the app you touch a button and a random creative technique or prompt flips into view. It’s super neat. The techniques that display are little (sometimes big) exercises or systems you can use to provoke creative insight into your work, relationships, or life in general.

In the app I included a feature that flatly asked users: “Can I track what you’re anonymously doing with oflow?” Which meant that every time a user who opted-in would open the app, create a note in it, or otherwise interact within the app, that information would be sent to a database with a bunch of other user’s anonymous data.

Last night I took a sample of the data from just September 2013 and realized how insightful it would be to share.

I pulled a little over 6,000 rows of data from 1,600 active users and compiled it into an ordered list of which creative techniques people were finding to be the most helpful.

While other creative method lists are put together at random, this list has been compiled based on real world data! Here are the most beneficial creative techniques. Prepare to get inspired (hopefully).
1. Focus on the process

“Rather than focusing on getting the results you are looking for, shift your focus onto the process you’re using. Ask yourself: ‘How can I change my process to be more creative?’ Or: ‘Am I stuck because of the process I am using?’”

I’m a little surprised this technique is #1 in oflow, but apparently people do find it helpful – 15% of those surveyed, to be exact.

The reason I’m surprised that this technique would be so popular is because it’s a classic prompt to try approaching a problem in a different way. But it does work!

If you were writing a novel, for example, you could look at the process you’re trying to work with and shake it up. If your process is to sit down to create an outline, then trying to write a paragraph, followed by an attempt to expand that paragraph, you could instead think about ways of adjusting that process for improvement.

Rather than writing an outline you would try writing the last paragraph of each potential chapter, from the last chapter to the supposed first, and see how that affects what you’re writing.

That’s just one example of how you would focus and adjust the process.
2. List 100 scenarios

“Linus Pauling, an American chemist, author, and educator, once said that ‘the best way to get a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.’ So set a timer for 15 minutes and list 100 unique ideas out right now. Give it a try. Ready? Go.”

This is one of my favorite methods. The technique works by using two powerful tricks to strengthen your creative output.

The first is to stop critiquing ideas. A primary killer of creativity is when we evaluate and judge our ideas before they’ve had time to fully evolve. If you have to write 100 ideas down on a sheet of paper in 15 minutes, you’re not going to have much time to critique each one individually. This exercise encourages a type of mental “chain reaction” where the ideas just have to keep evolving.

Secondly, 100 ideas for any project is a lot. Depending on the work you’re doing, you’ll find yourself really stretching for original ideas anywhere between the 30 to 75 mark. Fortunately that’s where the real unique stuff lies – by forcing yourself to get to that point, you’re diving head-first into a world of originality.
3. Free write

“Write as fast, honest, and detailed as you possibly can for 15 minutes. Forget about spelling and grammar, just focus on writing. This process allows you to ignore your inner critic and instead focus on the creative process itself.”

We tend to get in our own way when it comes to creativity.

Our inner critic likes to evaluate thoughts based on their realism and utility, rather than originality. This can lead our thinking to a dead-end.

Free writing allows us to not only get out of our own way, but to capture thoughts that are otherwise intangible and difficult to wrangle.

When you free write, you’re capturing all of the invisible, impossible-to-sense connections of the neural networks between your subconscious and conscious. Without worrying about critique, you’re free to fully explore those thoughts. Then, after the writing time is up, you can look back at them (something you can’t do with plain old intangible thoughts).
4. Use a new tool

“Using a notepad to jot down your ideas? Put it away and try using a whiteboard. Solving a puzzle with your hands? Put your hands into your pockets and use only your mouth. Simply try using a different tool.”

I often see people struggle to do any type of creative problem solving or work because they’re so hung up on the tools they’re using.

For instance, writers who won’t write unless they have the right-sized pen with the perfect grip, or designers who simply can’t use anything but Adobe Photoshop.

What we miss out on when we focus too much on the tools we’re used to using is the ability to see how various, new tools could impact our ideas and work.

Attempting to draw a portrait with one of those really, really, ridiculously big markers may not be ideal, but when the artist sees what the result looks like, it’s as though a light has been turned on and suddenly things they couldn’t imagine begin to take shape.

Of course, this isn’t always the case, but more often than not simply using a new tool to do an old job can influence your perception of how that job gets done and the results it produces.
5. Create crap

“Perfectionism can hinder getting started or moving forward, so focus on creating crap just for now. Write something horrible, take some bad photos, make a bad painting, just start now.”

In all honesty I put this prompt into oflow as somewhat of a joke. But it works!

How many times have you sat down to brainstorm ideas only to stop yourself before you even put the pen on the paper, fingers over the keys, or speak your mind?

In a time where incredible work is just a finger-touch or mouse-click away, the desire to create something perfect is almost overwhelming. That daunting feeling of failure stops us from even trying, and prevents us from pursuing creative results.

One solution is to ignore the desire to make something perfect and just start making something. Once that wheel gets going, it can lead to the realization that perfection isn’t that far off, so it keeps going.
6. Fake it

“Dive right into working on your project or problem, pretending (even to yourself) that you know what you’re doing. Spend at least 15 minutes faking your progress to see what comes of it. Remember: fake it ‘til you make it.”

Somewhat surprisingly, this technique is fairly related to the previous one on creating crap. Not surprisingly, both techniques work the same way. By temporary elevating our fear of creating something that’s subpar, we’re able to get into the work and make something creative which then may end up being what we were hoping for (or more).
7. Add constraints

“Even if you already have constraints set in place, constrain yourself even more. Only think in verbs, only draw with basic shapes, restrict yourself to painting only in a tiny space, set eccentric constraints.”

Similar to the technique of using a new tool, when you set additional constraints on a project, you force yourself to explore otherwise avoidable areas of thought.

Consider if what you were working on was shrunk down 1,000%. What would you do then? What if you had to work with your eyes closed for five-minute intervals? Try to imagine what it would be like to have some other constraint put in place to force you to think creatively or out of your norm.

If that wasn’t enough for you, here are few of the other more popular techniques from the app worth trying

Tips for Making Better Decisions

Tips for Making Better Decisions

The one thing everyone on the planet has in common is the undeniable fact we’ve all made our fair share of regrettable decisions. Show me someone who hasn’t made a bad decision and I’ll show you someone who is either not being honest, or someone who avoids decisioning at all costs. Making sound decisions is a skill set that needs to be developed like any other. As a person who works with CEOs on a daily basis, I can tell you with great certainty all leaders are not created equal when it comes to the competency of their decisioning skills. Nothing will test your leadership mettle more than your ability to make decisions.

Why do leaders fail? They make poor choices that lead to bad decisions. And in some cases they compound bad decision upon bad decision. You cannot separate leadership from decisioning, for like it or not, they are inexorably linked. Put simply, the outcome of a leader’s choices and decisions can, and usually will, make or break them. The fact of the matter is that senior executives who rise to the C-suite do so largely based upon their ability to consistently make sound decisions. What most fail to realize is while it may take years of solid decision making to reach the boardroom, it often times only takes one bad decision to fall from the ivory tower. As much as you may wish it wasn’t so, when it comes to being a leader you’re really only as good as your last decision.

Here’s the thing – even leaders who don’t fail make bad decisions from time-to-time. When I reflect back upon the poor decisions I’ve made, it’s not that I wasn’t capable of making the correct decision, but for whatever reason I failed to use sound decisioning methodology. Gut instincts can only take you so far in life, and anyone who operates outside of a sound decisioning framework will eventually fall prey to an act of oversight, misinformation, misunderstanding, manipulation, impulsivity or some other negative influencing factor.

The first key in understanding how to make great decisions is learning how to synthesize the overwhelming amount incoming information leaders must deal with on a daily basis, while making the best decisions possible in a timely fashion. The key to dealing with the voluminous amounts of information is as simple as becoming discerning surrounding the filtering of various inputs.

Understanding that a hierarchy of knowledge exists is critically important when attempting to make prudent decisions. News Flash – not all inputs should weigh equally in one’s decisioning process. By developing a qualitative and quantitative filtering mechanism for your decisioning process you can make better decisions in a shorter period of time. The hierarchy of knowledge is as follows:

Gut Instincts: This is an experiential and/or emotional filter that may often times have no current underpinning of hard analytical support. That said, in absence of other decisioning filters it can sometimes be all a person has to go on when making a decision. Even when more refined analytics are available, your instincts can often provide a very valuable gut check against the reasonability or bias of other inputs. The big take away here is that intuitive decisioning can be refined and improved. My advice is to actually work at becoming very discerning.
Data: Raw data is comprised of disparate facts, statistics, or random inputs that in-and-of-themselves hold little value. Making conclusions based on data in its raw form will lead to flawed decisions based on incomplete data sets.
Information: Information is simply an evolved, or more complete data set. Information is therefore derived from a collection of processed data where context and meaning have been added to disparate facts which allow for a more thorough analysis.
Knowledge: Knowledge is information that has been refined by analysis such that it has been assimilated, tested and/or validated. Most importantly, knowledge is actionable with a high degree of accuracy because proof of concept exists.

Even though people often treat theory and opinion as fact, they are not one and the same. I have witnessed many a savvy executive blur the lines between fact and fiction resulting in an ill advised decision when decisions are made under extreme pressure and outside of a sound decisioning framework. Decisions made at the gut instinct or data level can be made quickly, but offer a higher level of risk. Decisioning at the information level affords a higher degree of risk management, but are still not as safe as those decisions based upon actionable knowledge.

Another aspect that needs to be factored into the decisioning process is the source of the input. I believe it was Cyrus the Great who said “diversity in counsel, unity in command” meaning that good leaders seek the counsel of others, but maintain control over the final decision. While most successful leaders subscribe to this theory, the real question in not whether you should seek counsel, but in fact where, and how much counsel you should seek. You see more input, or the wrong input, doesn’t necessarily add value to a decisioning process. Volume for the sake of volume will only tend to confuse matters, and seeking input from sources that can’t offer significant contributions is likely a waste of time. Two other issues that should be considered in your decisioning process as they relate to the source of input are as follows:

Credibility: What is the track record of your source? Is the source reliable and credible? Are they delivering data, information or knowledge? Will the source tell you what you want to hear, what they want you to hear, or will they provide the unedited version of cold hard truth?
Bias: Are there any hidden and/or competing agendas that are coloring the input being received? Is the input being provided for the benefit of the source or the benefit of the enterprise?

The complexity of the current business landscape, combined with ever increasing expectations of performance, and the speed at which decisions must be made, are a potential recipe for disaster for today’s executive unless a defined methodology for decisioning is put into place. If you incorporate the following metrics into your decisioning framework you will minimize the chances of making a bad decision:

Perform a Situation Analysis: What is motivating the need for a decision? What would happen if no decision is made? Who will the decision impact (both directly and indirectly)? What data, analytics, research, or supporting information do you have to validate the inclinations driving your decision?
Subject your Decision to Public Scrutiny: There are no private decisions. Sooner or later the details surrounding any decision will likely come out. If your decision were printed on the front page of the newspaper how would you feel? What would your family think of your decision? How would your shareholders and employees feel about your decision? Have you sought counsel and/or feedback before making your decision?
Conduct a Cost/Benefit Analysis: Do the potential benefits derived from the decision justify the expected costs? What if the costs exceed projections, and the benefits fall short of projections?
Assess the Risk/Reward Ratio: What are all the possible rewards, and when contrasted with all the potential risks are the odds in your favor, or are they stacked against you?
Assess Whether it is the Right Thing To Do: Standing behind decisions that everyone supports doesn’t particularly require a lot of chutzpah. On the other hand, standing behind what one believes is the right decision in the face of tremendous controversy is the stuff great leaders are made of. My wife has always told me that “you can’t go wrong by going right,” and as usual, I find her advice to be spot on. There are many areas where compromise yields significant benefits, but your value system, your character, or your integrity should never be compromised.
Make The Decision: Perhaps most importantly, you must have a bias toward action, and be willing to make the decision. Moreover, you must learn to make the best decision possible even if you possess an incomplete data set. Don’t fall prey to analysis paralysis, but rather make the best decision possible with the information at hand using some of the methods mentioned above. Opportunities and not static, and the law of diminishing returns applies to most opportunities in that the longer you wait to seize the opportunity the smaller the return typically is. In fact, more likely is the case that the opportunity will completely evaporate if you wait too long to seize it.
Bonus – Always have a back-up plan: The real test of a leader is what happens in the moments following the realization they’ve made the wrong decision. Great leaders understand all plans are made up of both constants and variables, and that sometimes the variables work against you. Smart leaders always have a contingency plan knowing circumstances can sometimes fall beyond the boundaries of reason or control – no “Plan B” equals a flawed plan.

ways to sharpen your decision making skills

ways to sharpen your decision making skills

In an unpredictable economy, a nimble captain of a company can save the ship from sinking with some quick decision making. There are theories and tools that business leaders can adopt in these times of financial stress.

While some captains have designated leaders for particular tasks, others are sending their middle and senior management to B-schools to learn from others who have faced similar situations. Although some people are born with the ability to take quick decisions, others can learn this much-needed skill.

1) Don Six Thinking Hats

E Balaji, former CEO of Randstad India, says companies often use Edward de Bono’s tool, ‘Six thinking hats’. It is based on the belief that the brain can think in six different directions. The so-called hats are colour-coded and the group comes up with possible solutions to a problem.

White hat signifies data available, red hat for intuitive and gut reactions to a problem, black is for using discerning abilities and logical approach, yellow is for optimism, green hat is used to come up with solutions and blue hat for meta-cognition to look at processes & procedures.

2) Assign a Leader

The top brass should assign a leader while delegating team work to ensure accountability for the decisions. “There can always be a debating society and inputs are welcome from all members. But for quick decisions, a leader has to be appointed,” says Shiv Agrawal, managing director of recruitment firm ABC Consultants.

3) A Few Minutes of Solitude

For those who prefer working in silos, not having a group huddle jotting down the problem and road maps for a solution often helps. Balaji says he has been practicing meditation for past seven years and this has helped him escape the clutter and distraction in times of crisis.

4) A Degree can Speed Up the Process

Swifter and correct decision making can be taught in classrooms, says V Nagadevara, professor of quantitative methods and information systems at IIM, Bangalore. Short-term classes teach how to access data and come up with the best possible solutions, he says.

“Students are taught how to evaluate the cost of information and when to stop relying on data, and they are exposed to many case studies from which they can gauge decisions taken by companies and their impact,” he says.

5) Gather Experience from Far and Wide

Those in the hot seat can learn from the experience of their colleagues and competition, besides keeping a dialogue on with as many people as possible irrespective of age and hierarchy.

Decision making skills and techniques

Decision making skills and techniques

We use our decision making skills to solve problems by selecting one course of action from several possible alternatives. Decision making skills are also a key component of time management skills.

Decision making can be hard. Almost any decision involves some conflicts or dissatisfaction. The difficult part is to pick one solution where the positive outcome can outweigh possible losses. Avoiding decisions often seems easier. Yet, making your own decisions and accepting the consequences is the only way to stay in control of your time, your success, and your life. If you want to learn more on how to make a decision, here are some decision making tips to get you started.

A significant part of decision making skills is in knowing and practicing good decision making techniques. One of the most practical decision making techniques can be summarized in those simple decision making steps:

Identify the purpose of your decision. What is exactly the problem to be solved? Why it should be solved?

Gather information. What factors does the problem involve?

Identify the principles to judge the alternatives. What standards and judgement criteria should the solution meet?

Brainstorm and list different possible choices. Generate ideas for possible solutions. See more on extending your options for your decisions on my brainstorming tips page.

Evaluate each choice in terms of its consequences. Use your standards and judgement criteria to determine the cons and pros of each alternative.

Determine the best alternative. This is much easier after you go through the above preparation steps.

Put the decision into action. Transform your decision into specific plan of action steps. Execute your plan.

Evaluate the outcome of your decision and action steps. What lessons can be learnt? This is an important step for further development of your decision making skills and judgement.

Final remark. In everyday life we often have to make decisions fast, without enough time to systematically go through the above action and thinking steps. In such situations the most effective decision making strategy is to keep an eye on your goals and then let your intuition suggest you the right choice.

What are learning skills?

What are learning skills?

The 21st century learning skills are often called the 4 C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, communicating, and collaborating. These skills help students learn, and so they are vital to success in school and beyond.
Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is focused, careful analysis of something to better understand it. When people speak of “left brain” activity, they are usually referring to critical thinking. Here are some of the main critical-thinking abilities:

Analyzing is breaking something down into its parts, examining each part, and noting how the parts fit together.
Arguing is using a series of statements connected logically together, backed by evidence, to reach a conclusion.
Classifying is identifying the types or groups of something, showing how each category is distinct from the others.
Comparing and contrasting is pointing out the similarities and differences between two or more subjects.
Defining is explaining the meaning of a term using denotation, connotation, example, etymology, synonyms, and antonyms.
Describing is explaining the traits of something, such as size, shape, weight, color, use, origin, value, condition, location, and so on.
Evaluating is deciding on the worth of something by comparing it against an accepted standard of value.
Explaining is telling what something is or how it works so that others can understand it.
Problem solving is analyzing the causes and effects of a problem and finding a way to stop the causes or the effects.
Tracking cause and effect is determining why something is happening and what results from it.

Inquire teaches specific strategies for developing critical thinking skills.
Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is expansive, open-ended invention and discovery of possibilities. When people speak of “right brain” activity, they most often mean creative thinking. Here are some of the more common creative thinking abilities:

Brainstorming ideas involves asking a question and rapidly listing all answers, even those that are far-fetched, impractical, or impossible.
Creating something requires forming it by combining materials, perhaps according to a plan or perhaps based on the impulse of the moment.
Designing something means finding the conjunction between form and function and shaping materials for a specific purpose.
Entertaining others involves telling stories, making jokes, singing songs, playing games, acting out parts, and making conversation.
Imagining ideas involves reaching into the unknown and impossible, perhaps idly or with great focus, as Einstein did with his thought experiments.
Improvising a solution involves using something in a novel way to solve a problem.
Innovating is creating something that hasn’t existed before, whether an object, a procedure, or an idea.
Overturning something means flipping it to get a new perspective, perhaps by redefining givens, reversing cause and effect, or looking at something in a brand new way.
Problem solving requires using many of the creative abilities listed here to figure out possible solutions and putting one or more of them into action.
Questioning actively reaches into what is unknown to make it known, seeking information or a new way to do something.

Inquire teaches specific strategies for developing creative thinking skills.
Communicating

Communicating is the process of transferring a thought from one mind to others and, in return, receiving thoughts back. Communicating allows minds to tune to each other, thinking together. Here are some of the basic abilities required for communicating:

Analyzing the situation means thinking about the subject, purpose, sender, receiver, medium, and context of a message.
Choosing a medium involves deciding the most appropriate way to deliver a message, ranging from a face-to-face chat to a 400-page report.
Evaluating messages means deciding whether they are correct, complete, reliable, authoritative, and up-to-date.
Following conventions means communicating using the expected norms for the medium chosen.
Listening actively requires carefully paying attention, taking notes, asking questions, and otherwise engaging in the ideas being communicated.
Reading is decoding written words and images in order to understand what their originator is trying to communicate.
Speaking involves using spoken words, tone of voice, body language, gestures, facial expressions, and visual aids in order to convey ideas.
Turn taking means effectively switching from receiving ideas to providing ideas, back and forth between those in the communication situation.
Using technology requires understanding the abilities and limitations of any technological communication, from phone calls to e-mails to instant messages.
Writing involves encoding messages into words, sentences, and paragraphs for the purpose of communicating to a person who is removed by distance, time, or both.

Inquire teaches specific strategies for communicating effectively.
Collaborating

Collaborating is working together with others to achieve a common goal. In this age of social media and crowd sourcing, collaboration is more important than ever. Here are some of the basic abilities needed to collaborate.

Allocating resources and responsibilities ensures that all members of a team can work optimally.
Brainstorming ideas in a group involves rapidly suggesting and writing down ideas without pausing to critique them.
Decision-making requires sorting through the many options provided to the group and arriving at a single option to move forward.
Delegating means assigning duties to members of the group and expecting them to fulfill their parts of the task.
Evaluating the products, processes, and members of the group provides a clear sense of what is working well and what improvements could be made.
Goal setting requires the group to analyze the situation, decide what outcome is desired, and clearly state an achievable objective.
Leading a group means creating an environment in which all members can contribute according to their abilities.
Managing time involves matching up a list of tasks to a schedule and tracking the progress toward goals.
Resolving conflicts occurs from using one of the following strategies: asserting, cooperating, compromising, competing, or deferring.
Team building means cooperatively working over time to achieve a common goal.

Inquire teaches how to work with others, from collaborating online to solving problems.

Ways to Enhance Your Problem Solving Skills

Ways to Enhance Your Problem Solving Skills

Have you ever thought of yourself as a problem solver? I’m guessing not. But in reality we are constantly solving problems. And the better we are at it, the easier our lives are.

Problems arise in many shapes and forms. They can be mundane, everyday problems:

What to have for dinner tonight?
Which route to take to work?
or they can be larger more complex problems;
How to fix a project that’s running behind schedule?
How to change from an uninspiring job to a career you’re really passionate about?

Every day you’ll be faced with at least one problem to solve. But it gets easier when you realise that problems are simply choices. There’s nothing ‘scary’ about them other than having to make a decision.

No matter what job you’re in, where you live, who you’re partner is, how many friends you have; you will be judged on your ability to solve problems. Because problems equal hassles for everyone concerned. And people don’t like hassle. So the more problems you can solve, the less hassle all-round, the happier people are with you. Everyone wins.

So what can you do to enhance your problem solving skills?

More great Lifehacks: 30sec Tip: Happiness is not the Absence of Problems
1. Focus on the solution – not the problem

Neuroscientists have proven that your brain cannot find solutions if you focus on the problem. This is because when you focus on the problem you’re effectively feeding ‘negativity’ which in turn activates negative emotions in the brain. These emotions block potential solutions. I’m not saying you should ‘ignore the problem’ – instead try and remain calm. It helps to first acknowledge the problem and then move your focus to a solution-oriented mindset where you keep fixed on what the ‘answer’ could be instead of lingering on ‘what went wrong’ and ‘who’s fault it is’.

2. Have an open mind

Try and entertain ‘ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS’ – even if they seem ridiculous at first. It’s important you keep an open mind to boost creative thinking, which can trigger potential solutions. Coming from 10 years in the corporate advertising industry it is drummed into you that ‘No idea is a bad idea’ and this aids creative thinking in brainstorms and other problem-solving techniques. Whatever you do – do not ridicule yourself for coming up with ‘stupid solutions’ as it’s often the crazy ideas that trigger other more viable solutions.
3. View problems neutrally

Try not to view problems as ‘scary’ things! If you think about it what is a problem? It’s really just feedback on your current situation. All a problem is telling you is that something is not currently working and that you need to find a new way around it. So try and approach problems neutrally – without any judgment. If you get caught up in the label ‘problem’ this may trigger a bought of negative thoughts and block any potential solutions from popping up!
4. Think laterally

Change the ‘direction’ of your thoughts by thinking laterally. Pay attention to the saying, ‘You cannot dig a hole in a different place by digging it deeper”. Try to change your approach and look at things in a new way. You can try flipping your objective around and looking for a solution that is the polar opposite!  Even if it feels silly, a fresh & unique approach usually stimulates a fresh solution.
5. Use language that creates possibility

Lead your thinking with phrases like ‘what if…’ and ‘imagine if…’ These terms open up our brains to think creatively and encourage solutions. Avoid closed, negative language such as ‘I don’t think…’ or ‘This is not right but…’.
6. Simplify things

As human beings we have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be! Try simplifying your problem by generalizing it. Remove all the detail and go back to the basics. Try looking for a really easy, obvious solution – you might be surprised at the results! And we all know that it’s often the simple things that are the most productive.

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills

The ability to solve problems applies to more than mathematics homework. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are part of many jobs, ranging from accounting and computer programming to detective work and even to creative occupations such as art, acting, and writing. While the skills need to solve individual problems may vary, there are approaches that can help you improve your problem-solving skills in general. The steps below describe some of these approaches and how to improve your problem-solving skills using them.

1

Alert people affected by the problem, if any. This gives them a stake in resolving it.

As you work through possible solutions, keep these people informed of your progress. This lets them know what to expect and when to expect it. Be as optimistic as you can, but also as realistic as you can.

2

Define the problem clearly. Avoid making snap judgments based on a few symptoms but look for root causes whenever possible. Poor performance may not be caused by an individual’s lack of skills but by ineffective communication of expectations and insufficient training in how to meet those expectations.

Defining the problem clearly may require looking at it from several angles and perspectives, not just one or two. This will avoid identifying a prospective solution as a problem.

3

Choose a problem-solving strategy. The approach to solving the problem, once it has been defined, can be handled through a number of methods, some of which are listed below:

Brainstorming is the generation and recording of ideas as they occur to you, either alone or in a group. You do this for a set period of time, then go through the list of solutions to evaluate their suitability.
Appreciative inquiry develops solutions by analyzing what’s currently going right and determining whether it can be applied to solve the problem at hand.
Design thinking means thinking like a product designer, observing how people interact with a product or service and noting what problems they are having with it.
In some cases, a combination of strategies may be the best approach to solving a problem.

4

Gather information. Coupled with clearly defining a problem is gathering information about it. This may meaning consulting with people closer to certain aspects of the problem to get a proper grasp of its scope, or researching similar situations elsewhere to see what the root causes of those problems were and how they were resolved, if at all.

Gathering information is also essential in directing a seemingly undirected problem-solving strategy such as brainstorming. An informed mind can generate better, more appropriate solutions than an uninformed mind.

5

Analyze the information. The information needs to be analyzed for its relevance to the problem and its importance. The most critical, or key, information should be drawn upon in formulating a solution, while the remaining information may be need to ranked for its importance and relevance.

Sometimes, information needs to be organized graphically to be useful, using tools such as flow charts, system diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams or other such devices.

6

Develop possible solutions based on the information you’ve collected and your strategy.

7

Evaluate the solutions generated. Just as it was necessary to analyze the information found for its relevance to the problem, prospective solutions must be analyzed for their suitability to determine which is best to handle the problem. In some cases, this means constructing prototypes and testing them; in other cases, this may mean using computer simulations or “thought experiments” to analyze the consequences of using that solution.

8

Implement your solution. Once the best solution is determined, put it into practice. This may be done on a limited scale at first to verify that the solution is indeed the best, or it may be implemented system-wide if the need for it is critical.

9

Get feedback. While this step should be implemented while testing prospective solutions, it is also helpful to continue getting feedback to verify that the best solution will perform as expected and to find ways to adjust it if it isn’t.

Improving Your Project Management Skills

Improving Your Project Management Skills

Build a solid foundation of project management knowledge, techniques and tools in this hands-on workshop that covers the entire project life cycle.
As the business world grows more competitive, organizations find it necessary to take on an increasing number of projects. Unfortunately, these same organizations often don’t have skilled project managers to handle the work. In this seminar, you will learn and practice the critical tools and techniques that have been proven necessary for project management success. In lectures, discussions and exercises, you’ll cover the essential aspect of managing projects.

While aligned with the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) framework, this course is specifically designed to focus on the practical application of concepts. You’ll return to work with the knowledge and tools you need to get your projects started right and completed successfully.

Project Management Skills

Project Management Skills

Successful project managers are in high demand as organizations strive to deliver successful projects at a faster pace in increasingly complex environments.  There are a few critical skills that make project managers successful –

Subject Matter Knowledge

Effective project managers understand the inner workings of their organizations and know enough about their products/services to hold intelligent conversations with (1) customers, (2) stakeholders, (3) suppliers, and (4) functional leaders within the organization.
The best project managers are excellent listeners, and view exchanges with the above groups as learning opportunities.
Project managers that are new to an organization set aside learning time each week to better understand and interact with the four groups noted above.  This learning investment is paid back many times over in the form of good decisions, effective meetings, and successful project delivery (and fewer headaches!)

Interpersonal and Leadership Skills

Successful project managers know how to motivate people who do not work for them, and keep teams working effectively together.
Quite simply, effective project managers tend to be as “likeable” as they are assertive.

Organization

Project managers create structure from chaos by using specific tools such as charters, risk assessments, Gantt charts, decision matrices, and many other tools throughout the project.

Time Management

Steven Covey’s quote, “The enemy of the best is the good,” applies especially well to project managers.  They understand that there are countless good things to be involved in, but there are a vital few best things that must come first each day.  Successful project managers are very good at saying, “I’m sorry but I can’t support that right now.”

Successful project managers also respect their teammates’ time.  Project managers run efficient meetings, which results in good attendance by all parties over the long run.

Communication

Project managers communicate clearly, concisely, and frequently.  They know, for example, when a simple email will suffice, or when a “working document” like a project charter will better serve their purpose.

Political Savvy

There are times when interpersonal skills are not enough to garner the support needed from the organization on one or more project tasks.  In these cases, project managers use senior leadership support to get things done.  Project managers are very good at scheduling update forums with senior leadership and functional leaders, to ensure that all business functions are making the project a priority.

Comfortable Running a Meeting

As a project manager you will spend a lot of time orchestrating meetings.  As a result, you must be comfortable running meetings with wide variety of audiences.  Here are three tips for success:  (1) stop thinking about how you are coming off in the meeting, and think about the project’s success instead, (2) organize ahead – state meeting objectives at the start of the meeting and do your best to keep the meeting on track to achieve those objectives, (3) know when to lean on others for answers – as a project manager you will likely not be the subject matter expert in the room, and no one should expect you to be.

Tips for Project Management Skills

Tips for Project Management Skills

Be highly organized and a good multi-tasker. A good project manager knows how to “manage multiple projects or tasks and track issues on a daily basis,” says Hilary Atkinson, director of the Project Management Office at Force 3, a business solutions provider.

The difference between the success or failure of a project is often “the difference between a project manager who is highly organized and one who is not,” she says. “If a project manager is spending more time trying to figure out where information is rather than productively managing their project, failure is eminent.”

Skill No. 2: Take charge and know how to lead. “Project managers need to be good leaders,” says Lew Sauder, senior project manager Geneca, which develops custom enterprise software. Specifically, “project management is about leading stakeholders and vendors to a successful outcome,” states Brian Lee, partner at Navigate, a management consulting firm.

“Projects need to be led in a fashion that builds consensus while also fleshing out the real risks and roadblocks,” he says. “Effective project managers paint a picture of a better tomorrow and inspire confidence in their team’s abilities to realize that vision. They build credible relationships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment to the project’s objectives and exude the confidence necessary to hold everyone participating in the project accountable.”

Skill No. 3: Be an effective communicator. “Being an outstanding communicator requires the project manager to consistently ensure they are clearly understood by all stakeholders; that all stakeholders understand what is expected of them throughout the project lifecycle; and that all stakeholders communicate effectively with one another as well as with the project manager,” says Dr. Greg Thomas, CMC, PMP and CEO of Roos Technologies International, a management consulting firm.

“Project managers need to be able to communicate status changes, good news and bad news to all levels of staff across different departments,” says Nandi Hayes, an agent at Vitamin T, a talent agency for digital creatives.

“They also need to be able to distinguish who needs to know what, when they need to know it and how that information will be delivered,” she says. “For example, a slight scheduling delay may need to be communicated to internal teams but not to the client if the key client review dates are not affected.”

Skill No. 4: Know how and when to negotiate. “Project managers must be excellent negotiators,” says Brock Boddie, an associate program director at Huge, a global digital agency. “You’re very often dealing with people who have divergent interests from your own or who appear to have no interest in understanding what you’re trying to accomplish and why they should help you or fully participate,” he says.

“A good project manager will invest time to understand and negotiate these relationships and figure out these stakeholder’s interests, so that she can triangulate what will make her project continue to move forward. Without these negotiating skills, you may spoil or ignore these critical relationships, making project success highly unlikely,” Boddie says.

Skill No. 5: Be detail-oriented. “Project management is all about the details–big ones and small ones,” says Aziz Kara, head of Product Management and Design at Xtreme Labs, a mobile app and product developer. Therefore, project managers must be “meticulous about managing the details of every project and the impact each detail may have on the overall project success. Details can make or break a project, and the effective PM recognizes that.”

Skill No. 6: Recognize and solve problems quickly. “Inevitably, there will be times when problems and obstacles arise that involve immediate solutions,” notes Michael Pesochinsky, cofounder and vice-president of GovernmentBargains.com, a free site that compiles and provides information about government auctions. “How a project manager handles these problems will separate him from the others.”

Skill No. 7: Possess the necessary technical skills. To be a good project manager, you “must have solid knowledge of the platforms, software and programs that your company regularly works with, even if your job is not actually technical,” says Joel Gross, the founder and CEO of Coalition Technologies, a Web design and marketing firm.

And “a great project manager needs to have enough technical knowledge about areas of the project to be able to assign themselves to some of the tasks,” adds Bob Herman, the owner of Tropolis Group, which provides IT, mobile and social media management services to companies. Why? “Assigning yourself to some of the project tasks and successfully completing those tasks on time helps you earn the respect you need to successfully manage the project team.”

Any other skills you think are essential to being a good project manager? Please leave a Comment.

Developing Your Strategy Finding Your Path to Success

Developing Your Strategy Finding Your Path to Success

“How are you going to win in the period ahead?” That’s the key question behind developing strategy.

To win at anything worthwhile, you need a game plan. Professional sports teams know this, and this idea applies to your organization, your department, your team – and even to yourself as an individual.

To be successful means knowing how to use your talent and resources to best advantage, and it’s very difficult to “win” if you don’t have this game plan in place.

This article introduces you to a common-sense, systematic approach to strategy development.
Approaches to Strategy

In a for-profit company, for which competition and profitability are important, your goals will differ from those of a nonprofit or government department. Likewise, objectives for a department or team will have a different scope from objectives for your organization as a whole.

For example, and depending on scope and circumstances, you may want to develop strategies to:

Increase profitability.
Gain more market share.
Increase approval ratings, or boost customer satisfaction.
Complete a project under budget.

To determine your strategy, you must understand fully the internal and external environmental factors that affect you. With that understanding, you can identify your clear advantages and use these to be successful. From there, you can make informed choices and implement your strategy effectively.

So, strategy creation follows a three-stage process:

Analyzing the context in which you’re operating.
Identifying strategic options.
Evaluating and selecting the best options.

We’ll look at this process, and review some useful tools that can help you develop your strategy.
Stage 1: Analyzing Your Context and Environment

In this first stage, you ensure that you fully understand yourself and your environment. Do the following:

Analyze Your Organization

Firstly, examine your resources, liabilities, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. A SWOT Analysis   is a great tool for uncovering what you do well and where you have weaknesses, providing that you use it rigorously. It’s much easier to achieve your objectives when your strategy uses your strengths without exposing your weaknesses.

Also, look at your Core Competencies  . These highlight your unique strengths, and help you think about how you can set yourself apart from your competitors.
Analyze Your Environment

Now you need to examine your current operating environment to predict where things are moving. Are there exciting opportunities that you should pursue? What future scenarios are likely in your industry, and how will these impact the work that you do?

PEST Analysis  , Porter’s Diamond  , and Porter’s Five Forces   are great starting points for analyzing your environment. They show where you have a strong position within the larger environment, and where you may have issues.

As you prepare to create your strategy, make sure that you’re working in a way that’s aligned with changes in your operating environment, rather than working against them. These external factors are often beyond your control, so if you pursue a strategy that requires a change in one of these elements, you may have a long, exhausting, unprofitable battle ahead of you.
Tip:

A TOWS matrix   can help you with your internal and external analysis. This framework combines everything you learned in your SWOT Analysis (TOWS is SWOT in reverse), and then applies it to developing a strategy that either maximizes strengths and opportunities, or minimizes weaknesses and threats.
Analyze Your Customers and Stakeholders

Your strategy defines how you’ll win, and winning is typically framed by how well you satisfy your customers. For-profit companies must keep their customers and shareholders happy. Governments, nonprofits, and project teams all have other stakeholders to satisfy as well. Strategy creation must consider these needs.

Identify your clients and stakeholders. What do your clients want? And who are the key stakeholders in your success? A Stakeholder Analysis   will help you uncover these needs and preferences.

Also, look at your market in detail. Answer key questions such as “How is our market segmented  ?”, “What subpopulations can we reach cost-effectively?” and “What is our optimal Marketing Mix  ?”
Analyze Your Competitors

In a traditional for-profit company, you must understand how your products compare with competitors’ products, and what your competitors’ competencies are. How easy, or difficult, is it to enter your market? What alternatives do customers have?

Our article on USP Analysis   helps you identify ways in which you can compete effectively. You’ll also find many useful tools that can help you understand competitors in our article on Competitive Intelligence  .

Non-profits, departmental teams and projects have competitors too. Other projects and teams within the department compete for money and other resources. Therefore, you must prove that you can add value  , meet objectives, and contribute to organizational success.

Stage 2: Identifying Strategic Options

In Stage 1, you developed an understanding of how your organization or team fits within the context of the internal and external environments. Now it’s time to think about the different things that you could do to create a clear advantage, and meet your objectives. Here are some fundamental activities that can help you make this decision.

Brainstorm Options

Use creativity tools like Brainstorming  , Reverse Brainstorming   and Starbursting   to explore projects that you could run to develop competitive advantage. Guide your brainstorming with reference to the organization’s mission statement, but, depending on your role in the organization, consider how far you should be constrained by this.
Examine Opportunities and Threats

Your SWOT Analysis identified some of the main opportunities and threats you face. Using this as a starting point, brainstorm additional ways to maximize your opportunities, minimize your threats, or perhaps even turn your threats into opportunities.
Solve Problems

A problem-solving approach can also help at this stage. If your problem is that you’re not achieving your goals, ask yourself how you can ensure that you do. (If everyone in your industry finds it hard to deal with a particular problem, then you may gain a competitive edge by dealing with it.)

For example, if you want to increase your customer satisfaction ratings in an industry plagued by poor customer relations, your starting position is “low satisfaction.” Brainstorm why this is the case, and create strategic options that would increase satisfaction. Tools like Root Cause Analysis  , the 5 Whys  , and Appreciative Inquiry   can give you some interesting new perspectives on these problems.

Stage 3: Evaluating and Selecting Strategic Options

The final stage is to evaluate strategic options in detail, and select the ones that you want to pursue.

Evaluate Options

By this stage, you’ve probably identified a range of good projects that you could run. You must now evaluate these to choose the best strategic options. Consider every option you’ve identified, but don’t make a final judgment until you’ve completed your assessment.

Start by evaluating each option in the light of the contextual factors you identified in Stage 1. What do these tell you about each option?

Techniques like Risk Analysis  , Failure Modes and Effects Analysis   and Impact Analysis   can help you spot the possible negative consequences of each option, which can be very easy to miss. Make sure that you explore these thoroughly.

Many options will be analyzed on a financial basis. Here, techniques like Cost-Benefit Analysis  , Break-Even Analysis  , use of Net Present Values (NPVs) and Internal Rates of Return (IRRs)  , and Decision Trees   are helpful.

Grid Analysis is particularly helpful for bringing together financial and non-financial decision criteria. It helps you weight individual decision criteria, and consider subjective features – like team fit and the likelihood of team buy-in – as well as objective, tangible factors like cost and return on investment.
Choose the Best Way Forward

With your evaluation complete, you now must choose the best strategic option or strategic options, making sure that you don’t choose so many options that you spread your resources too thinly.

Check your ideas for consistency with your organization’s Vision, Mission and Values  , and update these if necessary. It’s easy to forget about these critical elements during strategic planning, so ensure that what you want to “win” is something that contributes towards the organization’s overall purpose.

Check your assumptions using the Ladder of Inference  . This helps you confirm the soundness of the reasoning process used to develop your strategy.

Tip:

There’s a lot of debate and disagreement about the best way of developing a strategy. Don’t be afraid to adapt this approach to your own, specific circumstances!
Implementing Strategy

It’s no good developing a strategy if you don’t implement it successfully, and this is where many people go astray.

See our articles on VMOST Analysis   and the Balanced Scorecard   for ways of bridging the gap between strategy development and implementation, and our Project Management menu for the techniques you’ll need to use to implement strategy successfully.
Key Points

Your strategy tells you how you’ll achieve success, no matter how that success is defined. And whether you’re developing a strategy at the personal, team or organizational level, the process is as important as the outcome.

Identify your unique capabilities, and understand how to use these to your advantage while minimizing threats. The process and tools identified above will help you identify a variety of potential strategies for success, so that you can ultimately choose the one that’s right for you.
Apply This to Your Life

Practice strategy development by thinking about your own, personal circumstances. Complete the analyses below to think about your personal way forward. Here are some key questions to consider:

What are your personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats, and what are your “core competencies”?
What are you capable of achieving if you put your mind to it?
What are the “big picture” trends in your environment?
How can you monitor or adapt to these external factors?
Who are the people who are important to your success (your stakeholders)?
What options do you have?
Which of these should you consider?

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation Techniques

1. Meditate

A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. “Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.

The process can be simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Focus your attention on reciting — out loud or silently — a positive mantra such as “I feel at peace” or “I love myself.” Place one hand on your belly to synch the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.

2. Breathe Deeply

Give yourself a 5-minute break from whatever is bothering you and focus instead on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

“Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure,” says psychologist Judith Tutin, PhD, a certified life coach in Rome, Ga.

3. Be Present

You rush through dinner, hurry to your next appointment, race to finish one more thing on your agenda. Now try something different: Slow down.

“Take 5 minutes and focus on only one behavior with awareness,” says Tutin. Notice how the air feels on your face when you’re walking and how your feet feel hitting the ground. Enjoy the texture and taste of each bite of food as you slowly chew. When you spend time in the moment and focus on your senses, you should feel the tension leave your body.

4. Reach Out

A good social support system is one of the most important resources for dealing with stress. Talking to others — preferably face-to-face or at least on the phone — is a great way to better manage whatever is stressing you out.

5. Tune In to Your Body

Mentally scan your body to get a sense of how stress affects it each day. Lie on your back or sit with your feet on the floor. Start at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, noticing how your body feels.

“Simply be aware of places you feel tight or loose without trying to change anything,” says Tutin. For 1 to 2 minutes, imagine each deep breath flowing to that body part. Repeat this process as you move your focus up your body, paying close attention to sensations you feel in each body part.

Stress Management skills

Stress Management skills

1.  Organize Yourself.
Take better control of the way you’re spending your time and energy so you can handle stress more effectively.

2.  Control Your Environment by controlling who and what is surrounding you.
In this way, you can either get rid of stress or get support for yourself.

3.  Love Yourself by giving yourself positive feedback.
Remember, you are a unique individual who is doing the best you can.

4.  Reward Yourself by planning leisure activities into your life.
It really helps to have something to look forward to.

5.  Exercise Your Body since your health and productivity depend upon your body’s ability to bring oxygen and food to its cells.
Therefore, exercise your heart and lungs regularly, a minimum of three days per week for 15-30 minutes. This includes such activities as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc.

6.  Relax Yourself by taking your mind off your stress and concentrating on breathing and positive thoughts.
Dreaming counts, along with meditation, progressive relaxation, exercise, listening to relaxing music, communicating with friends and loved ones, etc.

7.  Rest Yourself as regularly as possible.
Sleep 7-8 hours a night. Take study breaks. There is only so much your mind can absorb at one time. It needs time to process and integrate information. A general rule of thumb: take a ten minute break every hour. Rest your eyes as well as your mind.

8.  Be Aware of Yourself.
Be aware of distress signals such as insomnia, headaches, anxiety, upset stomach, lack of concentration, colds/flu, excessive tiredness, etc. Remember, these can be signs of potentially more serious disorders (i.e., ulcers, hypertension, heart disease).

9.  Feed Yourself / Do Not Poison Your Body.
Eat a balanced diet. Avoid high calorie foods that are high in fats and sugar. Don’t depend on drugs and/or alcohol. Caffeine will keep you awake, but it also makes it harder for some to concentrate. Remember, a twenty minute walk has been proven to be a better tranquilizer than some prescription drugs.

10. Enjoy Yourself.
It has been shown that happier people tend to live longer, have less physical problems, and are more productive. Look for the humor in life when things don’t make sense. Remember, you are very special and deserve only the best treatment from yourself.