Dynamic Indifference: The Most Powerful Leadership Technique I Know
“You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that’s assault, not leadership.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower I practice a leadership technique that might be called “dynamic indifference.” I do not try to lead — probably because I am no good at it. Instead, I merely focus on…
READ MORESix Myths About How to Manage People
“I have come to the conclusion that my subjective account of my motivation is largely mythical on almost all occasions. I don’t know why I do things.” – J.D.S. Haldane There are six major myths about the “people dimension” of management — all of which ignore the “it-all-depends” aspect of…
READ MORETwo Things You Must Do to Make Sure Your Good Business Doesn’t Fall Apart
One of the first things I did upon taking on AP as a client, many years ago, was to revamp the customer-service department. Employing models of other customer-service systems I’d established in the past, I replaced most of the staff with better-educated, more articulate, and more conscientious workers … I…
READ MOREAre You Guilty of “Executive Blah Blah”?
“An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.” – Stephen R. Covey “Blah blah” refers to words that have little meaning. When we talk to a dog, the dog responds to…
READ MOREHow to Make Partnerships Work
“An honor is not diminished for being shared.” – Lois McMaster Bujold (“Shards of Honor,” 1986) Great partners make great partnerships — even if the partnership itself doesn’t work out. In my view, a great partner has the following characteristics: He has something besides money to offer the partnership…
READ MORETapping the Hidden Profit Center in Your Company: The “Business Within Your Business”
Your first business is your main one — the one you know you are in. Your second business is the one you automatically qualify to be in as a result of the knowledge you have to possess in order to deliver your main product or service. You can tap…
READ MOREWho Do You Work For?
SB doesn’t know who he works for. As a development manager for a real-estate project I consult with, he must take direction from three people: a profit-center manager, a project manager, and me. Most of the time, our advice and recommendations are congruent. Sometimes, however, we disagree. And when…
READ MOREHow to Have the Best Summer Vacation Ever
“Good plans shape good decisions. That’s why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true.” – Lester R. Bittel (“The Nine Master Keys of Management”) Yes, you can get away from the office. You can travel. You can even leave your laptop and cell phone behind. But you…
READ MOREHow to Hire Great People
“If you hire only those people you understand, the company will never get people better than you are. Always remember that you often find outstanding people among those you don’t particularly like.” – Soichiro Honda AS, a friend and colleague, is a master of good hiring. His first hire…
READ MOREYou Can’t Fix What’s Broken With Good Policies
“Honesty is a question of right or wrong, not a matter of policy.” – Author unknown When I was young and inexperienced, I tried to “fix” such problems with policies. I figured — correctly, I think — that any problem I uncovered was just the tip of an iceberg. Since…
READ MOREHow To Be A Good No 2
“Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.” – Judy Garland I learned nothing about business while I was growing up and didn’t have much money. But I was eager to learn and worked hard — and those two qualities made me an excellent…
READ MOREThe Easiest Way I Know of to Make a Ton of Money
A joint venture is a business deal in which you and one or more other people join forces to make some bucks. Usually, joint ventures are for a specified purpose and period of time. Sometimes, they have broader purposes and last for years. Let me give you an example. KY…
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