معنى التفكير الإبتكارى .. بالبلدى : حالة عملية ؟!

بالعقل كده

نصف قرن من العمل العام حاولت خلالها أن أحلق فوق أى مكان أعمل به أو أزوره بجناحين: العلم والخبرة العملية .. ألتقى بكم هنا كل أسبوع مرة فى محاولة للتحريض على التفكير فى أمور حياتية من خلال مواقف تعرضت لها وتعلمت منه.

التفكير الإبتكارى وسيلة من وسائل علم الإدارة يهدف إلى استثارة المخ باستخدام مايسمى "بالعصف الذهنى" من خلال كلمة أو عبارة أو فكرة حتى لو كانت خيالية وغير واقعية بهدف "توليد" بدائل لحل مشكلة ما أو "رؤية" لموضوع ما من زاوية أو زوايا مختلفة .. ومن هذا المنطلق فإن تشجيع التفكير الإبتكارى يقضى على الجمود فى المواقف وطريقة التفكير ويساعد من يحاول التفكير بطريقة مختلفة أن يرى ابعادا مختلفة للموضوع الذى يبحثه مما يساعده على المفاضلة بين البدائل ومن ثم اتخاذ القرار الصائب بشأن هذا الموضوع.

لذلك كنت بين الحين والحين ألجأ لتلك الطريقة مع طلابى ومع المتدربين لتعويدهم على كسر حاجز الخوف من التفكير خارج الصندوق وإجهاد عقولهم فى اقتراح واستخلاص النتائج ، تماما كمن يعرض شرائح مصورة لموضوع ما من جوانبه المختلفة ويصل فى النهاية إلى نتيجة سوف يبنى عليها قرارا يحل به مشكلة أو يبدأ به مشروعا أو يشترك به فى حوار.

وأذكر أنى  لتقريب معنى التفكير الإبتكارى في الاقتصاد قد طرحت على طلابى في الماجستير مرة أن يفكروا في مشروع "ربى معزه" كمشروع قومى لمصر يشترك فيه كل مصرى ولو بسهم الذى هو عباره عن معزة أو ثمنها، وقلت إن غاندى قد استطاع بمشرع مماثل محاربة الإمبراطورية التى لاتغيب الشمس عنها وينهى احتلالها للهند جوهرة التاج وأكبر سوق لاستهلاك المنتجات البريطانية.. وبعد تعيين مجلس الإدارة من الطلاب وتوزيع الإختصاصات وكتابة التوصيف الوظيفى لرئيس وأعضاء مجلس إدارة "الشركة القومية للمعيز" صاحبة المشروع ورؤساء القطاعات المختلفة ومديرى الإدارات وصلنا معا بعد ضحك ومزاح وتعليقات ساخرة والذى منه إلى دراسة جدوى أولية تبشر بكل الخير وتؤكد أن ربحية المشروع تأسيسا على مايلى:

أولا - سعر السهم فى متناول كل مصرى حيث أن المطلوب أن يسهم كل عضو بمعزه أو ثمنها الذى يمكن تدبيره بقرض ميسر من أحد البنوك واخترنا "بنك المعيز الإجتماعى,

ثانيا -  بذلك تصبح شركتنا أكبر مصدر للمعيز ف العالم حيث لايوجد شركة فى العالم حتى الآن عدد مساهميها يزيد عن الخمسة وثمانين مليونا (تعداد مصر وقتها)

ثالثا -  تكلفة تربية المعيز تكاد تكون صفر لأن المعيز تتغذى على الورق وهو متوفر مجانا فى البيوت وفى شوارع وأزقة مصر.

رابعا -  نقضى على مشكلة القمامةة نهائيا في مصر بإطلاق المعيز في الشوارع تتغذى على مايلقيه الناس فى الشوارع تجنبا لدفع خمسة جنيهات شهريا لجامع القمامة.

خامسا - نقضى على الفساد في المحليات ونخرب بيت شركات النظافة الأجنبية والمستفيدين من وراءهم والمتعاقدين معهم على "لتوسيخ مصر" لكى يستمر تجديد عقودهم السنوية.

سابعا -  نحقق اكتفاء ذاتى في انتاج اللبن ونبدأ مشروعا جديدا يدر علينا أرباحا هائلة شعاره (كوب لبن لكل مواطن يغنيك عن سؤال اللئيم)

ثامنا -  نوزع مغازل على المساهمين وكل واحد يقعد جنب معزته يغزل شيئا مفيدا ونبيع انتاجنا (مفارش طواقى أو شنط قماش) بأسعار فى متاول الناس.

وخلصنا فى النهاية إلى أنه حتى لو فشل المشروع فلن يخسر أي مساهم ولا مليم من رأس المال العامل لسبب بسيط هو أن كل مساهم سوف يأخذ معزته ويذهب بها حيث يشاء.

والسؤال الذى يفرض نفسه الآن هو: أيهما أحوج للتفكير الإبتكارى خارج الصندوق للقضاء على كم المشكلات المتراكمة والتى لاتتوافر الإمكانات لحلها بالطرق التقليدية الجامدة والتى تعتمد على الطرق المعتادة التى أساسها توفير الموارد أولا ثم الشروع فى الحل؟ الدول المتخلفة أم الدول المتقدمة .. الإجابة المنطقية هى أن الدول المتخلفة والنامية هى التى تحتاج بشدة لتغيير نمط تفكيرها، ولكن الغريب أن الدول المتقدمة هى التى لاتتوقف عن استخدام الطرق المبتكرة بصفة دائمة كنمط تفكير، ولاتزال الدول المتخلفة تخشى التجريب وتخاف من المغامرات المحسوبة.. وبهذا تزداد الفجوة اتساعا ويزداد المتقدم تقدما والمتأخر تأخرا.

د/ فتحى النادى

حين يكون للفن رسالة

من الأفلام القلائل التى شاهدته أكثر من مرة باستمتاع شديد فيلم The Terminalأو "صالة السفر" بطولة توم هانكس (لاأدرى لماذا لم يأخذ الأوسكار على أدائه العبقرى).الفيلم ينتقد المجتمع الأمريكى بكل نقائصه وبيروقراطيته وتمييزه العنصرى بأسلوب ناعم موجع، ولكنه في المقابل يعرض لشرائح من الضعف الإنسانى لفئات من الناس من جنسيات مختلفة وتأثير الصورة الذهنية النمطية التى تشكل سلوك كل منهم.
يركز الفيلم على قوة الإرادة والإصرار على بلوغ الهدف والتكيف مع الأوضاع التى لايملك الإنسان أن يغيرها بع...د أن يسعى بلا كلل لتغييرها ثم تأثير السلوك الإيجابى على كل من يتعامل معهم الإنسان وتحويلهم إلى مؤيدين ومناصرين لقضيته .. كل ذلك في اسلوب كوميدى راقى يضحك المشاهد حتى على نفسه دون زغزغة.
لو أن لدى الوقت لعرضت عليكم كل شخصية في الفيلم وكيف ابدعوا جميعا في تقمص تلك الشخصيات وإيصال المعنى للمشاهد كما رسمها السيناريست وأرادها المخرج .. وكل ذلك دون مشهد واحد خارج أو استعراض لجسد أو إثارة لغرائز .. فيلم تشاهده الأسرة بكل افرادها وأعمارها دون أن يشيح أحد بوجهه من حقارة مايرى ويسمع.
استخدمت الفيلم كمقدمة لعرض عورات حزب الوفد منذ عامين أمام الهيئة العليا (قبل أن أطلب تجميد عضويتى) وفوجئت بأن واحد أو إثنين فقط فهموا المعنى.
أنصحكم بمشاهدة الفيلم كلما أردتم أن تعبروا عن غضبكم من السوبكى وفصيله وباقى عصابات الفن في كل العصور.

A New Perspective of PR

If you really want to succeed in public relations (PR) you need to see the big picture and align yourself with the strategic imperatives that are reshaping the world in which we live.  Yet, so often, the subjects of PR campaigns are tactical, limited, short term and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  That’s where PR budgets get poured down the drain. Campaigns don’t deliver, PR is blamed and the messenger is shot. Take the sustainability debate, for instance.  You’d think this would be pretty much the epitome of serious stuff.  But so often communication in this segment is small-scale and about being worthy - `doing good’ as a route to a better world.  Clearly, the road to hell really is paved with good intentions.

The current omnishambles of the Government’s `Green Deal’ and Feed-In Tariff debacle is a case in point.  Despite the undoubted good intentions of Government, it shows a classic case of misalignment between the interests of the public sector, industry and the consumer.  Not only has a PR moment been missed, everyone in the value chain has lost for want of effective leadership and communication.
The same challenge to delivering sustainability has applied for many years in the financial markets. Investors have struggled with the demands of delivering superior returns whilst at the same time requiring environmental, social and ethical responsibility in the companies in which they invest.

Good intentions in the financial markets, whilst admirable, have not proven to produce decent returns, neither have they proven to encourage sustainability. Again aims are not aligned, everyone has lost.
Responsibility, investment, sustainability and business are routinely regarded as odd bedfellows with tactical PR campaigns often attempting to paper over the cracks as communities, legislators or the markets are placated or appeased. But ultimately, to be an effective partnership, and to support powerful PR messages that cut through, their marriage must be born of objectivity, pragmatism and most of all, of course, aligned interests.

But there is a twist to the tale. Far from being a simplistic Band-Aid, the efforts of corporate and financial PR professionals and their PR agencies, combined with the transparency the internet brings, have created a large and growing pool of hard and comparable audited data on corporate sustainability.

Using this, it is possible to determine the resource efficiency of a company relative to its peers. Resource efficient organisations are those that produce more output from less input.  The added benefit is that resource efficient businesses also display attractive investment characteristics. Everybody wins - the organisation, the investor and the environment. Now that’s great PR.

Resource efficiency is not a subjective rating determined in a corner office on Wall Street any more than it is the preserve of people who chose to live in teepees in the far flung corners of the British Isles. The basis of resource efficiency is the actual observed amount of resource used, consumed and in the case of waste, created, in the process of generating a unit of revenue; the cubic metre of water, the kilojoules of energy, the ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.  It is real, objective, hard and unequivocal.

And the benefits are not static. Research shows that resource-efficient companies become more resource efficient over time through innovation and `intrapreneurship’ both internally and through the company’s supply chain, making them more competitive and therefore capable of delivering greater value to investors.

Everyone keeps winning as management teams that are forward thinking, aware of the economic imperatives brought about by resource constraint, attract investment. So, wealth creation from resource conservation.  That’s a very powerful self-reinforcing combination of two interests, a virtuous circle that also makes a powerful story.  This is the idea behind the recently launched Osmosis MoRE World Resource Efficiency Fund http://bit.ly/YILxXu. Aerospace and cars manufacturers, logistics suppliers and cosmetics firms might not be the first place you’d expect to find sustainability - perhaps because they don’t explicitly prioritise sustainability as a key platform in their communications.  Yet the numbers show leviathans such as Boeing, BMW, UPS and L’Oreal are highly resource efficient in their respective industries. Even Unilever recently announced it was swapping the earnings rat race for sustainability.

Boeing, for instance, has maintained a forward thinking approach to energy consumption for many years.  The fact that it draws on both historic and renewable energy sources and uses internally created technology to store and distribute this energy may not be immediately apparent, but energy intensity measures constructed from corporate sustainability reports over several years indicate high and rising relative resource efficiency. Clearly that’s a good thing.

Now here’s the rub. Markets tend to reward these companies, not for their resource efficiency per se but for how their resource efficiency translates into financial ratios that the market appreciates.  The point is that the two powerful forces are aligned and they are a force for good.

So, PR is playing its part in creating the conditions for sustainability as well as the storytelling.  Rather than greenwashing reality, it is producing the figures that can take good intent to an objective, pragmatic and measurable level and aligning communities of interest to make a real difference.  In that respect PR is really walking the talk.

تحريض على التفكير - 2

أواصل تحريضى على التفكير، ولعل حالة الإسترخاء التى تصاحب أجازة العيد ومايصاحبها من الخير والعطاء تغرى على تهيئة الجو للإنخراط فى حالة من التأمل لما أطرحه هنا من موضوعات وآراء :

§       إضراب أمناء الشرطة يعيد إلى الأذهان أحداث الأمن المركزى منذ مايقرب من ثلاثين سنة ، المخيف فى الحالتين أن حراس الأمن تخلوا عن مواقعهم وتركوا الشارع المصرى لبلطحية محترفين مرتزقة يعملون لحساب نظام لازال يصر على إثبات نظرية "إما أنا أو الفوضى" حتى يموت قائلها مزهوا بلمحة الذكاء الوحيدة فى حياته حين قال حكمة تتحول إلى واقع على أيدى مأجورى النظام .. الشارع المصرى خائف ومهتز ومرعوب وتقهقرت أولويات الثورة ليحتل الأمن الموقع رقم واحد وإثنين وثلاثة وبعد ذلك تأتى باقى المطالب، ولكن تحقيق المطلب معلق برضاء من يقدرون على تحقيقه وقد لايرضون فيظل عرض الشارع المصرى مباحا للمغتصبين .. فى أحداث الأمن المركزى واجه الوزير الموقف بشجاعة وتحمل المسئولية واستقال، أما اليوم فالوزير المسئول يجلس على كرسى بغير وزارة وينتظر الإقالة.

§       أجهزة الإنذار بالسيارات أصبحت من معالم الشارع المصرى، وتحظى بنصيب الأسد فى إحداث ضجيج متواصل فى تتابع وتزامن نشاز يمثل خلفية مزعجة تسبب مزيدا من التلوث السمعى وتقف شاهدا على تبديد الثورة على معدات تكنولوجية لافائدة منها وتثبت كم الأنانية الموجود فى مصر هذه الأيام وتبلد الشعور بالمسئولية الإجتماعية تجاه الآخرين فلايهم أن يهنأ الناس بالراحة أو بالتركيز فى عمل يؤدونه أو مريض يرعونه مادامت السيارة فى أمان – أو هكذا يحسب من يركبون تلك الإنذارات ويضبطونها على حساسية عالية تجعل الإنذار يعمل لو وقفت ذبابة على باب السيارة او مر بجوارها أحد دون أن يلمسها.. الذى لابد وأن يعيه أصحاب حزب أجهزة الإنذار أن إنذاراتهم لاتخيف اللصوص المتمرسين على إسكاتها أو حتى سرقة السيارة والإنذار يدوى اعتمادا على أن الناس – بما فيهم صاحب السيارة نفسه – لم يعودوا يعبأون حين تنطلق وينزعجون من كثرة ماتعودوا على الصوت.

§       عصابة اللصوص والنهابين الذين كانوا يحكمون مصر تركوها "مشحتة" كبيرة وخلقوا جيوشا من المتسولين يمللأون شوارع العاصمة والأقاليم بعضهم يستحق المساعدة وتخلت عنهم الدولة وأكثرهم وجد فى التسول حرفة مريحة تدر عليه دخلا يزداد كلما ازدادت حرفيته فى إبتكار الوسائل التى تدر عليه دخلا دون عمل .. المقشة وفوطة التلميع وعلب المناديل الورقية أصبحت أدوات تسول ومعها الأعياد والموالد وصناديق النذور التى نسمع عن تقسيم إيرادها عجبا .. كلنا حين نشجع متسولا لايستحق ونستسهل التصدق فى غير مواضع الصدقة مسئولون عن كل تلك المظاهر التى تنتشر على وجه مصر فتملؤه بالبقع والبثور .. ألم يأن الأوان لكى نكون أكثر إيجابية ونبحث عن الجهات التى تذهب إليها صدقاتنا وزكاتنا فتنشئ بها مشروعات يعمل بها هؤلاء، أو على الأقل مساعدة من يستحق منهم على بدء مشروع صغير بماكينة خياطة أو بقرة أو مشغل يدوى أو نول لعمل الأكلمة أو السجاد؟

§       حرصت على أن أشاهد أطول صارى فى العالم رفع عليه علم مصر.. كنت من فرط سذاجتى أتخيله ساريا بحق وحقيق فإذا بى أجده برجا حديديا نسخة طبق الأصل من أبراج الكهرباء أو محطات المحمول التى تنتشر بين المزارع وأعلى أسطح المنازل ومعلق بقمته قماش العلم الذى يظهر من هذا الإرتفاع الشاهق كما لو كان خرقة بالية المتهالكة لالون لها .. أطالب كل صاحب قلم ورأى أن يطالب بإزالة هذا البرج القمئ الذى شوه جمال المنطقة التى أقيم فيها وأساء إلى رمز مصر وصاحبه إشاعات كثيرة حاولت أن تستغل تربط تاريخ رفع العلم على الصارى بمناسبة شخصية بحتة وأن مصر سوف تدخل موسوعة جنيس بهذا الإنجاز الهزيل.

§       أتساءل: هل نسهم بحكم العادة فى الوصول بكارثة المرور فى مصر إلى ماوصلت إليه لتصبح سببا مباشرا فى تلوث البيئة وحرق الأعصاب وضياع الوقت واستنزاف الثروات التى تصرف على محروقات نستلكها والسيارات واقفة فى مكانها؟ نظرت حولى وأنا فى تاكسى إلى مشوار لايمكن فى الظروف العادية أن يتستغرق أكثر من نصف ساعة فإذا بى أصل بعد ساعة ونصف .. نظرت للسيارات على كلا الجانبين باكتشفت أن أكثر من 90% منها على طول الطريق يقودها شخص واحد .. هل العيب فينا أم فى حكومة لم توفر وسائل انتقال آدمية يستخدمها الناس فى قضاء حوائجهم؟

Generating Great Ideas from Simple Ones

Simple ideas may in many cases generate greater ones. If you train yourself to think out of the box for solutions to the problems you encounter. Here are some tips that may help:

Let Go of the PastBefore you can create a better future, you must let go of the pains in your past. Failing once does not mean you will fail forever. Learn from your history, but don't let it stand as an obstacle between you and your dreams.

2. Remember SuccessJust as important as learning from and overcoming past failure is recalling past success. It doesn't matter who you are, you have succeeded at something at sometime in your past. Don't gloss over these moments. Use them to remind you that you can in fact achieve your goals.

3. Realize the PossibilitiesIt's possible. The dreams you hold in your heart but push to the back of your mind are within your reach. Accept the fact that you can create a better life. This will serve as the springboard of belief you need to succeed.

4. Dream the Big DreamIn order for dreams and desires to inspire you to action and achievement, they need to be big. If you don't get excited about what you have planned for the future, you will never find the inspiration you need to change your life. Powerful dreams can move the soul, and when you dream the big dream, you will be driven to make the compelling picture a tangible reality.

5. Thinking Your Way to ChangeNo matter how bad you want it to happen, change will never result from thinking alone - you must take action. The world is swimming in dreamers, but only those who act on their desires achieve truly remarkable results.

6. A Daily Habit to Begin TodaySet aside at least 30 minutes each night to review your day and plan for the next. It's a simple way to add an element of control to your life. Also, beginning this habit today will help tremendously when you begin to work toward your exciting and inspiring goals and dreams.

7. Mix It UpThe wrong routine can spell certain doom for your goals and dreams. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, add at least one new step to your daily routine to help break up the pattern. One new activity will set the stage for many more in the future, making it possible for you to break free of any negative routines.

8. A Team SportDon't go at this alone. Achieving a goal or dream requires a team effort. There will be times when you feel like giving up, when you feel like it's too much to take. One of the surest ways to overcome these small setbacks is to have the support and guidance of your goal partner.

9. Get Excited About What's to ComeYou are on your way to getting everything you have ever wanted! Now is the time to get excited and inspired about what your future holds. Imagine living your ideal life - now make it happen!

10. Raise Your StandardsIt's time to raise your standards. It's time to expect more out of yourself than anyone else. Accept nothing less than your absolute best in all that you do and you'll have no problem creating your ideal life. After all, you'd expect nothing less than living the life of your dreams.

11. Take OwnershipBefore positive changes can take place, you must take responsibility for your position in life. You are in control of your future and are the only one who can guarantee a better life. If you play the role of a victim, giving up control and ownership of your life, you will never enjoy the amazing opportunities that life offers to us all.

12. Write in a JournalA million thoughts may rush through your mind each day, but if you do nothing to capture them, they often disappear as quickly as they came. Take time to write in a journal each week. This will not only help you overcome obstacles you are facing in your life but also help you discover what you really want.

13. Whom Do You Admire?Make a list of at least three people that you admire. With your list in hand describe what it is that you most respect about each individual. Often pinpointing what we admire in others offers insight into what we wish to become ourselves.

14. The MomentRemember a time when everything seemed to be going just right? When nothing could get you down? When you thought to yourself, 'This moment, right now, is what life is all about.' We all have moments in life when we feel we are at our best, but most people don't utilize them. Use the special moments in your life to bring to light goals and desires that are sure to fulfill your needs. Learning from and building on these times will help you create magic moments on a daily basis for the rest of your life.

15. A Friendly Brainstorming SessionGather a group of your closest friends, the ones who know you better than anyone else, and use their knowledge about you and your life to help you brainstorm goal and dream ideas. They will likely offer ideas you never considered yourself.

16.What don't you want?Sometimes the easiest way to uncover what you want is to know exactly what you don't want. It all depends on your particular personality. Some find it very difficult to create specific goals, but these same people have no trouble explaining in detail what they hate. Sometimes working in the opposite direction of what you hate can be the key to discovering your goals and dreams.

17. Keep a Notebook in Goal-Creating AreasWatching television offers hundreds of ideas that you can use to help you create your own personal goals. The same is true of your sleep. Because of this it's vital that you keep a notebook handy while watching television and on your nightstand to jot down any goal ideas that come to you.
Do You Know What You Want?In order for these tips and ideas to help you live a better life, you have to know what you want. So the question is, do you? If not, it's time to put a few simple exercises to work and discover the answer.

18. Impossible to FailPeople are more than capable of creating compelling dreams, but the fear of failure often clouds the path. To avoid this pitfall, imagine that it is impossible to fail. What dreams and desires would you pursue if you were guaranteed success?

19. Your Ideal LifeThink ahead. Imagine living your ideal life in five years. Then ten and twenty years. What would you be doing? With whom would you be doing it? What would your life look like on a daily basis? Use the picture of a future life to create goals and desires in the present.

20. Get SpecificIn order for you to create lasting change in your life, you have to be super specific about what you want. Vague ideas just won't cut it. The more specific you make your desires, the easier it will be to act on them. Cloudy hopes create obstacles. You have to know exactly what you want, down to the smallest detail.

21. Write it DownWhen you get an idea for a goal you'd like to achieve write it down immediately. The simple act of writing your goals down on a sheet of paper will bring them one step closer to reality. Saying something is one thing, but when you actually see the words written down it becomes a living, breathing thing.

22. Small Steps to Great SuccessWhile the nature of your dreams needs to inspire, you must also recognize the fact that it takes only small steps to create amazing changes. The dream will lead the way, but it won't come in one giant leap. Small steps, carried out each day, will bring you to the destinations you seek.

23. Who Are You Living For?Many times people will accept the status quo because they are afraid of what other people would think of them if they strived for more. Fitting in becomes more important than moving ahead. Decide here and now that creating the life you want to live is far more important than blending in and living for the approval of others.

24. Search for Success StoriesThe stories of individuals overcoming all odds and achieving their dreams surround you. Seek out and make these stories a part of your life. You are not alone in your search for happiness. Knowing that others have succeeded in the past can be enough to motivate you to succeed in the future.

25. The Overnight Success MythSuccess takes time. People who believe in the overnight success expect amazing results the minute they start working toward their goal. It's not going to happen. Don't let this get you down - it's a positive. When you know the truth about success you won't become upset when immediate results can't be seen.

26. Measure Your ProgressAs you begin putting the pieces of your desire in place, be sure to measure your progress along the way. Doing so will help to keep you motivated to achieve the goal as you see real improvement taking place. You will also be able to recognize troubling areas that need more attention or successful methods that could be spread to others aspects of the goal.

27. Educate YourselfThe more you know, the more you'll grow. Information is the greatest resource you have as you work toward creating a better life. Facts help to increase your confidence, break down fear, and inspire you to action. Learn all there is to know about what you want and you will never be without the drive and energy you need to make it happen.

28. Make Autobiographies Part of Your LibraryLearning about the lives of the people who achieved the goals you want to achieve is one of the most inspiring techniques available. Find out who had the same aspirations and learn all you can about their inspiring story.

29. Essentials of ChangeIt doesn't matter what you want, someone at sometime throughout history has desired and achieved the same thing. Not only does this prove that your dreams are possible but also that you have what it takes to make them happen. People have done so much with so little, proving that the essential requirements of creating change are within you.

30. Become Aware of Your ThoughtsThe wrong thoughts played enough times in your mind can sap the strength of anyone's confidence. Become aware of the things you say to yourself. Every time you come to a negative phrase stop yourself, refute the belief with logic, and replace it with a strong and empowering thought.

31. Say and SeeFor those with phobias simply mentioning their particular fear puts them in a frightened state of mind. They may even exhibit physical signs of fear. The same is true of goals and dreams. Many times the second you say your goal images of failure and fear pop into your head. To fix the problem, consciously say your goal and imagine success again and again until it becomes ingrained in your mind.

32. What's In It for Me?As you begin taking steps toward the things you desire, you will meet with many obstacles along the way that have the potential to knock you off course forever. To ensure this doesn't happen to you, answer the question: What's in it for me? Knowing exactly why you are reaching for more will serve as a constant source of energy and excitement to keep you going strong in the face of short-term setbacks.

33. Ask Yourself a QuestionWhat's the worst thing that will happen if you give up on your goal? This and other thoughts like them are useful tools. Fear of what could happen if you don't succeed shouldn't be the main reason you work toward your goal, but it is an excellent tool to help you get started.

34. What's Holding You Back?Take time to really think about what's holding you back from working toward and achieving your goal. Too often people get a 'feeling' and quit on their dreams. You can't fight or solve a vague feeling, but you can solve a specific problem. That's why it's critical for you to zero in on exactly what's holding you back from success.
Want 1,001 Quick & Easy Motivation Tips and Ideas?1,001 motivation tips and ideas to help you get and stay motivated, achieve your goals, and improve your attitude can be yours in minutes! 35. Share the ExcitementDon't keep your plans for a better future to yourself - share the excitement with those who will not see it as bragging or your ego taking over. This will make the dream more tangible, and include others in the picture who will ask about your progress and keep you heading in the right direction.

36. If Not Now, When?This is a simple method to adding a powerful boost to your goal-achieving project. People are gifted at the art of rationalization and procrastination. To put a stop to them ask yourself, 'If not now, when?' If you're honest, and I know you will be, you'll realize that now is as good a time as any to begin moving toward a better life.

37. Your Excuses Have No UsesExcuses are scapegoats. They cover up the truth so we don't have to face it. You and I both know this isn't the way to a happy and successful life. You have to put a stop to excuses once and for all. Every time you catch yourself using an excuse to cover up the truth about why you aren't working toward your goal (e.g. I don't have the time), write it down along with at least three solid reasons why your excuse is completely wrong. And never use it again.

38. Fear is Part of the PuzzleIf you're waiting for a guaranteed success, you'll be waiting for the rest of your life. Fear is part of the process of success - there's no way around it. You might think that the people you look up to are free of fear as they work toward their dreams you are mistaken. Everyone feels fear when they take a step outside of their comfort zone, the question is whether or not you keep going.

39. Place Reminders in the Home and OfficePlace powerful reminders around your home or office about the goals and desires you are working to achieve. With the hectic pace of life in today's society it's easy to forget about the truly important things. Placing pictures in your home of the ideal body you are dreaming about or the home you wish to build are effective tools to keep you going strong.

40. The First StepA single step in the right direction is all it takes to put in motion great things. Every written masterpiece begins with a single word on a page. Every long journey begins with a single step. The things you desire most will be no different. Write down on a clean sheet of paper the absolute first step your goal requires - then do it.

41. A Part of Your IdentityWhen success becomes a part of your identity, a part of who you are, you'll find getting motivated to do more with your life is an easy task. People stick to what they believe they are. In other words, a quitter will quit before he succeeds; a winner will get exactly what he wants in the end. Don't just think like a winner - become one inside and out until the thought of quitting conflicts so strongly with who you are that you are driven to succeed.

42. What Company do You Keep?Most often people mirror their environments. The friends and family members you associate with play a major role in your life - both positive and negative. Ask yourself if the people in your life are helping you become the person you want to be or are standing in the way of progress. If changes need to be made, follow through.

43. The Truth about ChangeYou will fail. Not once, not twice, but many, many times. This is how the game works. Believing that you will be able to achieve a lofty goal or dream without a hitch is like believe you can play perfect golf without a single step on a course. It's not negative, it's reality. And a true success uses this as an advantage. When something doesn't go according to plan an adjustment is made and the process resumes. A short-term setback will never bring an end to their ambition.

44. Know When to Keep QuietJust as important as sharing your goal with those who will offer guidance and support is not sharing your goal with those who will resent your improvement and take a jab at you with every chance they get. Naysayers are killers of the spirit. When it comes to these individuals, keep your goal to yourself.

45. If It Works Once, Use It Again!Have you ever watched a movie that really moved you? Read a book that inspired a change in your life? Listened to an audio tape that motivated you to take action? If you're like most people, I'm sure you've experienced one or more of these. But do you revisit them on a regular basis? People will find a tool that inspires them only to leave it behind. If something motivates you, use it again and again.

46. Organize Your SpaceA cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. Taking a few hours to clean up your common work areas will go a long way in helping you maintain clarity and focus while working toward your goals.

47. Everyone Needs a Day OffSometimes the best way to stay motivated to achieve your goal is to give it a rest. When things don't seem to be going your way or you simply feel exhausted, put your goal out of mind until the next day. Take a walk, a ride, or just sit and relax. This short break will allow you to return to the project with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

48. Choose to Think About What You WantWith everything you have to think about each day, the things you desire won't always get the time they deserve. You have to choose to think about what you want to change in your life, or your dreams will very likely be left behind.

49. Subscribe to Magazines, Newspapers, and NewslettersInformation is a major part of success. To stay motivated to change your life you need a constant flow of new and exciting information flowing into your mind. If possible, subscribe to at least one magazine, newspaper, or newsletter that focuses on the subject of your goal.

50. Use the Library!As simple as it sounds, get and use your library card! Books are among the cheapest (if you use your card, that is) and most effective success tools around. You can learn most anything from a well-written book. Accept this fact right here and now: if you don't like to read, you'll never reach your true potential.

51. Create a Specific StrategyWhen you know exactly what you want, you have to know exactly how you are going to get it. Just as a vague idea of what you want will never lead to success, a hazy notion of how you will achieve your dreams will bring about the same fate. Super specific strategies will result in success. Anything less will make improvement difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy.

52. Use a TimelineYour dreams need a timeline. This includes not only a deadline but also a time to begin. Without a definite timeline, potentially rewarding and fulfilling goals may silently slip away until they become only distant memories. When will you begin working toward your dreams? When will you achieve them?
The Secret to Self-ConfidenceDo you want to change something about your life but don't feel confident enough to make it happen? Discover a proven method for transforming your confidence and never let this obstacle stand in your way again.

53. Tools of the TradeTo accomplish the task above, charts and checklists are the way to go. Charts are the perfect tool to measure incremental goals such as a savings or investment plan. If your desire is more sequential in nature, simply list the steps in a checklist along with their deadline to keep you right on track from start to finish.

54. Intelligent ActionAction is key to change - but not just any action. Eating unhealthy foods is action, but it is definitely not the kind of moves you should be making if your goal is to get in shape. The secret is to take intelligent action. Learn how to make the right moves and you'll be on your way to enjoying an amazing quality of life.

55. Windows of OpportunityWhat you see today will not necessarily mirror the picture of tomorrow. In other words - things change. You can never know for sure how long the opportunity to act will offer itself. It could vanish tomorrow or in twenty years. The point is: Today is the certainty in your world. Make the best of it.

56. Use Your Time WiselyThe one thing we all desire more of but lose every day is time. Because of this, you need to take steps to ensure your time is being used wisely. Discover where your time goes each day and how you can better utilize each minute and hour.

57. Get ActiveAn inspired mind is of little use if you lack the physical vitality to execute your plans. Get active and get moving. Whether this means a daily exercise program or simply riding your bike to work, think of as many ways as possible to be active in your daily life.

58. Maintain a Healthy DietJust as important as an active lifestyle is a healthy diet. You can't expect to have the energy and drive necessary to live an extraordinary life if you continue to fill your body with unhealthy foods. What you put in your body has an enormous impact on your motivation to improve.

59. Get Enough RestYour body cannot perform at its peak levels if you don't give it the time it requires for rest and repair. Four hours of sleep each night will eventually catch up with you. Get the rest you need and you'll have no problem working with passion toward your desires.

60. Collect Your Favorite QuotationsThe written word can be just as powerful as movies. When you come across a quotation that motivates you to achieve your goals, don't let it go! Write them down, save them on your computer, or do whatever works for you to keep them close at hand.

61. Learn from Your MistakesWhen things don't work out exactly as you had planned (this will happen) don't waste the opportunity to learn something. A short-term failure is a good thing - it teaches you how 'not' to do something, which will bring you closer and closer to the solution you seek.

62. Constant CuriosityBe curious. The world can be a truly amazing place when you take the time to look around and learn about it. Read, converse, observe, listen, and discover the miracles that surround you. Constant curiosity is the habit that is sure to get you excited about your world, your life, and your future

.63. Spend Time with ChildrenSpending time with kids is a great way to let go of your worries and reconnect with your more innocent past. As adults, we have learned to hide our true emotions and keep a reserved attitude. Children have a great lesson to teach us - have fun and enjoy life. Maintain your youthful ways as you continue to grow older.

64. Focus on OthersThere is no better way to improve your life than to help others do the same. To give is to get, and when it comes to spreading happiness and joy to others, it has never been more true. As your focus turns from yourself to those in need you will find that your own problems seem less important and may even disappear altogether.

65. Volunteer Your TimeAn effective method to help others is volunteering. Your time is the most precious resource you have, and giving it to someone else is a truly rewarding experience. Contact your local churches, community center, or public schools for volunteer opportunities.

66. The Ups and DownsYou will not always be motivated to succeed. We all have our ups and downs, and expecting anything different will create frustration and anger. We all get upset, encounter setbacks, and have bad days, but here's the secret: you can visit, but just don't live there.

67. Your ContributionWhat are you going to contribute to the world after you have gone? Living an extraordinary life requires thinking beyond yourself and giving back to the world in some way. What will your gift to the world be?

68. Be Grateful for What You HaveTake time out of each day to be grateful for the things you have in your life. Simply being alive and well is an amazing gift - anything more is just icing on the cake. Appreciate what you have and you will discover a renewed passion to achieve the desires you have yet to experience.

69. Starting in the Right DirectionYou may not realize it, but you've already taken a massive step toward success. Simply reading these words demonstrates your desire to enhance the quality of your life. Now that you've taken the first step, keep it going day after day, month after month, year after year.

70. Enjoy the RideWhile you're working your tail off to create a better life for you and your family it's important to enjoy the experience and not just focus on the outcome. It's like taking a road trip through beautiful country with your eyes closed thinking only about the destination. You'll miss out half the joy of success if you forget about the experience of it all.How Long Will You Wait?It's decision time. You can continue hoping things change or, with our help, you can make them happen today.Everyone wants to change and improve, but few understand how the process actually works. When you know the secrets to controlling motivation, like a light switch you can turn it on and off at will.Just imagine what your life would be like if you knew how to get and stay motivated at a moment's notice for as long as you wished.

Six Sigma in Motorola

For Motorola, the originator of Six Sigma, the answer to the question "Why Six Sigma?" was simple: survival. Motorola came to Six Sigma because it was being consistently beaten in the competitive marketplace by foreign firms that were able to produce higher quality products at a lower cost. When a Japanese firm took over a Motorola factory that manufactured Quasar television sets in the United States in the 1970s, they promptly set about making drastic changes in the way the factory operated. Under Japanese management, the factory was soon producing TV sets with 1/20th the number of defects they had produced under Motorola management. They did this using the same workforce, technology, and designs, making it clear that the problem was Motorola's management. Eventually, even Motorola's own executives had to admit "our quality stinks,"[i]
Finally, in the mid 1980s, Motorola decided to take quality seriously. Motorola's CEO at the time, Bob Galvin, started the company on the quality path known as Six Sigma and became a business icon largely as a result of what he accomplished in quality at Motorola. Today, Motorola is known worldwide as a quality leader and a profit leader. After Motorola won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1988 the secret of their success became public knowledge and the Six Sigma revolution was on. Today it's hotter than ever.
It would be a mistake to think that Six Sigma is about quality in the traditional sense. Quality, defined traditionally as conformance to internal requirements, has little to do with Six Sigma. Six Sigma is about helping the organization make more money. To link this objective of Six Sigma with quality requires a new definition of quality. For Six Sigma purposes I define quality as the value added by a productive endeavor. Quality comes in two flavors: potential quality and actual quality. Potential quality is the known maximum possible value added per unit of input. Actual quality is the current value added per unit of input. The difference between potential and actual quality is waste. Six Sigma focuses on improving quality (i.e., reducing waste) by helping organizations produce products and services better, faster and cheaper. In more traditional terms, Six Sigma focuses on defect prevention, cycle time reduction, and cost savings. Unlike mindless cost-cutting programs which reduce value and quality, Six Sigma identifies and eliminates costs which provide no value to customers: waste costs.
For non-Six Sigma companies, these costs are often extremely high. Companies operating at three or four sigma typically spend between 25 and 40 percent of their revenues fixing problems. This is known as the cost of quality, or more accurately the cost of poor quality. Companies operating at Six Sigma typically spend less than 5 percent of their revenues fixing problems (Figure 1). The dollar cost of this gap can be huge. General Electric estimates that the gap between three or four sigma and Six Sigma was costing them between $8 billion and $12 billion per year.
Figure 1: Cost of Poor Quality versus Sigma Level
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a rigorous, focused and highly effective implementation of proven quality principles and techniques. Incorporating elements from the work of many quality pioneers, Six Sigma aims for virtually error free business performance. Sigma, s, is a letter in the Greek alphabet used by statisticians to measure the variability in any process. A company's performance is measured by the sigma level of their business processes. Traditionally companies accepted three or four sigma performance levels as the norm, despite the fact that these processes created between 6,200 and 67,000 problems per million opportunities! The Six Sigma standard of 3.4 problems per million opportunities[1][1] is a response to the increasing expectations of customers and the increased complexity of modern products and processes.
If you're looking for new techniques, don't bother. Six Sigma's magic isn't in statistical or high-tech razzle-dazzle. Six Sigma relies on tried and true methods that have been around for decades. In fact, Six Sigma discards a great deal of the complexity that characterized Total Quality Management (TQM). By one expert's count, there were over 400 TQM tools and techniques. Six Sigma takes a handful of proven methods and trains a small cadre of in-house technical leaders, known as Six Sigma Black Belts, to a high level of proficiency in the application of these techniques. To be sure, some of the methods used by Black Belts are highly advanced, including the use of up-to-date computer technology. But the tools are applied within a simple performance improvement model known as DMAIC, or Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control[1][2]. DMAIC can be described as follows:
D
Define the goals of the improvement activity. At the top level the goals will be the strategic objectives of the organization, such as a higher ROI or market share. At the operations level, a goal might be to increase the throughput of a production department. At the project level goals might be to reduce the defect level and increase throughput. Apply data mining methods to identify potential improvement opportunities.
M
Measure the existing system. Establish valid and reliable metrics to help monitor progress towards the goal(s) defined at the previous step. Begin by determining the current baseline. Use exploratory and descriptive data analysis to help you understand the data.
A
Analyze the system to identify ways to eliminate the gap between the current performance of the system or process and the desired goal. Apply statistical tools to guide the analysis.
I
Improve the system. Be creative in finding new ways to do things better, cheaper, or faster. Use project management and other planning and management tools to implement the new approach. Use statistical methods to validate the improvement.
C
Control the new system. Institutionalize the improved system by modifying compensation and incentive systems, policies, procedures, MRP, budgets, operating instructions and other management systems. You may wish to utilize systems such as ISO 9000 to assure that documentation is correct.

Infrastructure
A very powerful feature of Six Sigma is the creation of an infrastructure to ensure that performance improvement activities have the necessary resources. In this author's opinion, failure to provide this infrastructure is the #1 reason why 80% of all TQM implementations failed in the past. Six Sigma makes improvement and change the full-time job of a small but critical percentage of the organization's personnel. These full time change agents are the catalyst that institutionalizes change. Figure 2 illustrates the required human resource commitment required by Six Sigma.
Figure 2: Six Sigma Infrastructure
Leadership
Six Sigma involves changing major business value streams that cut across organizational barriers. It is the means by which the organization's strategic goals are to be achieved. This effort cannot be led by anyone other than the CEO, who is responsible for the performance of the organization as a whole. Six Sigma must be implemented from the top-down.
Champions and Sponsors
Six Sigma champions are high-level individuals who understand Six Sigma and are committed to its success. In larger organizations Six Sigma will be led by a full time, high level champion, such as an Executive Vice-President. In all organizations, champions also include informal leaders who use Six Sigma in their day-to-day work and communicate the Six Sigma message at every opportunity. Sponsors are owners of processes and systems who help initiate and coordinate Six Sigma improvement activities in their areas of responsibilities.
Master Black Belt
This is the highest level of technical and organizational proficiency. Master Black Belts provide technical leadership of the Six Sigma program. Thus, they must know everything the Black Belts know, as well as understand the mathematical theory on which the statistical methods are based. Master Black Belts must be able to assist Black Belts in applying the methods correctly in unusual situations. Whenever possible, statistical training should be conducted only by Master Black Belts. Otherwise the familiar "propagation of error" phenomenon will occur, i.e., Black Belts pass on errors to green belts, who pass on greater errors to team members. If it becomes necessary for Black Belts and Green Belts to provide training, they should do only so under the guidance of Master Black Belts. For example, Black Belts may be asked to provide assistance to the Master during class discussions and exercises. Because of the nature of the Master's duties, communications and teaching skills are as important as technical competence.
Black Belt
Candidates for Black Belt status are technically oriented individuals held in high regard by their peers. They should be actively involved in the process of organizational change and development. Candidates may come from a wide range of disciplines and need not be formally trained statisticians or engineers. However, because they are expected to master a wide variety of technical tools in a relatively short period of time, Black Belt candidates will probably possess a background including college-level mathematics and the basic tool of quantitative analysis. Coursework in statistical methods may be considered a strong plus or even a prerequisite. As part of their training, Black Belts receive 160 hours of classroom instruction, plus one-on-one project coaching from Master Black Belts or consultants.
Successful candidates will be comfortable with computers. At a minimum, they should understand one or more operating systems, spreadsheets, database managers, presentation programs, and word processors. As part of their training they will be required to become proficient in the use of one or more advanced statistical analysis software packages. Six Sigma Black Belts work to extract actionable knowledge from an organization's information warehouse. To ensure access to the needed information, Six Sigma activities should be closely integrated with the information systems (IS) of the organization. Obviously, the skills and training of Six Sigma Black Belts must be enabled by an investment in software and hardware. It makes no sense to hamstring these experts by saving a few dollars on computers or software.
Green Belt
Green Belts are Six Sigma project leaders capable of forming and facilitating Six Sigma teams and managing Six Sigma projects from concept to completion. Green Belt training consists of five days of classroom training and is conducted in conjunction with Six Sigma projects. Training covers project management, quality management tools, quality control tools, problem solving, and descriptive data analysis. Six Sigma champions should attend Green Belt training. Usually, Six Sigma Black Belts help Green Belts define their projects prior to the training, attend training with their Green Belts, and assist them with their projects after the training.
Staffing Levels and Expected Returns
As stated earlier in this article, the number of full time personnel devoted to Six Sigma is not large. Mature Six Sigma programs, such as those of Motorola, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, AlliedSignal, and others average about one-percent of their workforce as Black Belts. There is usually about one Master Black Belts for every ten Black Belts, or about 1 Master Black Belt per 1,000 employees. A Black Belt will typically complete 5 to 7 projects per year. Project teams are led by Green Belts, who, unlike Black Belts and Master Black Belts, are not employed full time in the Six Sigma program. Black Belts are highly prized employees and are often recruited for key management positions elsewhere in the company. After Six Sigma has been in place for three or more years, the number of former Black Belts tends to be about the same as the number of active Black Belts.
Estimated savings per project varies from organization to organization. Reported results average about US$150,000 to US$243,000. Note that these are not the huge mega-projects pursued by Re-engineering. Yet, by completing 5 to 7 projects per year per Black Belt, the company will add in excess of US$1 million per year per Black Belt to its bottom line. For a company with 1,000 employees the numbers would look something like this:
Master Black Belts: 1
Black Belts: 10
Projects: = 50 to 70 (5 to 7 per Black Belt)
Estimated saving: US$9 million to US$14.6 million (US$14,580 per employee)
Do the math for your organization and see what Six Sigma could do for you. Because Six Sigma savings impact only non-value added costs, they flow directly to your company's bottom line.

Implementation of Six Sigma
After over two decades of experience with quality improvement, there is now a solid body of scientific research regarding the experience of thousands of companies implementing major programs such as Six Sigma. Researchers have found that successful deployment of Six Sigma involves focusing on a small number of high-leverage items. The steps required to successfully implement Six Sigma are well-documented.
1. Successful performance improvement must begin with senior leadership. Start by providing senior leadership with training in the principles and tools they need to prepare their organization for success. Using their newly acquired knowledge, senior leaders direct the development of a management infrastructure to support Six Sigma. Simultaneously, steps are taken to "soft-wire" the organization and to cultivate an environment for innovation and creativity. This involves reducing levels of organizational hierarchy, removing procedural barriers to experimentation and change, and a variety of other changes designed to make it easier to try new things without fear of reprisal.
2. Systems are developed for establishing close communication with customers, employees, and suppliers. This includes developing rigorous methods of obtaining and evaluating customer, employee and supplier input. Base line studies are conducted to determine the starting point and to identify cultural, policy, and procedural obstacles to success.
3. Training needs are rigorously assessed. Remedial skills education is provided to assure that adequate levels of literacy and numeracy are possessed by all employees. Top-to-bottom training is conducted in systems improvement tools, techniques, and philosophies.
4. A framework for continuous process improvement is developed, along with a system of indicators for monitoring progress and success. Six Sigma metrics focus on the organization's strategic goals, drivers, and key business processes.
5. Business processes to be improved are chosen by management, and by people with intimate process knowledge at all levels of the organization. Six Sigma projects are conducted to improve business performance linked to measurable financial results. This requires knowledge of the organization's constraints.
6. Six Sigma projects are conducted by individual employees and teams led by Green Belts and assisted by Black Belts.
Although the approach is simple, it is by no means easy. But the results justify the effort expended. Research has shown that firms that successfully implement Six Sigma perform better in virtually every business category, including return on sales, return on investment, employment growth, and share price increase. When will you be ready to join the Six Sigma revolution?

Leading Through Technology

When one’s team members are halfway across the world, working together effectively is no small achievement. Start with minimal or no face-to-face interaction, add differences of expertise, geography, time zone, culture, and perhaps language, and one ends up with, to put it mildly, a leadership challenge.
How to navigate those challenges, especially in projects requiring complex innovation, is the subject of a February, 2007, article in the journal Academy of Management Perspectives. “Leading Virtual Teams,” authored by Arvind Malhotra, Ann Majchrzak, and Benson Rosen is a tidy compilation of techniques and suggestions for making distributed teams work well together.
Two of the authors, Malhotra and Rosen, are in close proximity to each other at the Kenan-Flagler Business School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The third author, Majchrzak, is across the continent and three time zones away at the Marshall School of Business, of the University of Southern California. Together they constitute a virtual team, so they speak from experience.
Six Ways to Strengthen Ties
When team members are separated by hundreds or thousands of miles, even the simplest of leadership tasks requires careful thinking, as Malhotra, Majchrzak and Rosen discovered through their research. The authors followed a virtual team at Boeing-Rocketdyne through its entire life cycle, and then did a large-scale follow-up study in which they attended meetings of 55 successful virtual teams in 33 different companies and interviewed team leaders. Finally, they boiled down their observations and conclusions into six clusters of recommendations, which are briefly summarized here.
1. Establish and Maintain Trust Through the Use of Communication Technology
Just as in face-to-face teams, two of the biggest trust builders in virtual teams are having members do what they promise and “show up” at the meetings they are expected to attend. But virtual teams require additional up-front maintenance. Project leaders, for example, must establish initial common norms and procedures about how communication technology should be used. In “eRooms” or other electronic discussion forums, team members need a common understanding about what to post, when to post, who owns documents, and how to inform others of documents’ whereabouts; in addition, all members must subscribe to an electronic etiquette and similar “tone of voice.” In audio-conferencing, norms have to be established, such as whether or not members identify themselves before commenting. These up-front norms and procedures may have to be modified as the group members gets used to interacting with each other. For example, e-mail attachments may be OK at the beginning at the project but then become outlawed midstream as members discover that their inboxes start overflowing. “Virtual get-togethers,” such as conference calls or e-mail exchanges, allow members to iron out these minor process issues along the way.
2. Ensure That Team Diversity is Understood, Appreciated, and Leveraged
Team members show up with a diverse array of skills, expertise, and life experiences. A leader can take three actions to make sure this diversity is fully understood and utilized. First, a leader can post an “expertise directory” at the beginning of a project, which could take the form of a skills matrix, collection of C.V.s, or list of articles written by the members. Second, the leader can pair diverse members in common tasks and rotate members throughout the project, both practices that enhance bonding and feed the creative fires. Third, the leader needs to establish an interplay between synchronous and asynchronous communications. Topics brought up during the synchronous, real-time audio-conferences or “webinars” can be later dissected in asynchronous forum discussions or e-mail exchanges. Team members who may be shy about speaking up in the presence of senior team members during conference calls may be more willing to unwind in a later series of written discussions.
3. Manage Virtual Work-Cycle and Meetings
Successful real-time, virtual meetings are, by definition, highly choreographed events. Virtual team leaders must oversee an interlinking set of practices prior to, during, and after the meetings. Time between meetings should be spent on idea divergence and exploration (asynchronous idea generation.) Meetings should be used for idea convergence and conflict resolution (synchronous idea convergence.) Together, these two modes of communicating optimize the work cycle.
Before a meeting begins, team pre-planning is crucial. Have electronic discussions before the meeting and post these discussion threads. Identify areas of disagreement to discuss during the meeting. Circulate a clear agenda in advance with time allocations. Post progress on the repository, linking them with project timelines, action items, and responsibility charts.
During the meeting, ensure through "check-ins" that everyone is engaged and heard from. Electronic voting is one way to quickly take a group’s pulse, with results displayed instantly on screen. Some teams reported using "minutes on the go" during the meeting, that is, rough minutes logged in a virtual room side window. Only results are recorded, not debates and discussion.
At the end of the meeting, make sure the final polished minutes and future work plans are posted to the team repository. Also, between meetings, encourage idea generation divergence and discussions through threads, instant messaging, e-mail exchanges, and auto-notification of postings.
4. Monitor Team Progress Through the Use of Technology
Team leaders found it helpful to scrutinize asynchronous and synchronous communications closely to monitor team progress. That progress was made visible to team members through shared project timelines and balanced scorecard measures, in a simplified dashboard or one-page summary format – another helpful practice.
Leaders frequently reported their monitoring of technology and procedures evolved over time. One team leader put it this way:
Our database matured. We initially had a discussion database. Then we added IM. Then we added change request capability. Then we added a call tracking database. Then we added an issue log. Then we created a view called “management view” with schedule, costs spent to date, and project status. Then we added a working section view just for the team. We tried videoconferencing but stopped using it when the team did not find it helpful.
While not all leaders may be comfortable with this rapidly changing management style, such fluid evolution of oversight was a common story among virtual team leaders.
5. Enhance External Visibility of the Team and Its Members
The study’s authors observed that leading a virtual team requires parallel processing. While focusing on internal activities, team leaders also had to continuously and clearly represent the team’s work to external stakeholders including project sponsors, local executives, and internal and external customers.
This external reporting function was handled in a variety of ways. One leader organized a steering committee of departmental managers and client organizations and then regularly briefed this committee. Another leader expected each team member to “report out” to his or her sponsoring manager. Regardless of which approach was used, leaders usually asked team members to approve reports intended for managers and external audiences to encourage buy-in for the report-out process.
6. Ensure Individuals Benefit from Participating in Virtual Teams
Part of any good leader’s job is making sure team members get the rewards and recognition they deserve. Virtual leaders had the same goals, although they achieved them in different ways, including:
Having virtual reward ceremonies, including sending gifts to each individual;
Starting each virtual meeting with recognition of specific successes;
Suggesting to high level executives pleased with team members’ briefings to pass on the good word to the members’ respective managers.
Some team members respond more to intellectual challenge and fun, so it’s important to provide them with opportunities for lectures, conferences, and other avenues for personal growth. The key is to understand what makes each individual tick.
Concluding Observation
Imagine a carbon-epoxy jetliner with gracefully curved wings slipping through the clear blue sky at 35,000 feet. Contented passengers are sipping their beverages and tapping softly on their laptops. The pilots are chatting quietly about World Cup soccer in a serene cockpit brimming with sophisticated avionics. This scene is from a jetliner project with effective virtual teams.
Contrast this scene with another jetliner project literally stranded on the ground. It’s over budget, past deadline, and hopelessly mired in controversy. Engineers from two different continents are scratching their heads over why body module components made in twenty-five different countries don’t fit together and why the wiring panels don’t match. Discussions in the back offices are getting heated and loud. The managers of this project have yet to master the art of leading distributed technical teams.
When innovation and creativity are called for, the crucial factors for success are increasingly the virtual ties that bind.

Organizational Success Illusions

Truth-a proper and clear understanding of reality-is the key to success in organizations, teams,relationships, and careers. In fact, the departure point for all achievement is a relentless commitment to truth-truth about who we are, where we're headed, where the market is going, what our customers want, what our core competencies are (and whether anyone cares), what our core limitations are (and whether anyone can help us), and what our employees are thinking.
The enemy of truth is illusion. illusion is "a false interpretation by the mind ... a belief or hope that has no real substance."Illusion comes when we perceive something to be true that isn't true or is only partly true. Illusion comes because we want to believe the thing is true. Illusion is often-perhaps always-tied into false hope.

This false hope is usually driven by our desire to avoid facing problems-and the pain that comes from facing them and attempting to solve them. It's easier to search for ways to market a formerly successful product that is now falling in sales than to gaze unflinchingly into the reality that the product is on the verge of extinction. "when the horse is dead, get off," says an old proverb-but it's incredibly but it's incredibly easy to keep trying to ride an old horse even after the stench of death has set in.

It's is always easier to hope that a problem will go away or solve itself than it is to shred bad ideas or to abandon good ideas that gone sour. And the more the reality of the situation diverges from our desire to avoid pain and from our false hope, the more we need and will use illusion to disguise the gap.

Illusions are living things. Like layer upon layer of paint added to a rotting wall, illusions tend to produce more illusions. We may, for example, deceive ourselves into thinking that the problem is marketing rather than acknowledging that the product is a goner. This first illusion leads to a second one-that the marketing department needs a shake up-and when that fails, to a third illusion-that what we really need is a new marketing concept.

This is the disastrous path that illusions put us on and then drive us along. They cause us to "solve" a problem by adding another layer of illusion and, when the rot breaks through, to paint it again. Illusions cause us to head into the netherworld of organizational fantasy and to "solve" problems that may not be the problem-or any problem at all. Organizations spend an unbelievable amount of time and energy attempting to treat symptoms. Much of this effort nearely shuffles illusions around.

The hardest part for any organization is how to overcome its pride, its self-image, and its dreams. It is difficult to admit that we need to stop painting a rotting wall. It can be equally difficult to admit that we just wasted three years on a lousy idea. Therefore, the value of shredding illusions is that we begin to face the real problems, which are the only news worthy of being solved, the only ones that make a difference. We peel off the paint, layer by layer, so that we can determine the condition of the wall. Then, and only then, can we determine accurately whether to repair the wall or tear it down and build something better.

Another old saying reminds us that when we know the truth, we can be free-free from myths, free from misperceptions that lead us down unhelpful paths, free from bad ideas disguised as "traditions" or "culture,"and free from opinions that just don't hold up under the relentless flood of marketplace reality.

The danger of illusions is that sometimes we do not know what we are looking for, so we make our decisions about the organization on the basis of outward appearances alone. Illusions sometimes help people gain and maintain their power, not because we're ignorant of reality, but because we sense or know the reality and choose to avoid it. We might tell ourselves that we don't know anything different or have all the facts, while what we're really doing is entering More deeply into the process of illusion building.

Again, this deception is compounded when new reinforce each other's illusions. I tell you your layoff plan sounds appropriate (suppressing doubts about the long-term effect on morale and innovation), and you tell me my reorganization should fix our poor customer service (suppressing questions about my lack of agreed-upon goals and training). We can all have ears that itch to hear what they want to hear. Reality is present and available, but "it evaporates in a friendly conspiracy of illusion" according to James Lucas in his book Fatal Illusions.

Managing Your Boss: Help Your Boss Make You a Success

Each one of us has one important person who can help him achieve greater job satisfaction and career success - his boss. This may be a somewhat radical way of looking at business strategy, but it is perfectly true that serving your boss well and intelligently is the most productive way to serve your best self interests.

It is a fact that people lose jobs most often because they have not been successful in satisfying the demands of their boss. They lose out because of faulty boss relations; because they lack an understanding of " boss psychology." Of course I do not mean here to suggest that the reader needs to turn into a psychologist in order to be able to deal with his/her boss, but to understand both the motives and personal traits that drive bosses behaviors and attitudes.

By working "with" your boss you can become free to move ahead and not become lost in the the great unknown depths of the business world. Work becomes more pleasant and you become more productive. You gain more satisfaction because you are able to record more achievements. It all becomes possible by using one of your greatest assets - your boss.

Here are few tips to help you plan ahead how to make yourself indispensable to your boss as part of his team; how to eliminate unnecessary daily conflicts that consumes your energy in unproductive activities:

First - you need to change your concept of being a "boss" as well as being "bossed." These are different roles that can be enjoyed "if" well played. It requires understanding on the part of both the boss and the subordinate that one role cannot be effectively played without the other role being deli gently played to comp element the other. That are demands for each role, and these demands can only be completed if integration of the other role is accomplished. It is then, a give and take relationship that need to be sustained if we want to create an attractive, motivating work environment.

Second - Avoid hostility, harshness, and friction with your boss. Difference in personalities will sure cause some frictions, but these should not be taken personally. They need to be interpreted against the situation that created them. If we believe that there are more than one way to create a mutual understanding and "empathy". Uncontrolled "perception" would always result into misinterpretation of behavior, resulting in turn into more friction and conflict, which makes the workplace "a fighting arena" of winners and losers.

Third - Help your boss become a better manager. This mean "accepting" the other with a belief that regardless of our being different, we still can work together. Personal defects are more felt among Friends, but in the workplace these can be accepted as long as they do not influence our performance. Do not try make your boss look bad before others, especially his superiors. He/she has got more "power" to settle accounts making your life miserable. Learn how to "invest" in your boss by educating him/her without even hinting you do.

Fourth - Develop a daily "game plan" to make it possible to stress positive thoughts, good emotional balance, and be in charge of yourself. You need to "sell" you ideas without being "pushy" or aggressive. Your tool would be "persuasion" not "power". Remember, you cannot impose on your boss. He can.

Fifth - Put your entire group - in addition to your boss - to work for you. Make them feel that your are a valuable asset to the team. This relies mainly on your ability to exert effort to be helpful and cooperating whenever you can. Enhancing your interpersonal skills of communication and negotiation would help become most effective in this area.

Sixth - Have an eye on becoming a boss yourself. Invest in yourself. Do not leave a chance to learn from your mistakes as from your successes. Always ask yourself:"What are the things that I do not like in my boss, and that I am going to avoid when I become one?"

Your biggest challenge though would be dealing with an insensitive boss. A boss who is too much results oriented. Bosses of that kind are usually inconsiderate to their people's needs. You need here to work winning ways to gain their attention and recognition. Allow enough time and work systematically to develop an interactive relationship with a boss of that kind until you win his/her respect.