Loud Thinking

Archive for December, 2013

Match referee David Boon must act according to the ICC rules, on over appealing, by the Sri Lankan players. This happened against the Indian team, in a match against South Africa, when Sachin Tendulkar was penalised.

Determination is not giving up.

“You cannot be wimpy out there on the dream-seeking trail. Dare to break through barriers, to find your own path.”

Les Brown –
Motivational speaker

The Three M’s that Motivate Employees

Smart leaders can turn change from exhausting to exhilarating by asking employees to open their imaginations. This type of strong work motivation stems from the three M’s: mastery, membership, and meaning. (Money is a distant fourth.)
Mastery. Help people develop deep skills. Even in the most seemingly routine areas, when people are given stretch goals and difficult problems to tackle, they can do things faster, smarter, and better.
Membership. Foster community by honoring individuality and encouraging employees to bring outside interests to work. Create frequent opportunities to meet people across the organization to help your team get to know one another more deeply.
Meaning. Reinforcing a larger mission and purpose can make even mundane tasks feel significant. Discussing how your products or services can improve the world affects employees’ priorities and decisions.

Adapted by HBR from “Three Things that Actually Motivate Employees” by Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

— Edward Everett Hale

Live-Your-Dreams is achieving a cherished ambition.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams.”

Ralph Waldo Emmerson (1803-1882);
Philosopher, Poet, Author, Essayist

How Customers Can Help Streamline Your Business

Customers appreciate simplicity, but figuring out how to streamline can be difficult for many companies. Research has found the most important factor in creating customer “stickiness” is “decision simplicity,” i.e., the ease of getting credible information in the midst of marketing noise. Engage your customers in simplifying your business — and make it easier for them to work with you — with these tips.
Figure out what your customers do all day. What do they think about first in the morning? What’s the toughest part of their day? Try giving your customers a diary to track their activities, or spend a day shadowing a customer, to understand their unmet needs.
Listen to your critics. Consider asking non-customers why they don’t do business with you. Intentionally including people who dislike your product or service in a focus group can lead to more provocative conversations. Better yet, invite naysayers to join planning meetings to discuss which enhancements could change their perception of your organization.

Adapted by HBR from “Let Your Customers Streamline Your Business” by Ron Ashkenas and Lisa Bodell.

Optimism is having the most favorable outlook.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672);
writer, poet, first woman to be published in Colonial America