“We have to reduce costs. Please let me know you revised budget for the current year by next week.” That was the one of the first things I heard in my new role as Chief Learning Officer at the University of Chicago Medical Center several years ago. It was my first meeting as a member of …
Read more “Stop putting up with reports and metrics that don’t help you make decisions”
A company was struggling with high operating costs. A quick review revealed that payroll costs were a key factor. Further review showed that the company was experiencing consistently high overtime. The company’s leadership asked a team of managers to come up with some possible solutions to the cost problem. Here is what they came up with: · Reduce …
With Hurricane Dorian in the news, I thought it might be a good time to repost this article. It provides a great illustration of aligning data and decisions. And, to the people in the Caribbean and Southeastern United States, my thoughts are with you. I hope you remain safe during this difficult storm. Original Article: …
Read more “Aligning your data and decisions. Why there is no ‘Category 6’ for hurricanes.”
If you’re like most people, you probably get a lot of reports each week. And, also like most people, you spend a lot of time reading through them. Many people tell me that they spend way too much time browsing reports. This wastes time and delays decision making. It’s important to be strategic when looking …
What’s the first thing that you do when you see a “background” section in a presentation or communication? If you’re like many people, you probably said, “Ignore it”. If it’s during a presentation, you probably also let out a loud sigh and slouch in your chair a bit! Yet, I’d bet that you provide “background” in …
Read more “Context Versus Background: Streamlining Your Presentations and Decisions”
In my last post, I talked about using the “What, Why, But, And” approach for telling your story simply and effectively. However, sometimes you are doing more than telling a story. Sometimes you are making a recommendation. Just as people often over-explain their story, sometimes we over-explain the recommendation as well. Your goal should be …
Do you like getting status updates? I’ve met few people who do. They tend to be long drawn out presentations that are heavy on data but light on insight and action. Well, guess what? Your boss and clients don’t like them either. The problem is that most people over-explain. Your audience doesn’t need every detail. …
Read more “Telling your story simply, quickly, and effectively”
Giving feedback is a lot like playing darts. The best way to win is to have a sharp point, pitch it at the right angle, and have it stick. Keeping your point sharp Darts become dull when used over and over again. So does feedback. Saying the same thing repeatedly doesn’t reinforce your point, it …
Read more “What playing darts can teach you about giving feedback”
Good goals are helpful. They provide focus for teams and create line of sight between an individual’s work and the broader success of the business. However, while everyone in an organization might be working toward the same goal, each person should have his or her own unique goal. A problem that I see in many …
Read more “Are your goals empowering or suffocating your team?”
Here’s a challenge. You have to get your organization to work in new ways but your workforce is well versed and even committed to the old ways. Sound familiar? Many leaders are finding themselves in this position. They have a vision but can’t seem to get it executed. Certainly, sometimes the issue is the leader. …