 |
| Web
News |
Running
Searchles Around Web 2.0
Dumbfind.com founder Chris Seline isn't above making up silly words to promote
his new products. Seline dumbfound
that "searchiness" was appropriate for his "searchiest search engine," and recently
launched a search/social bookmarking hybrid he calls "Searchles."
Microsoft
Protects Your Privacy?
Microsoft is offering Windows users a "private folder"-a password-protected storage
space that will make its home on your desktop. There are a few Faustian catches,
though, not the least of which is the requirement to run the Windows Genuine Advantage
program before installing Private Folder 1.0.
PodZinger,
TED, And Alex Laats
The TEDTalks series featuring talks by Al Gore, David Pogue, Tony Robbins, and
others at the Technology, Entertainment, Design conference can be searched for
words and phrases with the help of PodZinger's...
Yahoo!
Gets Trippy
Yahoo! continues to bank on social media and user-generated content as a means
to capture eyeballs as the company officially launched its Trip Planner service
today after months of beta testing. Part of the over all Yahoo! Travel service,
Trip Planner allows
users to create their own printable travel guide based on places they've been.
Nineteen
Rails Secrets To Web Development
Ruby on Rails has increased in popularity among web developers seeking a solid
framework for their applications, and some helpful hints can make it even better.
A number of resources for the Ruby
on Rails framework have arrived online since its debut.
Congdon
Replaced By English Accent
How will Rocketboom's Andrew Baron replace his vamoosing attractive, smart, witty,
and charming anchor Amanda Congdon? The space in front of the upside down map
of the world will be filled by an attractive, smart, witty, and charming anchorwoman
with a British accent. So, ha!
Microsoft
ODF Plans Nothing New
Microsoft's announcement that it would back the Open XML Translator project, and
bridge the gap between Office 2007 and OpenDocument Format as an open source initiative,
had been hinted at in October 2005.
Google:
Click Fraud Fixes Itself
Like John Lennon, Google CEO Eric Schmidt must have received a visit from Mother
Mary, whispering words of wisdom about click fraud. Using an economic thought
model reminiscent of "laissez faire" and "trickle down,"...
Checkout
Poses A Risk To Google
Although Google may think of its Checkout service as an extension of its existing
payment system, but it also presents a business shift that portends both risk
and reward.
IBM
Preps Entry-Level Business Search
While Big Blue already makes high-end enterprise search and content integration
software, it found a need to make entry-level versions of those products available
in the small to medium business markets.
|
|
|
07.10.06
Best Thinking Creates Competitive Advantage
 By Tom
Northup
Wise leaders know that they will generate organizational best thinking that is
far above what one person can accomplish alone when they draw on the wealth of
knowledge that employees, with their differing professional interests, experiences
and perspectives, bring to their jobs.
Best thinking is a catalyst that: Raises the effectiveness of an organization to a level that cannot be reached by any other means.
•Gives a company a competitive advantage in its market place.
•Builds personal motivation among team members by allowing them to personally contribute both emotionally and intellectually.
• Develops focus in organizational direction and initiatives. Focus drives performance, performance drives results.
• Brings members of management teams together so that they become change agents,
not change critics, working together for the good of the company.
Companies that use best thinking know that these advantages flow to the bottom
line. Studies show that companies with strategic plans are 40% larger than those
without such plans and have slightly fewer workers, resulting in 45% higher revenue
per employee.
This gives such companies a competitive edge because the business cycle in most
industries is much shorter today than in past decades. For instance, before the
middle of the last century, the telephone took years to change from black to beige
and from dial to push button. Now phone features and functions change frequently.
The software industry now measures product life cycles in months, not years.
Why isn't best thinking used more often?
Best thinking is not a natural function in most organizations. The most common
organizational structure has functional areas that operate as vertical silos.
Managers are responsible for their silo and management is hierarchical. It is
natural for employees in each silo to think their work is most important.
How can effective leaders develop best thinking? Change starts with the CEO, the
owner and the leadership of the organization. The most effective leaders have
strong self-awareness and self-confidence along with a deep understanding of their
emotions, strengths, limitations, values and motives. These strongly self-aware
leaders are realistic and honest with themselves and about themselves. They know
where they are headed and why.
This attitude allows CEOs to share power with employees as they guide and inspire
them with a compelling vision. Effective leaders develop high-level, cross-functional
best thinking that crosses boundaries and helps expand employee attitudes.
CEOs must trust their management team to carry out their vision. Great leaders
learn how to inspire people. When they spend the time to fully develop a team
they gain confidence in the team's ability to work together and achieve results.
Why isn't best thinking used more often?
Best thinking is not a natural function in most organizations. The most common organizational structure has functional areas that operate as vertical silos. Managers are responsible for their silo and management is hierarchical. It is natural for employees in each silo to think their work is most important.
How can effective leaders develop best thinking? Change starts with the CEO, the owner and the leadership of the organization. The most effective leaders have strong self-awareness and self-confidence along with a deep understanding of their emotions, strengths, limitations, values and motives. These strongly self-aware leaders are realistic and honest with themselves and about themselves. They know where they are headed and why.
Read
the Full Article
About the Author:
With more than 30 years in operations management, Tom Northup understands the
business complexities faced by today's busy executives. The former CEO and principal
of three successful businesses, Tom is his own success story. Through coaching,
consulting, mentoring, and training, he provides real-world, practical experience
and thoughtful leadership--all with a focus on sustainable success and results.
He may be reached at tomn@lmgsuccess.com
|
