Friday 29 November 2013

Why not stop resisting and surrender to your best instead?


The opposite of resistance is to surrender to our best.

Why not stop resisting and surrender to your best instead?

Your results in 2013 are a direct reflection of how well you have overcome resistance.

Your results in 2014 will be all about how well you overcome resistance.

Surrender to your best. You are a one-of-a-kind human being. 

You owe it to yourself to be the best you can be. Here are some insights to help you.




Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Wednesday 27 November 2013

What type of legacy are you leaving?

There is a great question in this blog post by my friend and colleague Keith Abraham

Are you going to be Simply Remembered Fondly or Actively Emulated?

I love Keith's definition of legacy too.

I recommend getting Keith's book It Starts With Passion. It would be a great read for you to begin to make 2014 the year of doing what you love and loving what you do.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

"Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do" 
Steven Farber

Monday 25 November 2013

3 ways to overcome the massive mistakes even enlightened leaders are making that lead to employee disengagement

Helping business leaders to be change champions is my business.

A key methodology I use is No BS Mentoring.

My mentoring is about

*Removal of the ‘stuff’ (the BS) that is stopping you from moving forward at great speed

*Actually doing what you know you should do

*Discovering profound insights that lead to breathtaking, pioneering, and truly innovative action


In my mentoring I have encountered 3 massive mistakes even the best leaders are making.

3 ways to overcome the massive mistakes even enlightened leaders are making that lead to employee disengagement

The mistakes

3. Unrealistic expectations/deadlines
2. Bureaucracy
1. Problem-solving that only reinstates the status quo

Solutions

The big-picture solution to unrealistic expectations/deadlines is finding a shared-view with everyone you work with about:

where you are (reality)
where you’re going (possibility)
why you're going there (purpose)
how you will get there (strategy)
who will do what and when (execution)
how you will know we are on track (milestones and lead measures)
how you will behave along the way (values)

There is always trouble with either/or thinking


Finding shared-view means everyone respecting each others views and being big enough to let go of yours and/or mine and discover ours.


Once we have found ours and by definition defined boundaries, we need to let people loose. Allowing and enabling people to be responsible for the moments of truth in the customer/client experience is a key.

A long time ago people at Proctor & Gamble identified moments of truth in the customer experience, FMOT (first moment of truth) is just before the customer buys and SMOT (second moment of truth) is when the customer first begins to experience what they have bought.

In 2011 Google identified ZMOT (zero moment of truth) the crucial moment that happens before we buy. I recommend downloading Jim Lecinski’s ebook and other resources.

In The End of Business As Usual Brian Solis introduces UMOT (ultimate moment of truth) which is when customers share their experiences with others.

All these moments of truth matter in business today. And there are many others. 

Are your employees truly empowered in all the interaction and transaction moments of truth of your business?

If you would like help with any of the above please contact me on +61 418 807 898 to discuss a mentoring program just for you.

Solutions to bureaucracy

In The Art of Problem Solving Russell Ackoff says “Bureaucracy is subordination of ends to means.”

Absolutely begin with the end in mind and then focus on the steps to get there.

Do your policies, procedures, practices, and processes make it simple for your people to bring their very best to their work on a consistent basis?

Do your policies, procedures, practices, and processes mean everyone in your supplier-customer chain is able to simply deliver value to whoever gets their work next in ways that others want that value delivered?

If you answered Yes to both these questions congratulations. If you answered no or not always please contact me on +61 418 807 898 to discuss a mentoring program just for you.

Solutions to problem-solving that only reinstates the status quo 

The diagram below illustrates what is happening every day in most organisations.   Problem, performance drops, productivity suffers and not just where the problem happened, we solve the problem returning everything to normal. The tragedy in most instances is that we fail to innovate and take performance to a whole new level.


And double tragedy often occurs too, we fail to remove what caused the problem in the first place because we have got used to just dealing with what happened and fixing it.

Is every problem seen as an opportunity to innovate at your place? Are you solving problems and reinstating the status quo or are you innovating and taking performance to a whole new level?

If you answered Yes to both these questions and the other questions in this article it is likely that you have a great business. Congratulations. If you answered no or not always please contact me on +61 418 807 898 to discuss a mentoring program just for you.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Sunday 24 November 2013

The machines will only take over the world if we let them

This Sunday’s sparkenation.

I very much enjoy the musings and insights each week of Kevin Roberts worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi. This blog post 'Will CBDs Become a Car-free Zone?' got me thinking about how easy it is in a technology dominated world to forget we are human beings craving the human experience.

I am making it one of my principles that I live by each day of my life to use the great tools of technology wisely and not let them dominate my life. My focus is about enjoying the human experience on purpose, like smelling a flower, walking the dog and interacting with my neighbours doing the same, sitting down in person with someone for no other reason than valuing and sharing each others human experience.

I have actually taken to switching technology off a lot of the time. I no longer do emails on my phone. I still over deliver on the promises I make to my clients. I have discovered that being on 24/7 is actually a distraction, a bad decision. I am more productive as a result and when I am on I am more present and accountable and everyone around me is better off.

The machines will only take over the world if we let them.

Where are you at?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Thursday 21 November 2013

When the truth is your only chance by Peter Bregman

This is an an excellent story/article by Peter whose writings I value highly.

I see the situation Peter describes or similar every week.

For me silence is agreement. If we say nothing we are in effect agreeing.

The truth can hurt yet not as often as we think!

Say what you feel and mean what you say in all aspects of your life and work and both will become instantly better.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Common sense, delivering value, and providing a unique experience are closely connected

I have been on aircrafts so many times I rarely hear what comes over the loudspeaker. For some reason on a flight last evening I heard  something like “we have three lavatories on board, one for our business class customers up the front and two at the rear if you are seated in the main cabin.”

The irony for me with this announcement was there was one person in business class! 

It would have been great had the hostess said something like “we have three lavatories on board, one for our business class customers up the front and two at the rear for the main cabin. As there is only one guest in business class tonight those of you seated in rows 13 and forwards may also use the loo up front. Who knows you might decide to go business class next time you fly.” 

I am sure a lot of frequent flyers like me would have heard the difference, had a chuckle, and congratulated the hostess on the way out for her humour and initiative.

Common sense matters and has a lot to do with delivering value, and providing a unique experience for our customers/clients.

When I entered the aircraft last night the hostess told me where my seat was, information that is of no value to me as a frequent flyer and therefore a different conversation is needed.

How often do you review your processes and proceedures? How much common sense is going on? And crucially, Are your employees empowered to use their initiative? 

Common sense and delivering value are linked more than ever and are a key to providing a unique experience for our customers/clients.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Monday 18 November 2013

Your work is a gift

I was attracted to this video because of the title and because it was recommended by Bernadette Jiwa whose work on story telling and story sharing I really value.

James Victore is yet another great example of how being true to ourselves is a key to success.



You will enjoy the interview James did with with Bernadette Jiwa as well.



Your work is indeed a gift. Do you see it as such? Do you value it as precious? And are you doing your work for people who truly value it.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Sunday 17 November 2013

Are you letting yourself loose?

This Sunday’s sparkenation.

“What lies behind us and what lies in front of us are but tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you letting yourself loose?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Friday 15 November 2013

So the adults are back in charge are they? LOL or TOA?

Australia's new Prime Minister Tony Abbott took to social media and other places in the days before our parliament opened again on Wednesday this week to proclaim "the adults are back in charge."

Then on Wednesday within the first hour politicians from all sides were up to their old tricks, name-calling, blaming and shaming, and all kinds of other childish behaviour. Laugh out loud (LOL) or TOA (tears of anguish)?

Abbott even had the temerity to announce civility should be the order of the day, he the leader of the pack by example of the greatest personal attack merchants I have seen in my lifetime.

And then yesterday the former Prime Minister resigned from the parliament and there were well wishes coming from everywhere. Two-faced these people.

Then it was back to the ducking and weaving which seem to be the mains skills of politicians, unable or unwilling, or both, to give a straight answer to anything.

We all know from our experience in organisations that if the inmates are in charge of the asylum the true purpose of the organisation cannot be fulfilled. This is the status quo in politics everywhere from what I can tell.

What is the purpose of politics?

I thought it was about making and keeping the peace, ensuring the dispensing of justice, protecting and enabling the rights of the people, and other noble causes. The reality seems to be the Machiavellian idea that the only aim of politics is to preserve and enhance political power.

What say you? What is the purpose of politics? What do we the people need to do to restore this purpose?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Thursday 14 November 2013

Bono: The good news on poverty (Yes, there's good news)

This is a wonderfully witty, insightful 14 minutes, proving yet again the awesome power of human beings fully alive.


And a truly great reminder for us all

“The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power”
Bono

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Can the coffee house again be a birthing place for enlightenment?

I love all 5 of these TED Talks about where ideas come from. My favourite though is Steven Johnson’s.

Where are you building idea incubators?

How many coffee shop (“liquid networks”) kind of environments exist in your organisation?

The idea of exchange put forward in Matt Ridley’s talk very insightful too. Exchange is of course what happens in “liquid networks” and is a key to collaboration.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Tuesday 12 November 2013

The true purpose of business - a lawyer who gets it.

This presentation by Michael Bradley is candid, No BS, humourous. I love it.

Michael Bradley (Marque Lawyers) at Conscious Capitalism Australia 'Walking the Talk' Event from Conscious Capitalism Australia on Vimeo.


Michael is just one of a fast growing number of people letting go the status quo when same no longer serves.

Are you such a person?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Monday 11 November 2013

The re-imagination of nearly everything

I met Gerd Leonhard when we were speaking at the same conference in Munich, Germany last year. He is a very wise person. There are some provocative slides in this deck from a recent presentation of his. I particularly like slides 6, 29, 35, 44, and 50. Gerd’s talk at the end is also well worth watching.


The re-imagination of nearly everything slides Gerd refers to in his talk by Mary Meeker and Liang Wu are here.

The results of my own recent re-imagining if you missed my recent blog.

Just about everything is being re-imagined. To not re-imagine means we can quickly become out of touch and eventually irrelevant.

What have you re-imagined in your world, the worlds of your employees, and the worlds of your customers/clients lately?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Sunday 10 November 2013

Nothing beats a good walk and a talk.

This Sunday's sparkenation.

Many times my mentors have taken me for a walk and a talk. They have been deep and great learning experiences.

My wife and I often walk and talk. The experience still enriches our relationship even after 40 years!

I take my clients for a walk and a talk frequently. It’s often when breakthroughs for them happen, usually unplanned by me and unexpected by them.

I take myself for a walk and a talk at least twice a week. We are what we hear ourselves say to ourselves.

Nothing beats a good walk and a talk. Are you walking and talking? And who with?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

More sparkenations.

Friday 8 November 2013

The vital signs of a BS Free workplace


Helping leaders to build BS Free workplaces is my passion and speciality. If My BS Free workplaces manifesto loudly resonates with you and not all these vital signs are present in your workplace then we need to talk. Please contact me today on +61 418 807 898.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Thursday 7 November 2013

How about resourcing humans instead of seeing humans as resources?


"H.R should only be about Resourcing Humans not seeing Humans as Resources. (Where would you rather work? For a company that see you as a resource or one that is committed to resourcing you?)"

The above are great words by corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson from his paper 'The 10 mistakes organisations make with culture and and how to avoid them' I highly recommend downloading a copy. It is a short yet seriously good read and very much in alignment with my BS Free Workplaces manifesto.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian 

Monday 4 November 2013

We are prepared to change. We are not prepared to be changed. Therein lies significant opportunity.

Recently I received an email from the people who host my personal website telling me that from February 2014 my domain name would no longer be supported.

Oblivion is not something we want to contemplate. 

My initial reaction was rage. My domain name is my name and therefore a key to my branding and my business. And it has existed since the late nineties when I had to choose the domain name ending in au.com because the one I wanted (.com) was already taken. 

This turned into an advantage I have exploited ever since. Advantage gone I thought.

Imagine the number of links accumulated both online and in print over the past 16 years! 

It never ceases to amaze me that we humans tend to think the worst when we first find out about change, particularly imposed change! We are prepared to change. We are not prepared to be changed. Therein lies significant opportunity.

I recovered from my rage and began to see a great opportunity for reinvention, something I have done in my business several times since 1991. I have also helped many of my clients to reinvent.

These words hang in my office

Someone said that the definition of stupidity is
“Expecting a different result by continuing to do the same old thing.”

Someone else said that the definition of idiocy is
“Doing something different and still getting the same result.”

Reinvention is essential otherwise we end up being stupid. 
If reinvention doesn’t lead to a different result, we’re idiots!

The first step to reinvention is to imagine and reimagine.

As John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ is a favourite I began to play it often, hum it, reflect on it. My own line emerged “Imagine everything being simpler and better for everyone, it’s easy if you try.”

Questions for you to answer

How did you react the last time you felt change was being imposed on you?

How did others react the last time you tried to impose change on them?

When was the last time you reinvented your business? Is is time to do it again?

If you were to reimagine your life and your work where would you begin?

The results of my imagining and reimagining so far

I have a new personal website www.ianberry.biz 

I have begun to simplify and upgrade the changing what’s normal website. For those of you who own a copy of my Changing What’s Normal book the link to the companion vault is unchanged, just no longer visible.

I have changed the website for my clients from one of equally attracting clients and serving clients to primarily for serving clients. 

The following words of wisdom from Albert Einstein are a great guide for me at present:

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." 

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

Sunday 3 November 2013

Are you proud of where you live?

This Sunday's sparkenation.

I wondered out loud while walking our dog Molly yesterday why some people don't pick up after their dogs. Later while gardening and doing the edges on my nature strip I had a flash back to when as a child I asked my father why he cut the edges of the lawn so neatly. He replied "There is nothing wrong with being proud of where you live."

We are not responsible for what other people do or don't do. We can be role models. A key is what we do when no one is watching.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

More sparkenations.