Posts Tagged ‘Business Solution’
January 9th, 2012 | 
Author: The best business improvement training programs leave participants with a continuing ability to surface the reality in their organizations and painstakingly work out detailed solutions that satisfactorily answer all the “How” questions.
Research shows that eighty percent of learning takes place outside the classroom. If this is true, it means that the most effective business improvement training programs will be designed to improve learning and execution outside of the classroom where the participants will spend the vast majority of their time.
Here are some ways to improve the effectiveness of your time with executive learning participants.
1. Make Your D.A.R.E. Explicit
D.A.R.E. stands for “Detail And Reality Extraction”. Make it clear to participants that every training program is business improvement training, and that business improvement is about increasing the “signal-to-noise” ratio in all business competencies – about finding the reality and creating detailed action plans for which there can be accountability. This is the heart of execution, and a culture of execution must be at the heart of business improvement effort.
2. Make it Project-Based
Many learning organizations have fallen into the bad habit of putting their leaders and staff through generic training programs that are not connected to business outcomes. That is a wasteful and energy-draining mistake. Take pains to design your seminars around projects (or desired outcomes) in your business. This type of learning is infused with energy and relevance.
When learning needs are connected to the needs of the organization, you have a greater opportunity to pool the creative energies of the participants and improve knowledge retention from the program.
3. Emphasize Tools
By tools, I mean anything from process improvement programs like Six Sigma, TOC, and others, to workshops on specific capabilities like software applications and programs that are used within your business, and even skills training programs targeted at the specific needs of your business (i.e. Workshop on “Selling to National Accounts”).
4. Use Visual Aids
Use visual aids to help explain or clarify complex concepts and ideas and to show the relationships between ideas. Research shows that humans process visual information many times faster than text. Funny pictures on a PowerPoint slide for instance can liven up your presentation while also making your point.
Use tools like webs (visual maps that show how different categories of information relate to one another), pictures and charts. Put in the effort to supplement the oral presentation of particularly important information with visual aids. Studies have shown that we retain 20% of what we see, 20% of what we hear, but 50% of what we both see and hear.
5. Weave Communications Skills Improvement into Curriculum Design
An organizational culture that emphasizes deep dialogue is the greatest pre-requisite to achieving significant business improvement. By building a continuous emphasis on communication in all your training programs, you will create a powerful embedded competitive advantage. Infuse your workshops, seminars and facilitation sessions with:
* Lessons on Speaking and Writing Concisely
* Lessons on Effective Questioning Skills
* Lessons on Effective Coaching and Facilitation
* Lessons on Active Listening
* Lessons on Difficult Communications & Conflict Resolution
* Lessons on Effective Teamwork
6. Monitor The Environment
Environmental factors play a significant role in the pace and flow of communication during learning situations. Make sure that the main elements of the physical environment support learning. Within your constraints, you can adjust seating arrangements or develop “themed” programs with the relevant visual props.
You can make it active and engaging without spilling over into pure entertainment.
7. Incorporate Social Learning and Interactivity
One of the well established principles of learning acceleration is that social interaction greatly improves mastery and retention of new knowledge. Breaking up your class into small groups for brainstorming, analyzing or judging ideas is a great way to secure greater gains from group interaction.
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Business Improvement – The Power of Hindsight – Plan to Change Now For Future Benefit By Keith Place
Business Improvement – Protect and Grow your Business
USE THE POWER OF HINDSIGHT
Business people often say, “I am going through a tough time right now, I need more business”. If they need improved results now then they probably required urgent change or improvement some time ago. Improved results such as sales growth will very often follow if you have implemented the right changes or taken some action. However, it is rare for success to be instant. Businesses often require long lead times before they see clear results from change or action. Some may have instant ‘wins’ but it is very rare to see significant instant results. So, business leaders need to be able to make the right changes at the right time in order to deliver benefits ongoing into the future. Here, hindsight would be very useful; it’s definition is ‘wisdom after the event’ and as they say, ‘it’s a wonderful thing’!
So, you need to have wisdom after the event before it has happened, to realise its power.
Planning:
On the basis that businesses cannot always change the current position immediately, they need to plan ahead to avoid poor performance or to mitigate negative market impact and so on. Avoid the typical business response to immediate problems which is often to re organize (too late), do something different (for the sake of it), focus (on the wrong things), blame people (for poor performance) and so on. Business leaders need to have a Change Plan. This not only sets out what you will focus on for the next 12 months but also how you will respond as a business when you experience the need for change. It will help you to prioritise, what to change and when. As the WHEN is often the hardest part to judge you will need to focus even harder on it. You will need to set and measure the indicators which will tell you when it is time to take action.
My friend ran her business according to what she saw as the constant elements; costs, sales order book, activities, required capital outlay, salaries, taxes etc. Then she expected much of the same in the next year -plus a bit. Nothing wrong with this in principle- it’s what most business owners do. What could she have done differently using the power of hindsight?
1. She could have added a factor of ‘unknown’ into all of her figures, say + and – 5%. This is not just growth but an ‘extra over’ factor against all of her figures. Then she could have challenged herself how she would cope with the various swings. What could she do differently to avoid the peaks and troughs of such a change in the coming year? She did some of this but perhaps did not go far enough.
2. Then, she would have needed to plan her actions to cope with these swings. What would she do? How would she prioritise her time/efforts? How would she measure if the swings were going to affect her? When would she need to change the way she does things? In the majority of cases she could have implemented modest changes there and then which would have mitigated the swings (if they ever happened).
3. Then she could have imagined a big swing – one which could put you out of business. Such as an unprecedented tax rise, a major slump in sales, her largest client going out of business, a major new player in her market. You get the picture. What might this calamity be and what she might do about it?
4. Having thought about a business threatening change, she could have looked at insulating her business from it as far as would be practicable. She can look at her wider options such as, closing her business down, changing her business radically, doing other things, finding ways to spread her risk. At least she could have been ready for the consequences and saved herself a lot of heartache and self-doubt…and would have known when to act.
5. My friend did not have a ‘plan B’..I would recommend a ‘C’ and ‘D’ too. Look to the horizon, see what might come and be ready for it.
It was almost 50 years ago that the philosopher Thomas Kuhn coined the term paradigm shift – the moment when our worldview fundamentally changes because of a new idea. The idea does not have to be world-changing, like Einstein’s relativity, Newton’s gravity, or Galileo’s concept that the Earth revolves around the Sun. We have witnessed several ideas in the last half century that have made huge changes: Airline transportation, the personal computer, the Internet, cell phones and the list goes on.
For the Internet company, even the smallest ideas can be big.
Consider these twelve situations:
Number One:
Old idea: Failures are normal and should be expected. Learn from them.
New idea: Learn from your successes, in addition to your failures.
Failures will occur and learning from them is the mark of a successful entrepreneur. Successes are obviously more profitable and much more likely if you begin with the attitude that “Failure is not an option.”
Number Two:
Old idea: Planning is everything.
New idea: Planning is critical, but is almost useless without empirical results.
A compelling, thorough and professional Business Planis mandatory, but by itself the plan is sterile and unconvincing. Nothing short of a ringing cash register will convince investors. Don’t insult their intelligence by parading a plan in front of them that remains hypothetical.
Number Three:
Old idea: Shoot for major accomplishments.
New idea: Small, fast, victories are more important.
Even a small accomplishment, if it happens rapidly and reliably, is more convincing than the major accomplishment that remains on the horizon.
Number Four:
Old idea: Big is good; bigger is better.
New idea: Being small is often a valid destination, not merely a milestone along the way.
Don’t become an Aircraft Carrier, unable to change course quickly when necessary. Stay small and maneuverable. The ability to change course is one advantage of remaining small. So is the impetus for making small decisions instead of large ones.
Number Five:
Old Idea: Profits are paramount.
New idea: Do something that matters.
Profits are crucial, but the longevity and stature of the company, not to mention your personal satisfaction, requires that you do something that matters. Do something meaningful, remarkable and unforgettable.
Number Six:
Old idea: The brilliant idea is everything.
New idea: Execution is more important.
Even the most revolutionary idea, without effective and efficient execution, is a hobby not a business.
Number Seven:
Old idea: Be cautious, decisions are difficult.
New idea: When you stand for something, decisions are easy.
A company with a soul and a mission of some import is easier to manage.
Number Eight:
Old Idea: It takes money to make money.
New idea: Be frugal, even if you can afford not to be.
Watch your expenses as carefully as you generate your revenue. If an expense is not fundamentally necessary, it is fundamentally foolish, at least for a startup. When analyzing costs it should always be a zero-sum game.
Number Nine:
Old Idea: Having an exit strategy is key.
New idea: Having a commitment strategy is primary.
Throughoutour entire culture over the last few decades, having a way out has become more important than making a commitment and sticking to it. Planning your exit is appropriate only after your level of commitment has created success.
Number Ten:
Old idea: By-products are waste.
New idea: By-products are opportunities.
A famous business author tells the story of his envelope company that could never make a profit. One day, a shrewd acquaintance suggested that he should sell the paper waste from making envelopes, instead of paying to have the waste disposed of. Grasping that opportunity made the company instantly profitable from that day forward.
Number Eleven:
Old idea: Have unbridled enthusiasm for your product.
New idea: View your product rationally and dispassionately.
The most common mistake made by the entrepreneur is to believe that his product is extraordinary. It seldom is. Don’t confuse enthusiasm with worth. Be rational and dispassionate, and listen to your less enthusiastic advisers. Accept your product’s shortcomings, whatever they are, and either improve them, work harder or change products.
Number Twelve:
Old Idea: Hire experts.
New idea: Cultivate an environment of thinkers.
Don’t hire “rock-stars” from your industry – they are expensive, self-indulgent and unmotivated. Find motivated people who need something more to do. Remember that how long someone has done something, is less important than how well. Hire and nurture thinkers. Clear writing and engaging conversation is more indicative of the qualities you want than a good resume. Be a starter. Surround yourself with doers, not delegators. When you want to say, “Let’s think about it,” say “Let’s decide” instead. Launch now.
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2 things will determine your income five years from now.
Most people who work and live paycheck to paycheck have one thing in common. If you were to take a survey of these earners versus those who sit at the top of the earning scale, you would find this trend: those who live paycheck to paycheck probably 
haven’t read a book on self improvement since they left school.
How do you take yourself to the next level financially? Simply start reading everyday. Read 20 minutes a day and your life will change. What do you read? You must read books that encourage you to set goals and work to achieve them. The list of inspirational books are too many to display here but I think you can find them. Just go to the local bookstore and go to the self improvement section. Take those 20 minutes of alone time and create the future you want. It can happen quickly if you create the habit.
Earlier, I mentioned that there were two things that will determine your financial future five years from now. The books you read is one and the other is tied into that in a subtle way.
The people you choose to associate with is the second half of the equation. I was once told that when you hang out with underachievers you do one thing only. That is increase their numbers by one. Your income will be the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Most of us need to change our association if we no longer want to live paycheck to paycheck. You are in business now; now is the time to make some changes. Here is how to do this.
Did you know that you could take a millionaire to lunch everyday? If you have 30 minutes for lunch each day, why not listen to a motivational speaker or someone who has achieved financial success. Success really does leave clues. Most people fail to pick them up because of their preoccupation with the now. Turn your car into a virtual university. Turn off the music and other distractions and focus on your goals. Two things will determine where you will go financially. Start reading and start spending time with winners and your life will change faster than you think. Take time out everyday to become a better businessperson by changing your associations.