risk shouldn't be feared if it's managed properly
The novice project manager might be worried to learn that her project contains risk. Surely risk is “A Bad Thing,” and it would be better if her project had none? But her more experienced colleague would explain that there are …
In the smartphone era, civility is a vital skill to model and learn
Trend-watching is a good way to spot issues that your organization may be facing in the future. A popular topic lately is the erosion of civility, and the accompanying uptick in rudeness, in our society today. New research about the …
Identifying real risks is critical for effective risk management
The purpose of risk management is obviously to manage risks. But one of the most common failings in the risk management process is for the risk identification step to identify things that are not risks. If this early stage of …
January 31, 2018 |
Resources
Recent opinions, perspectives, and research
As anyone who has found themselves in a leadership role can tell you, there is no “one way” to become an effective leader. While there are truisms like “treat people with respect” or “listen and learn,” the formula that works …
The benefits of lessons learned
Welcome to 2018! In many languages the month January is named after Janus the two-faced Roman god of doorways, and the start of a new year is traditionally a time for review, looking back at the past 12 months and …
December 6, 2017 |
Insights |
Denise Gifford
Mining the data is about strategy and curiosity
Businesses thrive on data. Data helps them create new strategies to increase revenue and improve efficiency. Companies use data to predict who will buy, how to get products delivered cost-effectively, how to anticipate and plan for risk, and which strategies …
November 9, 2017 |
Insights |
Helen S. Cooke
The skills that define leadership often arise organically, not by force
When it comes to projects, we are often comfortable with identifying ourselves as executives or managers, but few of us describe ourselves as “leaders.” Others may put us into that category, but why are we hesitant to place ourselves under …
October 3, 2017 |
Interviews
There are techniques to storytelling, and businesspeople can learn them
Everyone loves a great story. Stories help us to connect with others more effectively, whether one-on-one or in a group. This is as true in the business context as anywhere else. But what, precisely, makes for a great story, and …
Risk and uncertainty are a part of business. Here’s how to face them head-on.
Everyone knows that “business hates uncertainty.” Uncertainty poses clear threats to business, but it also contains significant opportunities. Sources of uncertainty must be understood so that these threats and opportunities can be effectively managed, allowing us to avoid and minimize …
These three capabilities are key for success in the new world of work
Contemplating “the future of work” is both exciting and daunting. Now and in the future, compared to our parents, we have a vast array of choices over how we work, where we work, when we work, and with whom we …
When done right, risk management is a critical factor in business success
Plato is quoted as saying that “The problem with the future is that more things might happen than will happen.” Or as Pliny said, “The only certainty is that there is nothing certain.” Nowhere is this more evident than in …
Leadership, business, and the need for trust
A leader seeking success needs to be trusted. In study after study, research on leadership lists trust as a top trait, and studies have shown that when trust in a leader increases, productivity goes up and costs go down. As …