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| FEATURED ARTICLES |
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The
Power of Our Words
by Rebecca
L. Morgan, CSP, CMC |
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We have opportunities every day to use our words to cut or to heal. Every
time we open our mouth, We have a choice. You and I have the power to make
others feel great--or horrible. With that power comes responsibility. We have
the obligation to use that power in the best way possible for our fellow humans.
Let's use the power of our words thoughtfully and positively to help prevent
more pain on the planet and help heal the pain that's already here. |
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Dr.
Herman's 10 "De-clone Yourself" Tips for MBA Clones
by Dr. Dan
Herman |
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Are you an MBA Clone? I challenge you to read my article titled: "Test
Yourself: Are You an MBA Clone?". Take the short test and find out if
you are an MBA Clone. If you've been diagnosed as one, I strongly suggest
that you consider de-cloning, ASAP. De-cloning is possible, painless and very
lucrative. |
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Today's
Complacency Is Tomorrow's Casualty
by Tom Nies,
CEO, Cincom Systems, Inc. |
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Manufacturing principles and processes have been the proving ground for technologies
that are now scaling business and industries worldwide, delivering better
competitive strengths, insights and the ability to successfully compete, and
doing it profitably, more so than ever before. So look and learn. |
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Leading
During Turbulent Times
by Bob Prosen |
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One of a leader's greatest challenges is being at the helm during turbulent
times while keeping your employees at the top of their game. As more and more
companies enter the global market place, competition, change and uncertainty
increase. This is when leaders must lead with confidence, wisdom and courage. |
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Why
Cultural Competence Matters in Healthcare Organizations
by Phillip
E. Jackson |
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This article explores why cultural competence matters in health care. It serves
as a wake-up for boards, CEOs, and senior healthcare executives as they strategically
align their organizations with 21st century challenges. The article also highlights
several useful resources for health care CEOs and senior leaders desiring
to learn more on the topic. |
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Marketing’s New Imperative – Engagement
by Laura Patterson |
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As products become more commoditized, switching costs decrease, and differentiation based on product features becomes more difficult, companies are exploring how to use customer engagement as a competitive advantage. This article defines customer engagement, outlines three steps for creating engagement, and offers six elements that should comprise the foundation for measuring customer engagement. |
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How Great Managers Capture Profit Pools - and Anticipate or Precipitate Shift
by Mark Gottfredson and Steve Schaubert |
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As a general manager, your job is to devise a strategy for performance improvement. Insight into your customers’ preferences and behaviors, and into how those preferences and behaviors might change over time, is essential. There are a number of valuable analytical tools that will help you turn up data and insights about all the sources of profit-pool shifts. |
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Fixing
the Flaws in the 10 Principles of Clear Writing
by Philip Yaffe |
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I recently did an Internet search for "clear writing" and frequently came
up with the same list of "10 principles of clear writing". Each one is excellent
advice; however the list is flawed. In reality, there are only three key principles
that underlie virtually every kind of expository (non-fiction) writing and
speaking. |
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Still
Crazy After All These Years
by Anne Riches |
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Fear is an essential component of our survival mechanism. When we are frightened,
our amygdalae become more active and lay down extra memories, richer and denser
memories - as part of their way of building up our protective instincts. We
need to be able to consciously deal with irrational fears - because our amygdala
doesn't know the difference. |
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Six
Strategies for Dealing with Difficult People
by Diane Berenbaum |
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While we cannot avoid crossing paths with difficult people – in our jobs,
friendships, and yes, sometimes even our families – we can do something about
it. It takes work, but it is definitely worth the effort. Here are six ways
to approach dealing with difficult people. |
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A
Guide to Implementing Lean Six Sigma
by Carl Wright |
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If you're in the business world, you have either heard of lean manufacturing
or six sigma. Almost every company in either the service or manufacturing
sector has adopted one of these two disciplines as an improvement methodology.
Some businesses have adopted both methods using the term lean six sigma. It
is the name most often given to the combination of lean manufacturing and
six sigma principles. |
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5
Critical Skills for Sales Success
by Jeff Thull |
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The Hippocratic Oath of a physician -"First do no harm"- is at the heart of
the thinking of the most successful sales professionals. They believe that
their success will come from taking care of their customers and helping them
become successful. They approach their customers thinking, "How can I help
them succeed?" rather than "What can I sell them?" They know how to succeed
… together. |
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The
IT Value Stack - Layer One: Strategy Entwinement
by Ade McCormack |
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In The IT Value Stack, I present a model to help organizations
yield best value from their IT investment. This seven-layer IT Value Stack
takes IT value maximization into the boardroom.
The foundation layer deals with strategy entwinement - your IT leaders should have significant influence over business
strategy; too much of your organization's ability to function and out-innovate
your competitors relies on IT. |
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How
to Improve Your Communication and Become a Marketable CFO
by Caroline Stockman |
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Today more than ever, successful interaction with one's Board is critical.
As I develop the concept of the 'Marketable CFO', I find that financial leaders
need not only to communicate rules and guidelines effectively but they also
need to communicate about themselves. This is the only way they will demonstrate
their competence and develop trust with the board. |
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Buying
Trends: the Shift to Hassle-Free
by Jeff Mowatt |
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You may have noticed a shift in recent years in what it takes to satisfy customers.
Customers are now making buying decisions less on the quality of an organization's
products and services, and more on the quality of the buying experience itself.
If you're a business owner or manager, this trend offers both risk and opportunity. |
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Discover
Your Sweet Spot: How to Align Your Talents With Pressing Business Needs
by Faith Ralston,
Ph.D. |
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You want to use your talents and add value! The goal is to find the sweet
spot - where your best talents align with the needs of the business. When
you find the right match, both you and your projects succeed. |
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How
to Engage Employees, Improve Productivity and Sustain Improvements Over the
Long Haul
by Bernhard
Opitz |
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There is an urgent need for every company in this global economy to improve
its processes continuously. The ongoing strive to be better than everybody
else and become better than oneself the day before, is at the core of survival.
And the key to the success of the program lies in sustaining the gains from
every step! |
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Enticing
Voicemail Messages
by Jill Konrath |
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Voicemail is a fact of life today. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant.
And believe me, getting through to decision makers is only going to get worse.
So if your livelihood depends on getting in to see these people, you better
learn how to use it to your advantage. |
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The
Eleventh Key: Focus
by Trenna Pennington |
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Focus means the ability through habit and practice to keep your mind on one
subject until you are familiar with that subject and mastered it. The ability
to control your attention and focus on one problem until you have solved it.
Ambition and desire make focus successful. If your desire is strong enough
and you use the magic key you will attain it. |
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A Short Story of Personal and Organizational emPOWERMENT: Creating Company Environments That Rock!
by Michael R. Shenker |
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Michael Shenker has written a most engaging and inspiring story of one CEOs journey to enlightenment. Here is Chapter 7 - Passionate Leadership. Enjoy!
N.B. You can buy the book directly from the author or get an e-book free with your subscription to The CEO Refresher! |
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| SPECIAL
FEATURES |
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De-stress and Re-connect with the Power of Sacred Wisdom Practices
by Jamie Walters |
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Several trends that continue to gain momentum center around reconnecting with Spirit, wisdom and the Sacred. For some people, that means recommitting to a church, while others incorporate teachings from shamanism, aboriginal wisdom, Goddess-culture, Nature, or other spiritual pathways into their everyday routines. |
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Have
a Change of Mindset?
by Steve Kayser |
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An interview with Carol Dweck, Ph.D., author of the book "Mindsets: The
New Psychology of Success," punctuated with a Gargantuan Glob-Beelzebub and visits with Donkey O'Tee (of Shoot the Donkey fame) and Cal 9000. Steve Kayser's articles
are always multi faceted and extremely entertaining! (ed.) |
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Popularity Mechanics
by Dr. Rosie Steeves |
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How many times have you heard the phrase, “leadership is not a popularity contest”? I’ve uttered it myself countless times. But is that adage actually true? So let’s debunk the myth. Leadership is indeed a popularity contest—at least in part. But I believe the key to effective leadership lies in understanding the basis for that popularity. |
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Leadership Tips for CEOs
by Wali Zahid |
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If you are wondering what can make you a great, not just good, business leader, here are a few tips that can help you on your way. Your ‘arrival’ will depend on how ready you are. Remember what they say: When the student is ready, the teacher arrives. Or what they say about luck: Luck is being ready when the opportunity comes. So here we go. |
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