You can expect something, but until it happens you never truly know how you are going to feel.
Strategic Discipline Blog
Topics: Discipline, People, Give and Take, Givers and Takers, Michelle Wick
Does the System or Talent Contribute More to Business Growth?
Posted by Douglas A Wick on Thu, Jul 10, 2014
What’s more important, having a great system or talent?
Does choosing systems fly in the face of Jim Collins, “First Who than What” principle from Good To Great?
Topics: Good to Great, Business Growth, People, Jim Collins, Business System
On my laptop that I frequently take to client meetings is a picture of my family including my wife, Michelle. Occasionally I get compliments on how attractive she and my family is. I often relay this to her and I frequently tell her how attractive she is.
Topics: Employee Feedback, Employee Recognition, employee performance, People, positive reinforcement, best practices of growth companies, human behavior, How to Motivate Employees, human behavior performance
How and How Much Should You Give – 3 Lessons from Give and Take
Posted by Douglas A Wick on Wed, Jul 2, 2014
Did you know there’s a way to give that makes you feel better? It can actually help you avoid burnout. Did you know there’s a recommended amount of giving that rewards you most and that giving beyond that provides diminishing returns?
Topics: Business Growth, People, Give and Take, Givers and Takers, Michelle Wick
Topics: Business Growth, People, positive reinforcement, Best Business Practices, Give and Take
Abraham Lincoln and Frank Lloyd Wright - Givers and Takers
Posted by Douglas A Wick on Mon, Jun 23, 2014
A lawyer and politician from Illinois, Sampson strived to be the next Clinton. In his quest to win political office he failed repeatedly. At one point Sampson withdrew from the senate race while leading several opponents to help another candidate with less backing but very loyal supporters win a competing candidate wouldn’t. As a lawyer he turned down lucrative cases with defendants he didn’t believe were innocent. It was a classic case of giving without concern for self, in hopes of the greater good.
Topics: weekly meetings, collective intelligence, People, Give and Take, Givers and Takers
Give and Take by Adam Grant offers insight into three types of people: givers, takers, and matchers. The book describes characteristics of each type, yet cautions that while giving, taking, and matching are three fundamental styles of social interaction, the lines between them are not always hard and fast. You can actually shift between one style of reciprocity style as you navigate across different work roles and relationships. At work the vast majority of people develop a primary reciprocity style. This is how you approach most of the people most of the time. The research discovered your primary style can play as much a role in you success as hard work, talent and luck. (That is if you believe in the latter!)
Topics: Acute Myeloid Luekemia, employee engagement, People, Give and Take, Givers and Takers
Topics: Good to Great, Core Values, People, People Decisions, Core Purpose, Jim Collins
Michael Cobb is a 16 year old playing basketball with his three buddies on a hot summer day. Upon finishing their games, the group decides to pool their money and buy some wine at a liquor store. Settling down in the shade they enjoy the breeze and cool down. Soon one of Michael’s friend’s is angry. Grady (Michael’s best friend) only had ten cents to provide for the wine. The other friend, who’s now agitated, provided 50 cents. He feels Grady is taking more than his fair share. A fight ensues. Michael and his other friend break it up. The friend who started the fight is still upset, and leaves. The three others continue to drink. They’re not alarmed by their friend’s departure. Maybe he just needs some time to cool down they think. But this friend is still upset. He returns, after locating his father’s gun at home. He points the gun at Grady and fires twice. Grady dies in Michael’s arms before an ambulance arrives.
Topics: Decision-Making, People, Execution, Sports World, Purpose, Passion
The Leadership Difference - Responsibility and Accountability
Posted by Douglas A Wick on Mon, Mar 24, 2014
It’s appropriate to discuss responsibility and accountability immediately after the first week of the NCAA tournament. The most recent report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2014 report indicates employers "stand to lose at least $1.2 billion for every unproductive work hour during the first week of the tournament."
Topics: Accountability, Work Process Flow Charts, People, leadership, reponsibility