Captain's Log 2013-08-19 On foreigners

I enjoy living in the multi-cultural society which the UK has become.
From 6.7 million foreign born citizens in 2009 we've gone to 7.5 million. Amazing. In Oxford it feels the Brits are outnumbered already and I had a walk around in Aylesbury today and observed a very diverse and significant number of non-English folk.

Having chatted to some guys from Hungary (who I mistook for Poles) I was curious, so I did some digging. They reckon that by 2031 foreign born people will outnumber the English in London. Bring it on! It bodes well for the future, providing this country with an excellent training ground for how to get on in other cultures and geographies.

Amazingly ze Germans are also very much in evidence - who would have thought that?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/maps_and_graphs/2011/05/26/MIGRATION940.jpg

Bits and pieces

So here we go.....

The link to my Flickr account has disappeared from this page.

Here it is, in case you'd like to see my photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelcurth/

As far as this blog is concerned, I haven't written anything decent in ages, but I have worked on little art projects instead (like the picture below)

And maybe I just did not have anything new to tell.

Let's see - I am actually taking time off right now and maybe I will feel inspired.

Ta ta for now

M.

Captain's Log 20121212 - When should I put my boss on copy?

In short - if you think about it - never!

Well almost never.

Let's think about the possible reasons to cc your boss on an email:

• You want to let the boss know that you are on the ball for reassurance
• You want to show off - see how clever I am!
• You think that somehow putting the boss on cc gives your message more authority
• You are generally in the habit to cc as many people as possible in the hope that someone will pick up the thread and do something
• The boss has asked you to

The only valid reason, me thinks, is the last one. If you have a good working relationship with your boss then he/she will know that you are on the ball, will know how smart you are.

And be honest - have you ever been impressed with someone else's boss on copy of an email you received? Ok, so it might spur you into action a little quicker, but do you feel the little bit of resentment building up?

80% of emails I receive have me on copy. Less than 15% of emails make it clear to me what I should do. Even less is the percentage of emails which make it possible to know from the subject line what is required.

Also consider this: your boss gets an email about some problem you face with your colleagues and team mates? How does this reflect on you? I think it gives the impression that you are not capable of solving the problem. The oss will get involved and another fire drill is on its way.

So in summation - in the ever growing avalanche of emails which we create in this age of social networking and messaging - keep you business emails sharp.

Use the right channel, use the correct distribution list, and don't escalate from step 1 by copying your boss (after all, where do you go after that?).

Try to solve the problem / issue by yourself first. If you have to involve your boss write separately outlining the action steps you have taken and why you got stuck.

Happy emailing!

Captain's Log #3403 - Surfing

If your ambition is to surf on the highest wave off the coast of Hawaii - the decision takes seconds - the implementation ages (as is so often the case).

Here comes the beef. You got to take lessons. You have to get a board. A big one first, for beginners, a smaller one later, as you get better. You gotta get a wet suit (well, at least if you live in England). You got to practice and practice and practice some more.

Then, when you are an accomplished surfer, get your ticket to Hawaii - do your research, find that important beach where the giant waves occur.

Go to the beach. And if you are unlucky the big ones won't appear, but if you are lucky they will and you will fulfil your ambition.

However, of course, if you haven't done any of the other things (get a board, practice, wet suit etc) there is no point turning up at the beach.

And that my friend is my philosophy on working life.

Cheerio from Buenos Aires

(no pictures though, got my camera nicked)

Captain's Log #3395 - On new year's resolutions

Don't make them. How does it go? "The way to hell is paved with good intentions!"

Instead, use the time to reflect a little. Do you still live the dream? Are you still true to your values? What is your say / do ratio?

Maybe a small adjustment here and there will do the trick and sometimes we all need to look further than our daily inbox.

Happy New Year M.

Captain's log 3398 - On Arguments

Hi fellow bloggers and esteemed readers,

long time no blog - I am afraid I was pre-occupied with work and other matters. Just about managed the odd tweet and posted about 2.3 pictures on Flickr....

Anyhow, I am back and today's topic is "Arguments". Whether it's with the girlfriend, your colleagues, your friends or even your boss - my extensive research on the matter reveals a very simple truth:

When you start an argument (pretty much about anything), you are actually making a fundamental statement to the other party: "You don't care about me enough". (This is not an original thought - as I said, I did some research on the matter).

The quality of the work you delivered sucked - I never get what I am asking for = You don't listen to my needs = You don't care about me enough, do you?
You never do the dishes - do I have to do everything around here = You don't respect what I do for the place in which we live and which I am trying to maintain for us = You don't care about me enough, do you?

And so on and so forth.

Actually the one who starts the argument also says: "I care more about this than you". This gives that person the upper hand. But here comes the kicker - if you win an argument like that, you also lose.

Imagine a fight with the bf/gf, if you like. If you win the argument, you actually prove that she/he does not care enough about you, so the relationship is somewhat on the rocks. And you are stuffed (well, at least if you want that relationship to work). So, you ought to try not to win the argument and let the other person try to prove that he/she cares enough.

It's all about creating win/win situations, if you want to get something out of your arguments.

Happy arguing - and happy making up!

Captain's log #3397 - On success

Oh that sweet feeling you get when something goes right! Especially if the achievement was precedented by a period of stress, anxiety, negativity, and depression.

A great weight lifted, a spring in the step. They say "success begets success". I sya, it's totally addictive.

 

So, when in the valley of darkness - and hopefully my dear readers, you won't be there often - look forward to this feeling of lightness and invincibility. And remember those moments when things look bleak, for nobody can take away your past - and that includes your successes.

 

M.

Captain's log #3400 - You attract what you are

You want the best team working with and for you, but you are an untrained manager, light on leadership skills. The best talent will not be attracted to you or, if they do join you, they will not stay. Talent is attracted to a capable leader who wants to create a great team.

You attract not what you want, but what you are.

Captain's log #3400 - On fear

If you let negative input into your space, it's easy to be afraid of just about everything. Here are a few things the news media and others say to feed people's fears.

• The economy is slow to recover, so many people are still out of work. You need to worry about your job security; you might be next.
• About 50% of marriages end in divorce, so why bother getting married? The odds are that yours will end that same way.
• Re: the H₁N₁ flu virus, if you don't get the flu shot, you will get very sick. Some of you will die.
• Your teenage kids will get in with the wrong crowd and get involved in drugs or gangs.
• Travel on airplanes is dangerous because of terrorism.
• You might be shot in a shopping mall.
• You might lose all your retirement funds in a financial meltdown.
• You may have a heart attack or a stroke or get cancer because others in your family have had those conditions.

Those thoughts are all based on fear.

An acronym for FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.

Many of you have heard the research that more than 98% of the things we worry about every day never happen. And, in the majority of cases, you have little or no influence on the 2% of events or situations that do occur.

This is not to say we never should be concerned about potential danger; we have an instinctive response to physical danger. I speak here of psychological fear or constant worry, which benefits no one―especially the worrier.

Purging Fear?

1.    To purge fear, we first must be aware of the things we constantly worry about. Take a moment to make a list of them.
2.    What is feeding your fears and worries? The news, family members, friends, your belief system? Pay attention to what you are letting into your mind. Make a commitment to cut your sources of negative input.
3.    I predict some of you actually fear getting over your fear because it has become a convenient excuse for you. If you stay in fear, you have a reason for failure or lack of success.
4.    Look at the list you created for question 1. Of all those fears, how many are likely to come to pass? As the research revealed, most of our fears (98%) won't happen. Being aware that most of what we worry about will not happen is an important step to letting go of our fears.
5.    FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real.
6.    Replace your fear with faith and thoughts of success. Seek books, ezines, podcasts, friends, and other sources of input that help create and reinforce positive feelings.
7.    For some of you, the battle between fear and faith is spiritual. To overcome your fear, source what your faith teaches in this area.
8.    If you still need help to break free from fear, envision the exact opposite of each of your fears. Go somewhere quiet where you can be alone; relax and put a positive picture in your mind. For example, think of a having a successful and healthy relationship instead of a marriage breakdown or having an exciting new position instead of being without a job. Pay attention to your emotions. See how much better it feels to be in a positive state than in your worry mode.
9.    Always focus on what you want, not what you don't want. Make a list of what you want and concentrate on the list. 10.    Get started now on your Action Steps. Don't wait a week, a day, or even an hour!
11.    Purge your FEAR. Replace it with courage and confidence!

 

Captain's log #3399 - On Chasing Progress

This is what my mentor taught me many years ago:

Chaser: "When will this be done?"
Chased: "I don't know."

Chaser: "By when will you be able to tell me when this will be done?"

It's polite, but also sends the clear message that commitment to due dates is required.

Captain's log #3398 - On Floppy Language

The easiest way to fail persuading someone is the use of floppy language.

What are the characteristics of floppy language?

• Apologise frequently - starting sentences with "I am sorry"
• Mumbling
• Broken sentences with pauses, ums, ers, and other uncertainty noises
• Letting sentences tail off into ramblings
• Frequently using qualifiers of uncertainty "I guess, I don't know, I hope"
• Use of submissive body language

Using this kind of language signals low self esteem.
So, what can we do?

My solution is that firstly, we should think through what we are going to say and secondly, at the same time, reflect on and plan how we are going to say it.

My own hotel

Hello fellow bloggers,

yes I finally fulfilled my final ambition. As many of you will know, I spend a fair amount of my life in hotel rooms. I like them, simple as that. Where else can you use as many towels as you want without the consequences of doing laundry? Which other environment can be messed up nicely during the evening only to be transformed back into its virgin, organised, and anodine state as if by means of a miracle during the working day when you are away?

I also like the boutique chique in modern abodes of this type. The tasteful colour schemes, the mirrors, the carefully placed pieces of art. And let's not talk about the bedding and above all the pillows! The pillows! The plethora of cushions, tastefully arranged only to be thrown carelessly across the floor during ther ritual of going to bed (or passing out, depending on the quality and available quantity of alcoholic beverages contained in that wonderful invention, also known as the minibar).

I have spent many a blissful hour working in these rooms, uninterrupted, with mindless TV in foreign tounges providing the acoustic backdrop to my attempts to defining the future of my little business unit.

Now I have found the perfect solution. I have renovated my bedroom at home and, because it is only just finished, it is empty, save my bed and a simple table to provide a home for my laptop (and the brand new LED flatscreen TV on the wall). Tasteful - peaceful - it is a boutique hotel wet dream come true. And because all other rooms are clogged up with stuff which normally lives in the bedroom, it's the only place I can use to work!
All I need is a maid and a minibar and I will no longer feel the need to travel at all.

Good night labrats M.

With a little help from my friends...

I've had a survey up on Survey Monkey for about a year and so far I have 57 responses. This was / is about what motivates us at work in the Nielsen company. So, Nielsen / TCS folks come on and russle up some support. I promise I will share the results.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M62ZBGK

Indian Traffic

A lot has been said and written on the subject. Today I cracked the lane discipline rules.
Rule one - driver must not stay in any lane longer than 23 seconds
Rule two - driver must line up with lane markation lines whenever possible
Rule three - indicators are not to be used
Rule four - fold in your mirrors to avoid damage - who cares about the guys behind you anyhow?

Happy driving labrats!

Road trip

Here I am, sweat running down my forehead combining nicely with the sun screen burning my eyes to cinders. Two beggar children bugging me and my right ankle is about to give in from repeatedly jumping on the kickstart of the Enfield.
But this is India. So the cavalry arrives in the shape of a young biking enthusiast who spends the next 20 minutes in the steaming heat trying to give the bike some CPR.
Today was simply "love the foreigners day" and it was not advertised in the Baroda Times.
Namaste my friends

Real Business People

At the bar in the Crown Plaza in Bangalore. After we convinced the bar to remain open for a last drink, Eleni inquired as to where all the people were. Apparently the hotel is full, because we struggled to get rooms, but there was not a soul in sight at 23:30. So the barman goes: "well madam, the other people staying here are real business people, they are going to go to work tomorrow". Eleni: "but we are business people - we are going to work tomorrow, what are you trying to say?!?". Barman: "Oh, I am not trying to say anything, would you like some ice for your drink."

Captain's log #3397 - Fast Team Building

It's hard, I know. Virtual teams, cross functional teams, SWATs, etc.. and the more need we have to spend quality time to improve the performance of our teams (and we all belong to more than one, don't we?) the less real time do we spend on it.

I have come across this little gem by Marshall Goldsmith and I intend to try it out!

http://www.marshallgoldsmithlibrary.com/docs/articles/Team-Building.doc

#3396 continued

A real life example then...

In AC Modelling we experience capacity problems from time to time. This is caused by two facts:
a) we cannot afford to resource up to the maximum we might ever need
b) it's a seasonal fluctuation, caused by quarterly sales targets

If a specific consultant's project is affected, than for that person this is something special. In the overall picture a capacity bottle neck is a normal occurence. If the consultant complains and escalates the problem, management will be tempted to "jump" on it. The modelling team then typically jumps into action, special arrangements are made, etc.. (remember last year's Marketing Mix crisis?)

This is "tampering". We are treating "common cause" as "special cause".

Captain's log #3396 - On Tampering

Hi folks, sorry I've been quiet, but I was being trained (for the first time in 15 years or so).
Trained to be an Executive Black Belt no less.
So I am gonna get on everyone's nerves by sharing my learning.
In every process there is variation. Some of it is normal and caused by regular factors (common causes) such as seasonality. Extreme outliers (and some other signs) point to "special causes", like a hurricane. Ideally both types should be reduced to create the smoothest process possible. Special causes, of course, require special attention and investigation.
If we however confuse the two causes and treat common causes like special ones, we are over-reacting, which is known as "tampering".
Read tomorrows log for a real life example...
Good night y'all.

Switch

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/switch-a-book-review/#

 

As stated before - a great book.