Don't get involved in partial problems, but always take flight to where there is a free view over the whole single great problem, even if this view is still not a clear one.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Friday, 17 September 2010
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Captain's log #3376 - On Principles of Change
I am brushing up on my change management skills and have read various articles and stuff.
Suprising myself, because I am actually as tired as a badger after crossing the National Highway Number 1 on foot, I have actually had a moment of relative clarity.
- Truth is more important than good news during the change
- People will by and large want to do a good job and that includes going through the change process
- Consistent behaviour and being true to your values is the only way to earn trust
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Captain's log #3371 - On good ideas
- Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Captain's log #3365 - On "pretending to listen"
Apologies to all who I have bored with this over the years.
As per previous blog, let's face it, I am not a brilliant listener. So, you may ask, what am I tryng to do about it?
Many moons ago, when I had my first big management job, I got sent to an assessment centre. Somewhat reluctantly I went off to have my attitudes, values, and behaviours poked and probed and neatly summarised at the end of the day. One of the key findings was - hey buddy - you are a very bad listener. I stood accused of showing boredom and dis-interest, sending out many body language signals to my discussion partners when I was "finished with them", which was usually very early in the conversation!
The consultant then proceeded to ask me what a good listener actually does:
- focussing on the person (not get sidetracked by the laptop, anybody else walking past, the phone, etc)
- repeating back in his own words what the other has said, seeking clarification
- writing notes
- using affirmative gestures (nodding, open posture, tilting of head to signal interest
- summing up in the end what the discussion was about and what conlcusions have been reached
- agreeing next steps where appropriate
See - I did read the book! Then came the kicker - the consultant said: "From now on, Michael, seeing you know what a good listener does, I want you to pretend to be a good listener - that's all."
Somewhat puzzled and relieved I left the surgery to continue on my merry way. Guess what though. If you are pretending to be a good listener, you have to do all the things listed above and if you are doing all the things listed above, you are forced to listen. I mean how else can you repeat back what has been said, if you don't pay attention in the first place.
I also joke about this quite a lot, in the hope that, if any of you ever catches me out, when I am not doing it right, you will tell me (and you will forgive me).
Have a great week! 02/07
Captain's log #3365 - On "pretending to listen"
Apologies to all who I have bored with this over the years.
As per previous blog, let's face it, I am not a brilliant listener. So, you may ask, what am I tryng to do about it?
Many moons ago, when I had my first big management job, I got sent to an assessment centre. Somewhat reluctantly I went off to have my attitudes, values, and behaviours poked and probed and neatly summarised at the end of the day. One of the key findings was - hey buddy - you are a very bad listener. I stood accused of showing boredom and dis-interest, sending out many body language signals to my discussion partners when I was "finished with them", which was usually very early in the conversation!
The consultant then proceeded to ask me what a good listener actually does:
- focussing on the person (not get sidetracked by the laptop, anybody else walking past, the phone, etc)
- repeating back in his own words what the other has said, seeking clarification
- writing notes
- using affirmative gestures (nodding, open posture, tilting of head to signal interest
- summing up in the end what the discussion was about and what conlcusions have been reached
- agreeing next steps where appropriate
See - I did read the book! Then came the kicker - the consultant said: "From now on, Michael, seeing you know what a good listener does, I want you to pretend to be a good listener - that's all."
Somewhat puzzled and relieved I left the surgery to continue on my merry way. Guess what though. If you are pretending to be a good listener, you have to do all the things listed above and if you are doing all the things listed above, you are forced to listen. I mean how else can you repeat back what has been said, if you don't pay attention in the first place.
I also joke about this quite a lot, in the hope that, if any of you ever catches me out, when I am not doing it right, you will tell me (and you will forgive me).
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Captain's log #3363 - On leading and listening
I have been wondering - can I ever truly be a good listener? I have to take in a lot of stuff from many people and then form an opinion to make a decision (which is not a democratic decision, but needs to be even handed nevertheless to enable people to buy into what needs to be done). It is tempting for me to form my opinion quickly and then be dismissive of additional inputs, but I am trying my best.
I've read somehwere that the role of the leader is to not play the hero (because reality is way too complex), but to
- face the complexity
- reframe the problem so it is simpler (but not simplistic)
- then encourage people to help solve the devillish details
The listening part comes into play when facing the complexity - I got to listen to people who are a lot more detail minded than I am.
I guess I am not finished with this one for a while yet.
6/26/2010
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Captain's log #3360 - Baroda Day 12
How can we make "giving feedback" fun?
- Ask for the top 3 good and bad things about the project
- Only ask for verbatim comments and code them up later
- Publish the results to the entire community all the time
- Reward prizes for the best feedback performance
- Make it really easy
what else can we think of?
6/17/2010
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