Six Simga and organizational change

 What is your strategy for using six sigma at work?
Your Rant: I thought I’d successfully dodged the whole Six Sigma fad. Then last week my boss announced that we were introducing a Six Sigma program. Can you give me the Cliff Notes version?
911 Repair,
Your question reminded me of a guy I recently read about who [...]

Directing the change initiative at work sucks!

 What’s your strategy for a leading change initiative?
Your Rant: I’ve been asked to lead a change effort in my department. How do I even begin?
911 Repair:
In high school, I was captivated by e.e. cummings, the poet who wrote all of his works in lowercase. I liked that he was breaking the rules, so I [...]

How to test your assumptions

Dear WW: My company requires that each salesperson develop projections for the coming year. I have a new boss and she ripped my forecast saying my assumptions were too rosy. But I based them on sales from last year, so they should be accurate. IT’S SAFE TO ASSUME I’VE GOT A PROBLEM
Dear Safe,
If you went [...]

Bland Bland Bland-My creativity is gone from work.

What’s your strategy for stirring creativity?
Your Rant: I heard someone say the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. He was right. I’ve been doing my job for over ten years and it’s tough to get your juices flowing after that long. I don’t ever know where to begin. NOT JUICED
Dear [...]

Intrapreneurship, innovation at work with Gifford Pinchot

What are your strategies for increasing innovation at work?
Your Rant: Innovation-many people talk about it but few know how to achieve it. Gifford Pinchot is the leading innovation expert at work today. He is also the founder of the Bainbridge Institute, a new management training program on Bainbridge Island, WA. I spoke to him about [...]

Cirque du Soleil interview on creative work environment

What’s your strategy for a creative work environment?
911 Repair,
What could the circus possibly teach us suits in the business world? After being repeatedly blown away by Cirque du Soleil, a mesmerizing mix of circus, acrobatics, dance, music and theater, I wondered. I put the question to Pavel Brun, creative director of Cirque’s two shows in [...]

Ouch! I’ve fallen out of being a competitive business!

What’s your strategy for staying competitive?
Your Rant: I’ve run a dry cleaning business for 33 years successfully. Now suddenly my chief competitor starts delivery service and he’s stealing my business! In a million years I never saw that coming. You got any tips to teach an old dog how to keep up with the times?  [...]

Brainstorming to access creative energy

What are your strategies for brainstorming and accessing creative energy at work?
Your Rant: I’ve been running brainstorming meetings in our marketing department, but getting ideas out of people is like pulling teeth. Do you have any tips for spurring people’s creativity?
911 Repair,
Your email reminded me of a “want ad” I once saw. The [...]

Change at work challanges from mule stubborn co-workers

What’s your strategy for stubborn workers during change at work?
Your Rant: I’ve been asked to head up a new initiative in my company. The last time we tried something like this it failed, not because it was a bad idea, but because we couldn’t get the employees to go along with it. How can we [...]

Team turmoil, help my team isn’t getting the job done

What are your strategies for a team that isn’t getting the job done?
Your Rant: I’m frustrated that my team isn’t performing at the rate that I’d like them to perform. What can I do to light a fire under my people?
911 Repair,
The Palo Alto, CA City Council recently debated an ordinance that outlawed bad [...]