Time for others

Last night the ‘wee man’ was playing up a bit. He was in the kitchen pestering his mum and ‘non too happy’. I pottered through to keep the peace and thought try him on his toy tractor – the one I should have waited until he was 3 to buy but could not resist the engineering of it so got it for his 2nd birthday type of thing!

Anyway, within 10 minutes he was on the tractor and not only having a great time but for the first time peddling it under his own steam! We were all over the moon.

Sounds simple but what got me reflecting was what if I had not spent that time? What if I had carried on with what I had really wanted to do – or at least really wanted to do until we all experienced the joy of his success?

I think on a daily basis we all miss these little life opportunities and not just at home, or maybe its just me.

P.S. Since writing this I have reflected further and I do believe that perhaps the shortage of time we invest in others is a bigger issue - any thoughts anyone?

Knowing Others - or not!

I was with a fellow this week with whom I have worked quite intensely over the last year. He is a nice guy, bright and we get on well. I was curious as to something he said.

The sentence started something like….
“I know you probably wont’ like it, but I’m reading an autobiography by Neil Young……” not like being the book not the fact of his reading!

I was surprised because I really, really enjoy Neil Young’s music and always have…. I am a Child is a fantastic deep but simple encapsulation of the transitory nature of childhood and Cinnamon Girl… well!

Armed with this knowledge we had a great old chat and shared thoughts. Isn’t odd how we think we know but don’t know others at all!

PS if you are interested in the book click here

Here's one for you on Customer Service

Camera shop am Sat buying an expensive flash for camera
Me 'Can you take anything off this as its £30 cheaper on the web'?
Answer. 'No'.
Reply 'Thanks anyway, Ill go elsewhere'.
They don't get the customer thing.

Next shop - slightly more to start with but:
Me 'Can you take anything off this as its £40 cheaper on the web'?
Answer 'O.K but we can only do £15 off.
Reply 'Thanks I'll take it '
They do get the customer thing.

In a hotel... I'm pressed for time and don't know my meeting room so ask concierge:
Answer 'Its room ....' Takes me to the lift and presses button to right floor... actually takes me on my way! Brilliant.
They live the customer thing!

This stuff isn't difficult - treat as you want to be treated.

Your Uniqueness

I have just finished a small but great book call The Purple Cow by Seth Godwin. Yes if you saw one of those in a field you would take notice.

Its all about being unique thus attracting the attention you need rather than being mediocre and spending a huge amount of resource on marketing and selling to get it.

Well you have all heard the one about the ski slope in the desert. It’s true, 400 metres of refrigerator ski slope in the desert complete with chair lift, poma tow, luge etc. And it's consistent!

That’s uniqe!

Now given we all work in organisations full of other folks, how do we stand out?? Got your plan yet?? This is what Talent Development is really about.

Dubai - An entire city in spontaneous build and a population in spontaneous energy.

I missed visiting the old East Berlin (not a bad thing I guess) and I missed the wall coming down (I'll never see that again). I did not get to the Millennium Dome either!

However I have now seen an entire city being spontaneously built and I am not sure that even New York offered that.....25% of the worlds cranes all in one place, the tallest building in the world some of the most beautiful, built for their uniqueness, form and poise. This really is worth seeing before it’s complete. After completion standing as testimony to a vision being fulfilled.

The energy is infectious and you can see it in the inhabitants. Drive.

Sure we do things well; but I don’t think we have a common cause to rally around.

The Sunday Times yesterday said we are more individualist than ever now – over 50% say it’s better to look after no.1 than community. We need something.

p.s. when will we see a high speed link between Scotland and England – never I supposed – we lack the vision and passion. Perhaps it's up to me and each one of us to make it (whatever that may be) happen!

Executive Leadership Development Programme -Dubai
28th January - 1st February 2007

Indeed Sunday to Thursday as we were running a womens Executive Leadership Programme in Dubai with our partners COACH. A great programme with such enthusiasm from the participants. Energy, drive and a passion to learn - exactly what is required for that city in the building.

As part of the programme we take a day out to bring to life our learning. A couple of firsts' for us here in terms of team development for collaboative advantage!

As is always the case, travel opens the mind and enriches your understanding.

22nd - 25th January 2007

This week TBL was involved in running the following workshops:

Process mapping
Coaching
Problem solving

This has been a really interesting week in many ways. Of particular interest has been the response to problem solving and business improvement. Although technique and approach is a necessity, as Henry Ford once said:

"You may think it possible you may not, either way you are probably right"

Without the right attitude you will not get off first base.