In the previous installment of this series I discussed the impact of boredom on motivation, setting yourself aggressive targets and selecting some short term goals. I’ve received some good feedback on the series so far, and I welcome further comments. In this post I would like to offer a practical and implementable tip to create …
Below are two tips that I think will give you opportunities to become more commercially aware of your organization’s business. Try them out. 1) See yourself as the managing director of your personal business, even if you’re an employee. Ask yourself if your customers (mostly colleagues) would buy your services and trust your company and …
Take a moment to read this article in this month’s Information Age (in fact I strongly recommend you subscribe to this magazine). The article discusses research conducted by the magazine and a software vendor which assesses the gap between senior IT executives and business executives, in terms of their opinion of critical business issues. One …
The gap might not be so big between business and IT after all… Read More »
Almost every business manages a budget. That is, a prediction of expected costs against actual costs. It’s a way that a business stops spending too much or too little, and is, in essence, a plan of expenditure. Knowing how businesses manage expense is a powerful way of understanding how businesses work. Do you know your …
Understanding commercials through the budgeting process Read More »
One of the toughest things I have done in my career is to stand in front of an audience and speak. Not just speak but speak without wobbles, losing my place in my rehearsed patter, or sweating profusely. Is this familiar to you?
This is a really simple thing but it is often neglected. Most organizations, particularly nowadays in the global economy, need foreign language speakers. And not just because of diversity targets! Having this skill is an opportunity to involve yourself in other areas of your business. For example: * Interpreting letters from customers and suppliers in …
If you can speak a foreign language, let it be known! Read More »
Getting yourself noticed by senior management or executives maybe easier than you think. These people, like all people, are human beings. I’ve found that if you treat them that way, you have the best chance of getting to know them, and hopefully raising your profile. The most effective way I have found is to take …
If you haven’t logged in to LinkedIn yet, do so! (http://www.linkedin.com/)Why? LinkedIn is a professional network tool which gives you search and networking facilities, allowing you to extend your network beyond your contacts. Members range from juniors to senior executives. Members can make recommendations to their contacts of other members. You’ll also find job postings …
If you want to know more about commerce, that is, how a business makes profit from trade, then think about a cafe, an example of a ‘simple’ business model. A cafe is an example of a business with a simplistic business model. It makes profit from earning more money than it costs to provide food, …
Ah… the 70s: Abba; Disco; Dirty Harry; Saturday Night Fever; The Bee Gees… but how do people born in this decade approach work and management?
