Mike Figliuolo's Blog, page 10

How to Use Focusing Questions

Asking and answering these focusing questions can help you think of better solutions to your problems.

As you define your problem, you should ask and answer some focusing questions to help you bound the solution space. You should ask things like, “What’s the real question?” Specify the objectives and timing that that stakeholder has asked of you. Ask, “Who are the stakeholders or influencers who are involved in the decision?

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

How Writing a Book Builds Your Credibility as a Thought Leader

 

Writing a book is the best thing a thought leader can do to raise their authority in their field. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your book a reality.

Today’s post is by Zach Obront, co-founder of Scribe Media.

Melissa Gonzalez was frustrated.

As an expert in the field of pop-up retail, she worked with companies like Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and Google to create incredible short-term retail experiences.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

When you take vacation, upon your return, what situation do you typically face?

Our reader poll today asks: When you take vacation, upon your return, what situation do you typically face?

My colleagues have covered for me when I was gone and I only have a few pending tasks 21.59%Some work was covered but much of it is left for me to do 48.02%No one did anything for me and I returned to a mountain of work 30.39%

Cover me.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Understand the Real Problem You’ve Been Asked to Solve

 

When you get a better understanding of the problem you’ve been asked to solve, you’ll find the solutions you come up with are going to be bigger, better, and more exciting.

So many times when we’re asked to look into an issue, we just rush off and start solving it without really thinking through what’s causing the person to ask me this question in the first place. 

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Occam’s Razor and Leadership Excellence

 

Simplicity can drive outstanding results. Providing your organization simple guidance and a clear desired outcome enables your people to spend more time executing instead of wasting time on unnecessary activities.

Today’s post is by Gary Morton, author of Commanding Excellence.

The principle of Occam’s Razor has influenced many of humanity’s most powerful scientific breakthroughs. “Other things being equal, simpler explanations are generally better than more complex ones” is a powerful approach to problem solving, learning, and discovery.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

How does your organization approach sending people to industry conferences?

Our reader poll today asks: How does your organization approach sending people to industry conferences?

We strongly encourage it in all cases 6.98%We encourage it when it makes sense 67.45%We allow it in high-priority situations 9.30%We discourage it but occasionally allow it 5.11%We rarely, if ever, allow it 11.16%

Go to the show!

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Define Your Problem Statement

You should never just take a problem and rush off in a general direction. A good problem statement becomes your charter for your critical thinking efforts.

One of my favorite critical thinking and problem solving tools is a good problem statement. You should never just take a problem and rush off in a general direction, thinking you’re going to come up with a solution that will satisfy the needs of your requester. 

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

The Power of Teams: From Everest to the Pinnacle of Business Success

Learn how creating a successful business is like climbing one of the world’s highest peaks.

Today’s post is by Susan Ershler, co-author of “Conquering the Seven Summits of Sales”

In 2002, while relaxing at Everest Base Camp, I fell into conversation with Dan, a fellow climber about to make his fifth attempt to reach the summit alone. Dan was determined to be completely self-sufficient, carrying all of his own gear and climbing without a guide.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

How does your organization approach things when someone is on vacation?

Our reader poll today asks: How does your organization approach things when someone is on vacation?

We proactively avoid bothering them and prevent them from engaging with work 18.22%We avoid bothering them unless there’s a crisis 54.26%We email and message them but if they don’t answer, that’s fine 17.41%We email and message and expect responses in a reasonable time 6.47%What vacation?

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

How to Break Big Problems Into Small Ones

 

When you take big problems and spend the time break them into smaller and smaller ones, those smaller problems are much easier to solve. 

One of the first steps in any good critical thinking process is taking a very big problem and breaking it down into smaller ones that you can actually solve. The time you invest thinking through what the components of the problem are is going to pay dividends on the backend when you look at the possible solutions because you’ll have a better sense for what recommendations and solutions to pursue and how those solutions help you solve the bigger problem.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.