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	<title>Strategic Planning</title>
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	<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com</link>
	<description>Get the Strategy Tips you need to succeed.</description>
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		<title>The ABC’s of Behavior</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/08/09/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-behavior/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/08/09/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-behavior/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:25:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>joycefriel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=455</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Culture, as a collective set of beliefs and behaviors, forms the foundation of all organizations.  Our beliefs cause us to behave in particular ways and, consequently, also determine the collective results achieved (or not) by organizations. Our attitudes are how we choose to display our values and our values generally don’t change without a very [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Culture, as a collective set of beliefs and behaviors, forms the foundation of all organizations.  Our beliefs cause us to behave in particular ways and, consequently, also determine the collective results achieved (or not) by organizations. Our attitudes are how we choose to display our values and our values generally don’t change without a very significant event occurring.  We cannot see values, we only learn of other’s values by seeing them displayed through their behaviors.  We have the choice to change our behaviors.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Intellectually this makes sense, but on a practical basis, how do you change behavior?  After all, leaders spend a lot of time managing the situations resulting from behaviors so let’s get practical about this topic. This simple Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) tool is a quick way to analyze behaviors.<br />
Behavior:                  Employee is continually tardy</p>
<p>Consequence:          You speak with them about their tardiness (negative consequence in your mind)</p>
<p>Antecedent:              Employee craves the attention they are getting so they see this as positive reinforcement and continue to be tardy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here is another example:</p>
<p>Behavior:                  Your star employee leads a difficult project really well</p>
<p>Consequence:          They receive your praise and a spot bonus</p>
<p>Antecedent:              If (and this is a big If) the employee feels positively reinforced by your praise, they look forward to another project. However, if they are the person you always turn to because they</p>
<p>always deliver results, this praise may be received negatively as they realize it simply means more work for them in the future.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is critical that the consequence be a positive reinforcement from the recipient’s point of view.   While it sounds trivial and simple, it isn’t.  We all do what we do because of what happens to us when we do it.  And since we cause change by managing behaviors, this simple A-B-C analysis tool can be very handy for determining ‘why does someone do what they do’.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In healthy organizations, negative behaviors are eliminated by managing the consequences and positive behaviors are accelerated by providing significantly more positive reinforcement to employees than there are negative reinforcements (at least a 4:1 ratio and hopefully much higher).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I often encounter adults in positions of leadership and supervision who don’t want to try this. They think it is great for their kids, but not for their employees.  They are right &#8211; it is great for their kids. We manage our children’s behaviors using this A-B-C approach almost subconsciously.  And when we provide a lot more positive than negative reinforcement, our kids respond in marvelous ways.  So I ask you, if it is good for your family and your children, and it works, why wouldn’t you want to use it at work?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>While this sounds almost too elementary, managing behaviors through consequences is the root of all behavior modification.  As was stated above, culture is the collective set of beliefs and behaviors of our employees so it behooves us as leaders to understand and manage behavior effectively.</p>
<p align="center">* * * * *</p>
<p>We learn from and remember what we do when we are having fun – Call me about these fun-filled learning programs: <strong>Birdies, Bogeys and Business: Success On and Off the Course, Mental Mulligan’s, and the Two Day Golf School.  All are ways to build your team, increase your skills and add new tools to your bag.   </strong></p>
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		<title>Check the Boxes</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/06/23/445/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/06/23/445/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:47:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>joycefriel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So often we get caught up in focusing on the bottom line:  What the P&#38;L statement says, what Wall Street demands, what the shareholders want, what the manager requires, how we’re doing against this  month’s goals, have I met my quota, etc.  As a society we are conditioned to focus on the results rather than [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So often we get caught up in focusing on the bottom line:  What the P&amp;L statement says, what Wall Street demands, what the shareholders want, what the manager requires, how we’re doing against this  month’s goals, have I met my quota, etc.  As a society we are conditioned to focus on the results rather than the process so it is no wonder we end up with head aches, tight muscles in our neck and shoulders, ulcers and premature aging.  I have no doubt that this all sounds much too familiar.</p>
<p>Here is another perspective that I find relieves some of the tension and often produces better results. What more could an entrepreneurial society like ours want than less tension and better results?   I recently had the great fortune to meet and speak with Lisa Norden, World Champion Sprint Distance triathlete in 2010 and her coach Darren Smith.  Lisa is from Sweden and Darren is from Australia and they were in Davos, Switzerland for a race season training camp.  The world of elite, professional triathlon is extremely competitive and grueling. Lisa was asked the question, “How do you manage to stay focused and not get discouraged by the pain, grueling distances and overwhelming pressure”. She replied that she raced by checking the boxes and the results took care of themselves.  </p>
<p>I have always been a believer that focusing on the process is the key to getting improved results so I was all ears about her concept of “checking the boxes”.  Lisa doesn&#8217;t focus on the goal of a winning time, she focuses on the goal of getting each of the individual actions executed with precision and excellence.  She mentally checks each box and the World Championship results take care of themselves. <br />
Did I do everything in my preparation stage?    √<br />
When I set up my transition, was everything in its proper place and order? √   When I entered the water, did I get the surge I needed in that first 200 meters?  √<br />
Was I in the right position at the first buoy in the water?  √<br />
When I exited the swim to my bike, was I focused and racing my own pace regardless of what other competitors were doing? √<br />
Did I stay within my power zones without getting distracted by others?  √<br />
If there were uncontrollable obstacles like head winds, rain or rough roads, did I turn these into positive challenges rather than cursing my bad luck?  √</p>
<p>You get the picture. Lisa knows the podium finish on the top step will be assured if she manages each step along the way with excellence.  Stress is relieved by focusing on small steps rather than the overall  daunting task, energy and excitement are built as you experience how well you are successfully managing the parts of the whole, and confidence builds as you celebrate completion along the way. </p>
<p>Lisa&#8217;s technique serves as a good example for all of us in business also.  Rather than focusing on the year end goals, the competitive pressures, and the external demands which often seem overwhelming, if we choose to focus on all the controllable aspects throughout the process we will be assured the desired results will occur. <br />
No one sells a bottom line, no one manufactures a net profit, no one produces an exponential improvement as a product per se.  What we all do regardless of our business or service is manage the myriad of process steps along the way to produce, service, or sell our produce or service.  Just like Lisa, we can produce hugely improved results with less stress and tension if we focus on checking the boxes along the way rather than the daunting overall goal. <br />
So what is your goal?  What is required to produce the results you need to achieve?  What are the sequential steps necessary?  Have you done your preparation and training to build your capability?  If not, this is step number one.  Can you put a √ there?  If you are prepared, then check the boxes as you produce, service or manufacture.  Integrity (you can&#8217;t check the box if you didn&#8217;t perform the task with accuracy and excellence), tenacity (did you work until you got each step complete and correct), and quality (does your work product represent your brand, will your customers be delighted with it) are a few of the values upon which your checklist must be built.  Build in the right values, diligently use the checklist and your overwhelming goals will be met and frequently exceeded.  </p>
<p>Just imagine the power that comes from getting your whole organization checking the boxes and focused on doing their best one step at a time.  Just like Lisa, you&#8217;ll be World Champions, achieve your goals, and have less stress along the way.  </p>
<p><strong>Deb Waitkus and I are co-facilitating corporate-learning workshops used to anchor concepts -</strong> <strong>Birdies, Bogeys and Business: Success On and Off the Course, Mental Mulligan’s, and the Two-Day Golf School.  All are ways to build your team, increase your skills and add new tools to your bag.   Call me at 480-236-4266 or email me for information.  </strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com">http://www.peakperformancecorp.com</a></strong></p>
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		<title>Take Care of the Culture, Everything Else Will Follow</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/05/14/take-care-of-the-culture-everything-else-will-follow/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/05/14/take-care-of-the-culture-everything-else-will-follow/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 May 2011 16:47:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategic Planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=436</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Culture is similar to personality in that it is largely a subconscious collection of attitudes, beliefs and actions which influence individual behaviors and, therefore, results. So the culture of an organization becomes the collective beliefs, attitudes and actions of the employees.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A few weeks ago Harvey MacKay wrote in his syndicated column about the idea that if you take care of the culture in your organization, everything else will follow.  I couldn’t agree more. Actually I believe this is true in a business organization, a family, or a country. </p>
<p>Culture is similar to personality in that it is largely a subconscious collection of attitudes, beliefs and actions which influence individual behaviors and, therefore, results. So the culture of an organization becomes the collective beliefs, attitudes and actions of the employees.  Organizational performance, therefore, is a direct result of the culture within an organization.  Seems to me like creating a robust, healthy, empowering culture where employees feel valued and appreciated for their contribution is a pretty powerful leadership imperative.  Unfortunately, many people in leadership positions (I’m tempted to say most!) spend very little time thinking about or intentionally focusing on creating a culture that supports their intended goals.  </p>
<p>There are many, many reasons for this, but I suspect one of the key reasons for not doing so is the fact that most companies don’t tangibly measure and reward the ‘softer’ side of their business.  They are looking for a quick fix.  But just like the stock market, investments in people and organizational capability are long-term propositions yielding benefits over time, not over night.  The fact is most managers get rewarded for meeting financial goals not for building an organization capable of reaching financial goals.  But how are the employees supposed to be able to meet the financial goals if there is little overt attention paid to positively creating and supporting their skill and the overall organizational capability? </p>
<p>Very frequently my clients can tell me what they wish for, what they think is wrong, what they are experiencing as undesirable results, but few take the time to determine the root cause. Here are a few examples of root causes which adversely impact both human and financial performance.</p>
<ul>
<li>High turnover costs are often rooted in poorly defined job expectations and weak hiring processes.</li>
<li> Employees feeling they aren’t listened to stems from weak management skills and few, if any, intentionally designed communication processes.</li>
<li>Work force members not knowing where the company is going is due to leadership not specifically defining and sharing company goals and failing to highlight the key role employees play in making these goals a reality.</li>
<li>Favoritism emerges in the absence of objective standards of performance as a basis for performance evaluations. </li>
<li>Questionable behaviors and ethical issues arise when companies don’t have well-articulated values or when the values they have are platitudes rather than benchmarks for how the company is run.</li>
<li>Top performers become concerned when they can’t see a career path and little attention is paid to succession planning.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>While these are just a few of the more common examples, you get the idea.  Almost any leadership issue that comes up is grounded in organizational culture.  It all comes down to the 5 P’s &#8211; People, Processes, Policies, Practice, and Procedures.  Examine these and you’ll find the root cause of performance issues.  </p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Deb Waitkus and I are co-facilitating three corporate-learning workshops used to anchor concepts &#8211; Birdies, Bogeys and Business: Success On and Off the Course, Mental Mulligan’s, and the Two-Day Golf School.  All are ways to build your team, increase your skills and add new tools to your bag.</p>
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		<title>Strategic Thinking</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/04/01/strategic-thinking/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/04/01/strategic-thinking/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:10:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Strategic Planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=430</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever thought about thinking?  Sounds like kind of a trick question, but I am not intending it to be.  I often find myself thinking about how people think.  In my profession, you have to be a bit of a psychologist …always looking for the reason behind why people do what they do. As [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever thought about thinking?  Sounds like kind of a trick question, but I am not intending it to be.  I often find myself thinking about how people think.  In my profession, you have to be a bit of a psychologist …always looking for the reason behind why people do what they do. As a result, I frequently have to figure out the rationale for people’s actions.  One of the ways I can be most beneficial to my clients is to help them understand the logic of their own and other people’s actions.  People always do what they do because of what happens to them when they do it. It may not seem logical from your perspective, but from their point of view what they do always makes sense to them.</p>
<p>For those of you in leadership positions, learning how to think strategically as well as tactically is critical.  Tactical thinking is all about how to get near-term and more immediate tasks completed.  It is the tactics of the day to-day operation.   At the same time because of your leadership role you have to continually be thinking strategically.  What’s the bigger picture, what should today’s actions and decisions be in order to be positioned for the future, etc.    </p>
<p>There is a pattern of strategic thinking which some of you use without even thinking consciously about it.  For others, learning to think strategically would be very beneficial. If you find yourself in situations where you know how to proceed in the near-term, but have a tendency to not check your actions as compared to your future needs and goals, this pattern will be useful to you.  Thinking strategically means you…</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Decide where you have to go</span>, where you have to be at X point in the future, what your goal is</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Identify issues</span> that will be both beneficial and potentially harmful in achieving that goal</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Determine the options</span> available to you to build upon the benefits identified and avoid the obstacles</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Create a strategy/plan</span> from these options that optimizes the benefits and minimizes the risks</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Implement the strategy</span>…here is where the tactical actions come back into play.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>I find that while people in leadership positions tend to naturally think strategically if this isn’t your natural pattern you can learn to do so by following the steps above.  Where the challenge comes in for most every leader is in the last step…execution of the strategy. The overwhelming tendency is to get so caught up in tactical day-to-day activities that the strategic, bigger picture focus often becomes fuzzy.  Intellectually it is understood, but on a practical level it gets lost in the crush of activity.  </p>
<p>Taking this quick SQ quiz (Strategic Quotient) will help you analyze your own thinking and pinpoint where you might need to improve this aspect of your leadership ability. Answer yes or no to each of these questions:  </p>
<ol>
<li>Do you have a well-articulated, clearly stated strategy?   </li>
<li>Could you write a one or two sentence statement of that strategy?  </li>
<li>Could each of your subordinates write a one or two sentence statement of that strategy without consulting each other?</li>
<li>Do you use this strategy as a guide in making important business decision?  </li>
<li>Have you as a management team tried to obtain consensus about the future of your firm?</li>
<li>Did you get consensus or are there still different visions of what your organization is trying to become?</li>
<li>Are you and are your subordinates recognized and rewarded for making wise long-term decisions?</li>
<li>Are the measure of success for performance and company performance aligned with your strategic objectives?</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p>If all your answers are positive, then you are in good shape.  The greater the number of negative answers and the wider the discrepancies between your responses and those of your subordinates, the more you need to work on strategically thinking personally and in leading your organization as a strategic thinker.</p>
<p>One valuable service I provide my clients is helping them think through and plan for the bigger picture needs of their organization, listening to them as they sort out their options and alternatives, and then helping them put a practical, objectively measured execution plan in place that they can actually achieve.  We all can easily stay in the activity trap, but leadership is about keeping the needs of today in perspective with the goals of tomorrow.</p>
<p><strong>* * * * *</strong></p>
<p>Behaviors are observable, but motivators are not.  If you would like to better understand the motivations behind your own actions and those of your employees, give me a call.  Better information and better understand yields better results! </p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joyce Friel</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Peak Performance Consulting </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">480-236-4266</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com/"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: x-small;">www.peakperformancecorp.com</span></a></strong></p>
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		<title>Banking the Best</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/02/03/banking-the-best/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/02/03/banking-the-best/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:38:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>joycefriel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=425</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The key to being able to draw on your bank account of mental movies is to store only the best.  There is great value in storing memories of those times when you were successfully able to do something. While we learn from our mistakes, we learn more from our positive accomplishments.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My husband and I recently visited the Canary Islands.  He conducted a triathlon training camp while I tagged along.  The Canary’s are known as the Hawaii of Europe and like their US name sakes they are volcanic islands which means there is almost nothing flat on the island. So we spent a lot of time on our bicycles climbing slowly up very steep roads and descending very quickly.  As we cycled I had flash backs to other times I’ve trudged up the mountains in the Rockies and the Alps.   One thing that helps me stay focused, have the perseverance to keep putting one pedal in front of the other, and finally conquer the mountain is replaying mental movies. </p>
<p>Mental movies are those positive memories I’ve stored of other times I’ve done something equally challenging.  I relive the smell of the meadow flowers, hearing the cow bells in the distance, seeing the mountain goats by the side of the road in the fog, feeling the sun on my back as the bees buzz around the flowers and before you know it, you have more miles behind you. The time and the miles go by much more easily and more quickly when I’m watching a movie.  This is partly because I am suddenly some place else. I think it is also because I get a boost of energy, my muscles get a bit of virtual relief, pedaling becomes more even and stronger as I refocus, and my mind is more confident because I know I’ve ‘been there, done that before’ successfully.   When I act ‘as if’ I am confident, full of energy, believe I can conquer the mountain, I can. When I believe I am not able to, I’m not.  The mind and the body are one – one leads the other and in this case the body responds to the mental movies which are telling me I can do it…I can do it…I can do it and sure enough, I do!  </p>
<p>The key to being able to draw on your bank account of mental movies is to store only the best.  There is great value in storing memories of those times when you were successfully able to do something. While we learn from our mistakes, we learn more from our positive accomplishments.   </p>
<p>I’m reminded of two quotes that underscore achieving tough goals.   One is by Lance Armstrong who said something like…’motivation can’t get you there if you don’t have the legs, but if you have the legs and lack motivation, you’re not going to get there’. And the other is by a colleague, friend and very strong cyclist, Christina Maddox, who said something like…’you have to have commitment before you have passion. Passion follows commitment.  The first step is to commit and then you have to have a great plan’.  I’d add to these ideas one ingredient that can help your motivation and, as a result, increase your commitment is banking the best of your mental movies and draw on them when you face tough challenges.  It doesn’t make any difference what the situation happens to be. This technique helps whether you are climbing a physical mountain on your bicycle, climbing an emotional mountain in your life, and conquering a business challenge that seems insurmountable.</p>
<p>I’m watching this happen right now with my 8-year old granddaughter.  She is learning to read more advanced books at the same time she is conquering more advanced gymnastics.  As her confidence in the gym grows her ability to master more advanced reading is accelerating also.  The mind and the body are one. One confidence breeds another and along the way she is filling her bank account with the best of her mental movies. </p>
<p>* * * * * *</p>
<p>Learn, grow and have lots of fun doing it – join Deb Waitkus and myself in one of these programs:</p>
<p>    * Mental Mulligans     * Birdies, Bogeys and Business: Success On and Off the Course</p>
<p>Get more details at:  <a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com/">www.peakperformancecorp.com</a> and <a href="http://www.golfforcause.com/">www.golfforcause.com</a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Joyce Friel</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Peak Performance Consulting, LLC </strong></p>
<p><strong>11353 E. Raintree Drive</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scottsdale, AZ  85255</strong></p>
<p><strong>480 236 4266</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com/">www.peakperformancecorp.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/">www.twitter.com</a></p>
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		<title>Spending to Save!</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/01/04/spending-to-save/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2011/01/04/spending-to-save/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:32:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>joycefriel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=421</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes you have to spend time, money, or resources up front in order to save in the long run.  It’s kind of like insurance.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes you have to spend time, money, or resources up front in order to save in the long run.  It’s kind of like insurance.  Every time I pay the house, car, life, health, business insurance premiums I think of how much more ready cash I would have if I didn’t make these payments.  However, I know in the long run I am wiser and prudent by making these payments.  Just have one real need for any of these types of coverage and you are delighted you made those payments.  I was raised with this philosophy as my father whom I revered and respected tremendously was a life insurance executive. </p>
<p>The same holds true for many of the good management practices we know we should practice, but often don’t.  Preparing and conducting meetings, writing policies and procedures, following checklists, dedicating time to proper hiring and training, establishing and following communications methods to keep staff well informed, and on and on and on.</p>
<p>Here is a valuable, thought-provoking way to look at preparing for and conducting meetings that is unique, but has some solid wisdom behind it. I credit Seth Godin, best-selling author of more than 12 books, for the essence of these ideas.  He offers tips on how to ensure meetings are short, focused and productive which I have slightly added to.  You can find Seth’s complete text on his blog at <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/">http://sethgodin.typepad.com</a>.</p>
<p>* Plan ahead by ensuring you get the right people and only the right people in the room.  The right people are primarily those that need to be there because they 1) have a vested interest in the topic/decisions being made 2) have information necessary to the decision.  Don’t waste the time and talent of others by unnecessarily inviting others to the meeting.  If you or the attendees can’t state why they are being included, they likely don’t need to be there.   </p>
<p>* Ensure meetings start on time and end when the end needs to occur not when the calendar or conference room schedule says they should be ending. Give everyone the gift of time by ending early or give the organization the gift of a good discussion and decision if the meeting needs to go a bit longer. Timeliness honors and respects those who arrive on time.  Become known as a person who starts on time and can be relied upon to manage a meeting efficiently and produces results.</p>
<p>* Make sure you publish the purpose, desired outcomes and expectations before the meeting and you conduct the meeting toward these purposes.  </p>
<p>* Set the stage as necessary – make introductions, make the environment welcoming and appropriate, state the intended outcomes as you start the meeting.  </p>
<p>* If equipment is needed, set everything up and ensure it is fully functioning before everyone arrives.  This is not only efficient it is a clear sign of respect for the time of others.   </p>
<p>* Keep an action log.  This is a simple document that records any action item that was assigned during the meeting.   Send the Action Log to all attendees via an email following the meeting so everyone knows the outcomes, expectations and timelines for the next steps.  This simple step exponentially increases the probability that action items will get done. And after all isn’t taking action against a need of the organization why you called the meeting in the first place?</p>
<p>Often times the best way to change an organization that may have fallen into sloppy habits is to simply start doing things differently. It isn’t necessary to state that you’re going to ‘run meetings differently around here’.  Just start running meetings differently.  Pretty soon you’ll have people noticing and appreciating the difference.  This is one New Year’s Resolution you can do that costs you only a bit of preparation time and gains you significant rewards in productivity, effectiveness, respect and in the long run saves money.  Start today by spending to save! </p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Joyce Friel</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Peak Performance Consulting, LLC </strong></p>
<p><strong>11353 E. Raintree Drive</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scottsdale, AZ  85255</strong></p>
<p><strong>480 236 4266</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com/">www.peakperformancecorp.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/">www.twitter.com</a></p>
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		<title>Client-Server Computing Explained in Brief</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/12/05/client-server-computing-explained-in-brief/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/12/05/client-server-computing-explained-in-brief/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:10:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kjsimo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Data]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=407</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Client-Server Computing is all around us.  By reading this web post you are experiencing client-server at work and there are countless examples and growing uses for client-server computing, especially as the popularity of cloud computing increases. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Client-Server Computing is all around us.  By reading this web post you are experiencing client-server at work and there are countless examples and growing uses for client-server computing, especially as the popularity of cloud computing increases. So what is client-server and what are the differences between fat and thin clients?</p>
<p>Client-Server Computing leverages the capabilities of networking such as that used in your office, home, and the World Wide Web.  As the computing environment has evolved from mainframe systems with dumb terminals to a network of powerful desktop computers, corporations needed a way to take advantage of the computing power on both ends of the network, hence, client-server computing. By replacing mainframe systems which use dumb terminals, with a client-server architecture, a company can take advantage of the distributed computing power in the clients (the desktop PCs), rather than just using dumb terminals that require the server to do all the work.  Additionally, centralized data is still accessible to everyone who needs it.  It is a best of both worlds approach to computing.  The client-server model also offers unprecedented opportunity for growth, scalability, and concurrent multi-user access to central information.</p>
<p>Fat clients take the majority of the responsibility for the application logic, which frees the server from much of the work.  This approach has several advantages to the thin client approach.  Some of which are; a greater flexibility in application design and functionality, an increase system stability when updating application logic, and fat clients are generally easier to because they are client specific and do not have to be compatible with various client types as in a thin client system.</p>
<p>Thin clients, on the other hand, have little if any responsibility for application logic, which place most of the burden for the application on the server.  This provides several benefits distinct from the Fat Client system approach.  Updating the application logic is more easily accomplished since only the server needs to be updated.  Thin clients require less knowledge of the data on the server side, which contributes to a higher level of encapsulation and data integrity.  Thin clients are generally easier to debug and manage since the application logic is in a central location, the server.  Data management is also easier for the same reason.  Network bandwidth is less of an issue because most of the processing is performed on the server where the data resides rather than transferring data across the network to the client.  More robust applications and consistent performance from user to user, or “universally compatible” applications, are another advantage of using a thin client system.  </p>
<p>A client-server approach to a networked computer system provides a scalable and flexible system, which allows a company to maintain centrally accessible information, while at the same time taking advantage of the available distributed computing power that exists in the desktops throughout the company.   The client-server approach also improves the use of available computing power by separating functions and processes performed and delegating them to the appropriate and most capable machine.   </p>
<p>This idea of sharing resources across a network is location agnostic.  The user does not need to be aware of the how or where the process is being completed.  This encourages encapsulation of data, which also facilitates security, stability, and data integrity.</p>
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		<title>Internet Security &#8211; Kerberos Protocol Explained</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/29/internet-security-kerberos-protocol-explained/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/29/internet-security-kerberos-protocol-explained/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:54:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kjsimo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Data]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=404</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Kerberos protocol (named for the mythical guard dog of Hades) can defend against a variety of different security attacks.  The Kerberos protocol uses a system of tickets and authenticating applications to control access to network systems.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Kerberos protocol (named for the mythical guard dog of Hades) can defend against a variety of different security attacks.  The Kerberos protocol uses a system of tickets and authenticating applications to control access to network systems.  As messages are sent back and forth between the user, Kerberos, and the requested network services the messages are encrypted and there is always a piece of information missing from the message that only the receiver has.  This system makes these messages useless to anyone with malicious intent who may be eavesdropping on the network and trying to steal information or impersonate services. </p>
<p>When a user wants access to a secured item on the network, they start the K-Init application to get a ticket-granting ticket.  The user enters their user name which is forwarded to Kerberos.  Kerberos cross references the user name and encrypts a message containing the user’s ticket-granting session ID with the user’s password.  This encrypted message prevents any rogue users from stealing a password in transit across the network.  The message is only unlocked if the user enters their password correctly in the K-Init application.</p>
<p>After the user unlocks the message sent by Kerberos, they are given a ticket-granting ticket and a session key.  If a user wants to access services, they send a message to Kerberos containing an authenticator message, the ticket-granting ticket, user name, user address, and the service being requested.  When the message authentication is confirmed, and the message is encrypted, the ticket-granting service gets a copy of the session ID share by the user.  Then the ticket-granting service makes a ticket for the requested service, determines a session ID between the service and the user, and then sends this message encrypted with the ticket-granting session ID that the user already received from Kerberos. </p>
<p>This packet is encrypted with the session ID which only the ticket-granting service and the user have a copy.  This prevents the stealing of the tickets which authorize access to services. </p>
<p>In order to prevent someone from impersonating a service and stealing information, the Kerberos protocol requires mutual authentication.  First, the authentication described above is used to authenticate the user to the service.  Before any information is sent to the requested service, the user machine waits from confirmation from the service.  The service sends a reply packet encrypted with the session ID which was granted by the ticket-granting service.  If a fake server receives these packets, it does not have the session ID and can’t properly encrypt a reply message.  If the user doesn’t receive the reply, no information is sent and the operation times out.</p>
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		<title>Decision Making in Organizations</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/22/decision-making-in-organizations/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/22/decision-making-in-organizations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:21:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kjsimo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategic Planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=401</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In our work with Fortune 500 companies, we have seen decisions that range in effectiveness from brilliant to destroyers of value.  How can you ensure that your company’s decisions contribute to flawless execution and the advancement of the strategic plan?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every day, countless decisions are made in organizations that impact corporate strategy.  In our work with Fortune 500 companies, we have seen decisions that range in effectiveness from brilliant to destroyers of value.  How can you ensure that your company’s decisions contribute to flawless execution and the advancement of the strategic plan?  We’ll use the example of a major health care company (fictionally named Health Tech) in financial difficulty that was evaluating a make vs. buy decision on a new software system and infrastructure.  Their existing system was blamed for inefficiencies, lack of flexibility, and ultimately loss of profits and market share that lead to its financial problems. As it turned out however, the root cause of the financial problems was ineffective decision making.     </p>
<p>Decision Making can be divided into Decision Management and Decision Control.  Decision Management is the process of initiating and implementing decisions.  Decision Control is the ratification and monitoring of decisions.  Different types of information are key to each of these, and in order to make effective decisions in organizations, proper assignment of both Decision Rights (the right or power to either manage or control a decision) and Decision Information (the pertinent  extrinsic and intrinsic data required to make a decision) are required. </p>
<p>Decision Management requires information on the problem definition, and the potential solutions.  In our example, Health Tech’s leadership team required information on the capabilities of the current software, capabilities of the available software in the market, and the shortcomings of both with respect to the desired requirements.  Also, the Decision Makers would need to know the costs and implementation steps before presenting this information to the Decision Controllers for ratification. </p>
<p>Decision Control requires information on the decision itself, such as the implementation steps, and how it will affect the company.  The effects include, the costs of the implementation, the potential failures, the various areas of the company that rely on the decision, and the intended results of each decision.  Those who are responsible for Decision Control must be able to judge each decision based on its application to the strategic business plan or “big picture”, considering both the company and the marketplace.  Additionally, the Decision Controllers must have sufficient information to monitor each decision’s performance in terms of cost and results.  For example, the Decision Controllers at Health Tech would need information on the estimated cost and time required to design and implement a custom software package before ratifying any decisions and the estimated cost and time required to modify an off the shelf solution.  Also, they would need metrics to continually monitor whether or not the new system, whether purchased or home grown, was effective after it was implemented.</p>
<p>Initially the symptoms pointed to a the software as the reason for the financial distress in the company, however, Health Tech’s financial problems were actually due to the poor assignment of Decision Rights within the organization.  More specifically, the problems were caused by the over assignment of Decision Rights and lack of control on Decision Making caused by Health Tech’s culture of entrepreneurship and rebellious empowerment.  Health Tech employees disliked the rigidity of health care regulatory agencies and they were empowered with <span style="text-decoration: underline;">both</span> Decision Management and Decision Control. </p>
<p>The assignment of Decision Rights at Health Tech was flawed.  First, the Decision Makers were not owners, and therefore could not be expected to make decisions that were in the best interest of the organization even if they had all the appropriate information.  Secondly, since the Decision Makers were not owners, they should have been assigned either Decision Management or Decision Control, not both.  Furthermore, the Decision Makers at Health Tech did not have the appropriate information needed to make the good decisions, partly because of the flawed computer system, which gave everyone misinformation and therefore blamed for the problems, and partly due to lack of communication throughout the organization.  Even the CEO did not have specific information about the severity of the problems because of the lack of communication</p>
<p>By separating Decision Making and Decision Control and correctly assigning Decision Rights throughout the organization, Health Tech would have had better information on the state of the company despite the errors in their software.  For example, they would have known that the computer system was giving the accounts payable department frequent problems.  Because with proper controls, billing and payables performance would have been one key metric in monitoring the effectiveness of the software application.  The Decision Controllers (presumably senior leadership) would be made aware of these flaws and could direct corrective action. </p>
<p>However, Health Tech collectively did not know what problems existed or what to do about them because of a poor understanding of and lack of assignment of Decision Rights in the organization.   I would be remiss without noting that in addition to understand the basic components of Decision Making, communication horizontally across an organization (breaking down silos) is critical.  A properly designed organizational architecture is necessary to support the sharing of different pieces of information needed by Decision Management and Decision Control entities.  If this does not already exist, it will need to be created and then supported through a redesign of the organization.</p>
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		<title>You Are Never Too Old!</title>
		<link>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/15/you-are-never-too-old/</link>
		<comments>http://www.haveastrategy.com/2010/11/15/you-are-never-too-old/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:45:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>joycefriel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.haveastrategy.com/?p=398</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What are you wishing you had done? What are you thinking you are too old to do?   What are you enduring in your business or your life in general that could be different, more positive, a fulfillment of your dreams?  Well, what do you choose to do about it?  Assess.  Plan.  Go for it!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> How many times have you thought to yourself, “If I had just …….”  Hindsight is just so much more insightful than foresight it seems.  When it comes to what we ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda’ have been, the good news is it is never too late to become what you want to be and we’re never too old to reinvent ourselves.</p>
<p>Just think of all the times you’ve heard inspiring stories of older people going back to school completing college degrees with kids younger than their grandchildren.  Recognizing that we can become something different, transform our businesses, or morph into something closer to our dreams is a particularly appropriate in these times of economic challenge.</p>
<p>I’m reminded of Betty White, the energetic much-older actress who continually gets new roles because she lives by this belief.  When asked, “When are you going to retire?”  Her response was, “When I’m no longer asked for.”  As long as we’re being asked for, we still have a passion for using our talents and striving to move forward…it’s never too late.</p>
<p>I want to thank my friend, Susan Brooks (<a href="http://www.servesyouright.net/">http://www.servesyouright.net</a>) for prompting this reminder.  I just finished reading her wonderfully positive book entitled, <em>Serves You Right</em>!, which is packed full of stories about how faux pas turned into successes, bloopers became bonuses and blushes of embarrassment were overcome by smiles.  While her messages focus primarily on customer service, I believe the same mantra is true of life in general.  What better time to echo this reminder than when so many feel so down and out.</p>
<p>I currently have clients who…</p>
<ul>
<li>Have lost their businesses and are retooling themselves into new entrepreneurs</li>
<li>Have such slim margins they worry every day they might lose their business</li>
<li>Are in financial difficulty because of promises others made, but didn’t keep, legal concerns, or other misfortunes</li>
<li>Can’t get business financing because of the constraints of banks…and on and on and on.</li>
</ul>
<p>By the same token, I have clients who are thriving in a wide variety of enterprises despite the economy.  What is inspiring about those that are the most stressed and worried is that they believe they aren’t too old, too tired, too stressed, too discouraged to reinvent themselves and survive and even thrive.  They are…</p>
<ul>
<li>Reinvigorating their passion and breathing new life into their business</li>
<li>Taking an honest appraisal of their options and finding new creative sources of revenue</li>
<li>Finding non-traditional sources of funding and being more conservative in their growth strategy</li>
<li>Creating an entirely new line of products which service a different market…and on and on and on.</li>
</ul>
<p>In all cases they are being rigorous in their discipline to create and use faithfully their strategy plans to guide and grow their businesses. </p>
<p>Personally, I am seeing signs of growth and engagement of consulting services at a rate I haven’t seen for about 18 months.  As always, if we look for gloom and doom the skies will turn gray, and if we look for positive signs and possibilities we will find the sunshine. </p>
<p>So what are you wishing you had done? What are you thinking you are too old to do?   What are you enduring in your business or your life in general that could be different, more positive, a fulfillment of your dreams?  Well, what do you choose to do about it?  Because, as the title says, you are never too old to become what you coulda, woulda, shoulda have been.  Assess.  Plan.  Go for it! </p>
<p><em><strong>Joyce Friel</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Peak Performance Consulting, LLC </strong></p>
<p><strong>11353 E. Raintree Drive</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scottsdale, AZ  85255</strong></p>
<p><strong>480 236 4266</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.peakperformancecorp.com/">www.peakperformancecorp.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/">www.twitter.com</a></p>
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