http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezineProvides practical business growth, strategy and leadership tipsThu, 24 May 2012 15:05:38 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/DaPgE/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Remembering the Flash-Matic This week marked the death of 96-year old inventor, Eugene Polley. His may not be a household name, but history will remember him for his invention of the remote control in 1955. Originally called the Flash-Matic, the wireless device functioned like a flashlight. You simply pointed it to a spot on a compatible television, and you could magically change channels, adjust the sound, etc. Later models of remotes obviously improved on Polley's design, but his invention was significant in that it was the beginning of a major change in behavior. No longer did you have to get up and change the channel; instead you could just sit on the couch and press a button. Many changes in technology affect our behavior, but it's rare that we do something substantially different from what we did before. At first you may feel clumsy sending an email on iPhone, for example, but you probably had some familiarity with typing before you tried it on an iPhone. The remote is a different because it was, in effect, a new device. Although there were predecessor models that were hard-wired to the television, the Flash-Matic was truly innovative. Think about how changes in technology affect you, and especially the impact these changes have on your behavior. The remote marked the beginning of consumers' disengagement from active involvement with the TV just as constant use of smart phones disengages us from our current environment. As you adopt the shiny new object du jour, think beyond productivity or the cool factor. How will your behavior change by using new technology? What will be the ripple effect of such behavior changes? In the meantime, I hope you have a chance to downshift over this upcoming Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. Sit back and enjoy some outdoor activity. And at night when you settle in with your remote, remember that once upon a time, surfing was only an ocean sport. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #165, May 24, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. - Robert Louis Stevenson May 24th Trivia Today is National Escargot Day. On this Day in History In 1626, Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Island for $24 worth of beads, knives, axes, and clothes from the Canarsees, who didn't actually own it. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 24 May 2012 15:05:38 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/GXlcE/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Relax - Relate - Release I've known Janey, one of the check-out clerks at my local library, for about five years. We have pleasant interactions when we see each other, usually peppered with some laughs. Recently, the person in front of me in line acted like a bit of a whacko. After he left, she and her co-worker were commenting on what had happened. As I approached to check out my books, she greeted me, zen-like, saying Relax - relate - release. Of course, I was immediately drawn in, and wanted to know more about this 3-step mantra. Had they had customer service training? Did she read about this in a book? Perhaps she had seen something on the internet? Actually, none of these things had occurred. It's simply how she has learned to deal with difficult people who cross her path. She doesn't want to absorb the negativity that can arise from such encounters. She explained her mantra. Relax means to pause and not react when something off-putting happens. In order to show understanding, you relate to the person. And after the incident ends, it's important to release so that you don't dwell on it. Front-line workers who serve customers are usually the lowest paid people in our organizations, and typically they put up with the most grief. No signs are posted saying no whackos permitted. Bad bosses feel entitled to grunt and groan about their problems, while the front line serves with a smile. Anyone can model the behavior of this simple mantra when dealing with disgruntled people. It surely beats being argumentative and confrontational. It's also important to remember that front-line employees don't need to be the dumping ground for whatever is going wrong in your work day. Why not buck the trend and show a little kindness? You might feel better, too. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #164, May 17, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. - Albert Einstein May 17th Trivia Today is National Cherry Cobbler Day. On this Day in History In 1620, the first merry-go-round on record was set up at a fair in Philippolis, Turkey. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:18 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/5V1_U/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Bragging for Pleasure Have you ever wondered why it's so easy to slip into talking about yourself even if you try not to? It's particularly effortless if you're talking to someone who is a good listener. The more effective the listener, the more likely we are to keep talking...and to brag a little. The Wall Street Journal featured an article this week about why we brag so much. Brain imaging reveals that we feel good when we share our thoughts. Scientific studies reveal that people would rather self-disclose and talk about themselves than to talk about others. These brain scans show that boasting can give you the same sensation of satisfaction that you'd receive from food, money or sex. Think about how you feel when someone is fully present while listening to you. It makes you feel good, and this is because you're probably self-disclosing in a way that lights up the pleasure part of your brain. Consider the dynamics in fast-paced, chaotic work environments where people don't really pay attention when communicating with each other. Imagine what would happen if you simply took a little more time than usual to listen to your coworkers in a way that makes them feel heard. As an example, a friend is working on a consulting assignment in a very stressful environment. He mentioned his surprise about the calming effect he seems to have on people who have wandered into his office. I'm not surprised. He's a great listener, and without realizing it, he's providing a little dopamine boost and lifting these people's spirits. It's a great example for all of us to model, so I hope you give it a try. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #163, May 10, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook. - William James May 10th Trivia Today is World Lupus Day, devoted to promoting lupus awareness around the U.S. On this Day in History In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the U.S., and was memorialized by driving in a golden spike in Promontory, Utah. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 10 May 2012 15:00:21 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/Nwkuk/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Cosmetic Surgery, Digital Style Remember The New Yorker cartoon picturing a dog in front of a computer with the caption, on the Internet, no one knows you're a dog? That cartoon was the embodiment of the then new era of desktop publishing, which is now ubiquitous in our lives. Today we have a variation on this theme. Through smart phones, social media, and myriad digital devices, we're able to design and reinvent our personas. We choose how we want to world to see us. Instead of editing at our desks, however, we send these ever-morphing images of ourselves into cyberspace wherever we may be at the moment, and alter them as we receive feedback from strangers. The proliferation of personal information on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and countless other sites gives us many places to test who we want to become. A little nip here, a tuck there....the construction of personas is an ongoing, evolving phenomenon. This is cosmetic surgery, digital style. One of the interesting consequences of this trend is reconciling your developing digital image with the real thing. When people meet each other live, how does the reality stack up with the digital image? Many implications emerge for the workplace. Much has been written about really knowing whom you're hiring. But there's much more to consider. Do you know how your people's outbound messages reflect on your organization? How do we even know what's real and what is fabricated? How do you communicate face-to-face when you spend so much time texting or tweeting? And these questions are just for starters. Interesting questions, to be sure. The cliche, what you see is what you get should now give pause to asking, Really? Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #162, May 3, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game. - Voltaire May 3rd Trivia Today is World Press Freedom Day, celebrating freedom of expression. On this Day in History In 1973, the Sears Tower in Chicago became the tallest building in the world at 1,454 feet. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 03 May 2012 15:04:07 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/7nfq./h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Creative Competitiveness In a recent editorial, The Creative Monopoly, The New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks presented an interesting commentary on the potential conflict between competitiveness and creativity. He observes that the competitive spirit capitalism engenders can sometimes inhibit the creativity it requires. Creative people dart and weave in search of solutions. More conventional workers, on the other hand, tend to stay on a predetermined competitive course, and may miss other alternatives or opportunities as a result. The roots of this dichotomy are in the educational arena where students follow a set curriculum and are encouraged to strive for all As, rather than focus on their areas of greatest strength or interest. The corporate environment reinforces this by frowning when someone appears to go off point (which is what creatives do when they solve problems). Of course, it's possible to create a balance between creativity and competition. You can develop this equilibrium by being aware of the inherent conflicts, and taking action to promote and support creative pursuits while not losing focus on the end goal. Organizations that foster this balance will develop a stronger competitive edge. Your people will feel empowered to be more creative, which may lead to even better solutions than you originally envisioned. When you encourage attributes such as independent thinking and resourcefulness, your people will bring out their best. Your organization, your people, and your clients benefit, so everyone wins. I'm interested in how you manage the balance between creativity and competitiveness, so feel free to drop me a note to share your thoughts. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #161, April 26, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day. - Thornton Wilder April 26th Trivia Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day, as part of National Poetry Month. People are encouraged to share a favorite poem with friends and co-workers. On this Day in History Today is the 20th anniversary of Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work® Day, celebrating with the theme, Build Opportunity: 20 Years of Education, Empowerment, Experience. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:36 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/EhUQ./h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. To Be Congruent (or Not) I recently met a young, talented, up-and-coming manager who is trying to accelerate his career. In particular, he's hung up on being perceived as an executive, and thinks that updating his resume will result in being recognized as one. I asked him what being an executive means to him, and he responded with a huge mouthful of buzzwords and textbook cliches. The truth is that he really doesn't know what it means to him, only what he thinks it means based on what he has heard and read. His actions and behaviors are not congruent with this manufactured image, and as a result, he runs the risk of making a fool of himself as he interviews for higher level jobs. When our behaviors match our beliefs, we act congruently. When we espouse one thing and behave differently, we are incongruent. People have radar when it comes to perceiving another person's congruity, so when you don't walk your talk you lose credibility. In this case, talking like a big shot and behaving immaturely is incongruent. People will see right through his inconsistent demeanor. This could significantly slow the pace of his career advancement, and might even cause a minor derailment. It's important to provide reality checks to our rising stars (and, indeed, to all of our people) as they advance in our organizations. Truly talented people may be a few steps ahead in their heads than they are in reality, but will adjust their behavior if a savvy leader provides constructive feedback and guidance. Self-awareness precedes congruity. If someone is self-aware, it's easier to coach them to be congruent. If they're not as self-aware, it may take a little longer to get to the goal. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #160, April 19, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. - Native American Proverb April 19th Trivia Today is National Amaretto Day. Although this popular liqueur has been around since the 1500s, it only arrived in the U.S. in the 1960s. On this Day in History In 1775, the American Revolution began as fighting broke out in Lexington, MA. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:00:37 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/EvsaE/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. What's Your Mindset? A notable work place issue that has become more relevant in the new normal of constant change relates to people's ability to quickly adapt. Leaders need to be effective role models of this skill, and unfortunately, often that is the problem. Many mid- and senior-level managers learn management skills in the context of doing things a certain way, according to specific processes and procedures. Constant change, of course, can shake up that foundation. What worked yesterday may not work today, and you may not have the luxury of time to develop a new system. You need to act now. But I've always done it this way becomes the kiss of death in these situations. Leaders need to be more agile in how they manage under different circumstances. Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset - The New Psychology of Success, researched how people deal with failure. She identified two mindsets: one is a fixed mindset, where people believe that their talents are finite. This creates a need to continually prove what you know, and rarely do you venture out of your comfort zone. The growth mindset, on the other hand, is based on the concept that you can change and grow through your experiences. You become more creative and open to trying new ways. It might not seem intuitive, but you can develop the skill to adapt more nimbly. Although you may fail from time to time, those failures become great teachers as you learn to grow through your experiences. Now, before this makes you nervous, keep in mind that everyone has elements of both mindsets. A good goal is to become more aware of when you're functioning in the fixed mindset (we've always done it this way) and start to shift to the growth mindset (let's see what happens if we do it this way). Before you know it, your efforts of trying new ways will reinforce your new behavior. Please feel free to email me any questions or comments, and I'll follow up in a future issue. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #159, April 12, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. - Margaret Atwood April 12th Trivia Today is Support Teen Literature Day where librarians nationwide will celebrate the growing genre of teen literature. On this Day in History In 1877, a catcher's mask was used in a baseball game for the first time by James Alexander Tyng. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:00:24 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/GzYUA/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Welcome to this week's issue of Executive Insight. Customer Lifetime Value I have a friend who returned a pair of shoes to Nordstrom because the back of the shoes irritated her heels and tore her stockings. Although the shoes had been worn only a couple of times, the salesperson accepted the shoes and gave a full refund, no questions asked. He also added a voucher for 6 pairs of panty hose. My friend has always bought shoes from Nordstrom ever since. Now, contrast this to the more common scenario that goes something like this: we can't take them back because you wore them. End of story. Companies that think beyond short term profits understand the concept of the lifetime value of a customer, client, or patient. They understand that investing in client retention usually prolongs the amount of time that your customers will purchase from you. Even though it's easy to forget about or ignore lifetime value during difficult economic times when sales and profits may have suffered, it's important to include this in your marketing mix. Think about what you can do to delight your clients. What additional value can you add that will place you ahead of your competition? Returning to our Nordstrom example, it's a safe bet that my friend has purchased more than shoes in the years that have passed. Not only has her life expectancy as a customer extended, but the average purchase has increased in value. Of course, it's important to acquire new clients. But you also need to keep the ones you have and expand what they do with you. Think about how you can invest in client retention to become the Nordstrom of your industry. Have a great week ahead, and all best for the holidays. Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #158, April 5, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain. T.S. Eliot April 5th Trivia Today is National Raisin and Spice Bar Day. Click through for some recipes! On this Day in History In 1621, the Mayflower returned to England, sailing from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:00:26 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/HwQ4A/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! Mental Retrofitting I'll bet that you love dealing with technology changes.... Even if you're a techie, you have to admit that many people wrestle with these changes, especially how to get up to speed with new procedures and processes. Leaders and workers at all levels struggle with this. Of course, most employers provide some sort of training to ease the pain during software upgrades or technology transitions. More often than not, though, this training provides only the foundation. Then it's up to the worker to learn on the job. I had this experience recently with something as innocuous as getting a new BlackBerry. I learned the basics, but within a couple of days, I ran into obstacles. In one case, I accidentally locked the keyboard and didn't know how to unlock it! But that's not even the problem. The real challenge is that many of our co-workers aren't keeping up. Yes, they receive the training, and yes, they do their jobs, but their minds need to be retrofitted. How many of your people are so mired in the past that their attitudes are keeping them from advancing into the future? Several of my clients deal with this issue regularly. In spite of enthusiastic and patient leadership, some of their workers resist the new ways and long for the old days. They are so terrified to go out of their comfort zone, that at some point they become liabilities. Now, I know you won't admit it, but I'll ask anyway. Are you doing the same thing? If your mind is locked in the past, you need to mentally retrofit or not only will you hold yourself back, but you'll slow down those who work for you, too. If you're comfortable keeping pace with technological changes, lend a hand or offer resources to those who are stuck. The pace of technological change is only going to get faster, so this skill of mental retrofitting is well worth honing. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #157, March 29, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March, that month of wind and taxes, the wind will presently disappear, the taxes last us all the year. - Odgen Nash March 29th Trivia Today begins Borrowed Days. According to folklore, the last three days of March are borrowed from April. On this Day in History In 1886, Coca-Cola was launched in Atlanta as an Esteemed Brain Tonic and Intellectual Beverage. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:00:29 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/pharos-ezine/DItmQ/h/Executive_Insight_Tip_of_the.htm Executive Insight Tip of the Week Hi ! A Burst of Spring Cleaning This week marks the beginning of spring. And it even feels like spring in New York. The weather has been so warm that we're enjoying flowers that normally wouldn't be in full bloom for another few weeks. With the season comes the annual ritual of spring cleaning. I don't know how many people actually go through this rite the way our grandmothers did, but the concept still resonates. It makes you think of fresh air, sparkling rooms, and a brand new start after the winter. Although I have absolutely no interest in spring cleaning my apartment, I do embrace the idea of metaphorically spring cleaning the workplace. It's time to pitch out the unused, unwanted, and unneeded to free up space, both actual and mental. If you've delayed making changes in systems or processes, spring cleaning gives you the excuse to toss out the old and introduce newer, more efficient ways of doing business. If you've been complaining about your job so much that you're even boring yourself, set up some informational interviews to explore new possibilities. If you've been dragging your heals about something that you're avoiding, either do it or delete it. (And, of course, you can clean out the clutter in and around your office. It can be a very disagreeable job, but I know you're up for the challenge!) Don't make professional spring cleaning into a big production; I know you have tons of other things on your endless to do list. But if you pick a few things and take some easy actions, you'll feel that you accomplished something. And, as a bonus, you may receive a welcome burst of energy. Have a great week! Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert Lisa Aldisert is the president of Pharos Alliance, Inc., a management consulting firm that works with organizations in the areas of strategy, business development, and organizational/leadership development. Give us a call at 212-332-3242 to see how we can help you create strategies that make sense for your organization, and result in increased revenue and profitability. Issue #156, March 22, 2012 ISSN 1947-2889 Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality. Quote of the Day It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! - Mark Twain March 22nd Trivia Today is World Water Day, which brings attention to issues of global safe water and sanitation. On this Day in History In 1457 the Gutenberg Bible became the first printed book. Want to stay connected to your clients? Create greeting cards online - with your own handwriting! - that are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed with the click of a mouse. Think a colleague or friend might be interested in subscribing? Feel free to forward this message, or send them to sign up here. You are receiving this message because on , you subscribed for our e-zine on our website. If you'd like to cancel your subscription, or need to change your information, please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Links Pharos Alliance Website Lisa's LinkedIn Page Lisa's Blog Executive Insight Archive Unsubscribe Resources Add Us To Your Address Book To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add our address to your address book or contacts list. Have Any Questions? Feel free to hit the reply button to any of the messages you receive. Have A Topic Idea? We'd love to hear it! Just reply any time and let us know what topics you'd like to know more about. You are subscribed as Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:00:27 -0400