Profound Knowledge

We all are on a quest for knowledge. Whether its information that will make our lives easier or just small packets of data that in a trivial way allows us to sort out "why things are the way they are on this planet." As intelligent beings we are constantly receiving and sorting information, in most instances, we are overwhelmed. Therefore, when relevant information arrives that is meaningful, concise and thought provoking, we have a tendency to reflect on this data for the principles and guidance that it offers. Here are seven insights that are worthy of the title Profound Knowledge.

1. LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Respect is essential for effective leadership. Lack of respect will require a leader to work twice as hard to realize their objectives. Furthermore, leaders can't be successful as disconnected individuals, no matter how great their individual expertise or potential is. To be an effective leader, you must have the support and respect of those you lead.

2. PARADIGMS: BREAKING THE MOLD

Paradigms are sets of rules and regs that establish the boundaries of what is currently believed to be possible within a given field. Therefore, our perceptions of reality, based on our paradigms, dramatically effect our business decisions. Likewise, we try to make future decisions by basing them on our current paradigms. Case in point, in 1968 Swiss watch makers had over 60% of the world's marketshare. By 1978, their dominance shrank to a mere 10%. What happened? The current paradigm had shifted and a new paradigm was born... It was the Swiss that first developed the quartz watch however they did nothing to protect their ideas and freely displayed the new quartz at world watch conferences. Seiko quickly capitalized on this new method of watch design and significantly enhanced their marketshare to become a world leader.

3. THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM VISION: THE PELICAN BRIEF

The pelican catches fish by flying high over their unsuspecting victims then diving at a high rate of speed into the water to forcefully overcome their prey. Although a successful method, this process eventually leads to their demise. You see, diving from high altitudes damages their eyes and slowly breaks down other vital functions that allow for their success. Eventually, the pelican goes blind and is unable to fish at all.

4. WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING

Businesses have used word of mouth marketing for years. In the case of the liquor industry, it was not uncommon to have paid agents visit trendy bars, order the brand of choice (normally an unknown import) and strike up conversations with both barkeeps and customers in order to establish or talk up a cool image. In many cases it worked!

5. SUCCESS

Studies by Harvard, Stanford and the Carnegie Foundation suggest that success on the job depends 85 percent on people skills and only 15 percent on technical knowledge.

6. ORGANIZATIONS AND GEESE

Geese fly in a V-formation where each bird must take a turn at fighting the wind and being the leader. Each must know the common destination and choose the right course and speed. At any given moment each bird must be capable of leading all the others.

7. CREATIVITY

Creativity does not come from inspiration. Creativity comes from knowledge.

About The Author

Discover more Profound Knowledge by visiting the Focused Impact Media Group at http://www.focusedimpact.com

(c) 2000, 2003. Focused Impact Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

In The News:

---

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT: What Brokers Should Know Before They Go
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
( Kristen McNamara writes Practice Management, a column that looks at ways financial advisers can build and improve their business. ...

MedaSorb Technologies Corporation Announces Management Changes
CNNMoney.com - 4 hours ago
These statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. ...

Reuters
Lehman Private-Equity Arm Gains New Investment
Wall Street Journal - 23 hours ago
The business has $4.5 billion under management, and holds stakes in more than a dozen portfolio companies including a Spanish railcar manufacturer to a US ...
Lehman Deal Spins Off Part of Private Equity Unit Into Independent ... New York Times
Lehman deal on private equity close Reuters
Lehman Said to Be in Talks to Sell Fund to Managers, Reinet Bloomberg
FINalternatives - RTT Newsall 95 news articles

HE-5 Resources, Corp. Announces Reorganizational Changes Are ...
CNNMoney.com - 8 hours ago
New Management stated the following: "We are very pleased to begin our new operations and to share our visions and exclusive development program whit HE-5 ...

Calamos Asset Management cuts 12% of workforce
Chicago Tribune, United States - 1 hour ago
It had $23.8 billion in assets under management as of November, down from $46.2 billion in December 2007. The job cuts were made companywide, except for the ...
Calamos Asset Management Cuts 12% Of Its Workforce - Quick Facts RTT News
Calamos Asset Management, Inc. Reduces Staff as Part of Expense ... Stockhouse
all 11 news articles

United Press International
Management Consulting in the Government?
Newsweek - Jan 8, 2009
In the world of management consulting, high-powered and often expensive contractors infiltrate all levels of a company to determine how it can run more ...
Chief Performance Officer: Nancy Killefer TIME
Obama Appoints Government Performance Officer Washington Post
Obama's performance czar has tried to improve IRS The Associated Press
CFO.com Magazine - GovExec.comall 486 news articles

Amazon’s New Management Console Treads Lightly
GigaOm, CA - 4 hours ago
Today, Amazon ( s AMZN) Web Services announced a management console that illustrates how carefully Amazon is playing its role as a platform provider. ...
Amazon Web Services Launches Management Console CMSWire
Amazon Web Services releases web-based EC2 console CNET News
Amazon EC2 launches Web-based management console Examiner.com
ReadWriteWeb - PC Worldall 29 news articles

Peregrine management drops buyout plan, shares fall
Reuters - 10 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 9 (Reuters) - South African wealth and asset management firm Peregrine Holdings Limited (PGRJ.J) said on Friday a management buyout plan ...

University of California regents may freeze management pay
Bizjournals.com, NC - 6 hours ago
A pay freeze for senior management of the University of California system will be considered by the UC Board of Regents during a Jan. 14 teleconference. ...

JPMorgan Asset Management's Bull SA Stake Falls To 1.72%
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
PARIS -(Dow Jones)- JPMorgan Asset Management's stake in French IT company Bull SA (BULL.FR) has fallen through the 5% threshold to 1.72%, according to a ...

management - Google News

Steps to Build ISO 9001 Compliant Program

Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However, all of that effort can represent a significant shift for a business - from quantity to quality.... Read More

Solve Problems Permanently - Ask WHY

As Albert Einstein said:-"The significant problems we face today, cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."Problems don't go... Read More

A Winning Way to Handle New Ideas

Janet DiClaudio, who was charge of medical records at two large American hospitals, had an unusual problem. But, the past master in finding creative solutions to work... Read More

Is Your Employee Newsletter Management Propaganda?

It should not be. If it is an effective newsletter, it will serve the needs of readers (employees) as much as it serves the needs of the... Read More

Selecting A Collection Agency

If you run a business, you are sure to have some customers who require a lot of follow-up before they pay you. Often you spend too much... Read More

Your Appraisal System Can Be Better ? Overcome These Nine Serious Failings

This article is directed at senior managers. As a senior colleague you have the authority to make tremendous improvements. You can have maximum effect in improving your... Read More

Identifying Candidates for Leadership

A critical task in the succession planning process of any organization is identifying candidates. Traditionally, candidates have been identified based on past performance. While this seems logical,... Read More

50 Great Ways to Motivate and Not Break the Bank

Quick, Easy, and Even Fun! 1. Smile, say "Hi! How are you doing today?"2. Regularly invite someone to join you for coffee.3. Send them flowers, chocolate, a... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Work Processes

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this... Read More

The Punitive Approach to Marginal Performers

MANAGING A MARGINAL PERFORMER: Often a marginal performer, even after therapeutic counseling, may not understand that his or her work is seen as substandard. The manager will... Read More

5 Steps to Identify Core Processes

Part Two of Creating Well-Defined Processes SeriesNext Week: ImplementationLast week, we raised the question: how do you know where to begin? How can you identify a gap... Read More

I Am Not A Number - Why Too Many Change Projects Fail

Many of you will recognise this quote from the 1960s TV show, "The Prisoner". Patrick McGoohan used the phrase to describe his frustration at not being treated... Read More

Setting a Pitiful Example: Twenty-six Warnings to Heed *

TO: All Parents [and Employers and Managers]From: Your Child and/or EmployeeDate: The present timeRe: Don't Spoil me; Teach Me1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the role of Creativity and Innovation Manager is often not viewed as essential. Organizations without such a role... Read More

5 Ways of Increasing Business Profits

The economy may finally be turning around and showing signs of a rebound. Interest rates have begun to rise and the stock market is recovering from the... Read More

Innovation Management: Radical Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: The Responsibility for Job Security

This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. This competency evaluates how your employees view their job security within your organization.... Read More

Satisfied Employees, A Powerful Marketing Strategy

Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies who are doing extraordinarily well. Why is it that some companies are thriving while others are barely... Read More

Three Professional Services Resolutions for 2005

With client expectations higher than ever before, and the gradual industry recovery ahead, consulting firms will need to focus more than ever on carefully identifying and serving... Read More

Profits and Business Success - 5 Profit Traps to Watch Out For

The old saying 'You have to spend money to make money' can be a dangerous one. Every business has it's costs, but not every business owner takes... Read More

A Sense of Humor in the Workplace ... Is it Me? Or, was that not funny?

When I was first initiated into Corporate America, I had a sense of humor that went unmatched by any mortal soul. I was quick-witted, smart, sharp, and... Read More

The Top Three Problems IT Managers Face and How to Overcome Them

Todays business environment has changed drastically from just a few years back. Rather than working exclusively with equipment, data, and systems, todays IT managers face issues such... Read More

Reducing the High Cost of Absenteeism

Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than they may realize, in terms of both financial and production losses and employee morale. Managers may view... Read More

The Role of the Machine Metaphor in Mixed-initiative Organizational Leadership

"Can This Marriage be Saved?" So reads the title of the cover story in the August 15, 2005 issue of BusinessWeek (www.businessweek.com). The article describes the seven-year... Read More

The Measurement of Manager Training

THE MEASUREMENT OF TRAINING: Evaluation is one of the most valuable - and challenging - aspects of a training manager's job. A well-planned and on-target evaluation process... Read More

Employee Motivation: It?s More Than A Paycheck

Managers often ask, usually with exasperation, "How can I keep my employees motivated? I pay them decently. What else is there?"Offering competitive salaries is certainly important. But... Read More