so your vision is never lost.
LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS
In this week’s video blog our expert guide, Don Hadley, builds on a previous blog regarding increasing an organization’s capabilities. In some organizations the learning and skill development tends to be limited to the higher level employees, management and owners. This can be due to limited finances for training and development or organizational culture or even the higher level employees not knowing or wanting for one reason or another to spend the time to develop their employees’ knowledge and […]
Life is like interval training: we all need time to reflect and then time to act. Time to reflect. Time to act… It is exceptionally disappointing to see how so many people over think and do not act. Thinking is not necessarily reflecting. Reflecting without acting is day dreaming. It is also exceptionally disappointing to see people act before they reflect. Acting without reflection can do much damage. Acting without reflecting is chaos. Quote from William Blake: “He who desires […]
Manufacturing is challenging because it requires large investment in hard assets. The skills of the workforce and periodic shortages of materials make it even more complex. In order to survive and succeed, many manufacturing organizations are transitioning to more of a marketing and sales mindset and are using innovation of product and/or process to differentiate themselves. Out of necessity, they are also becoming more efficient partners in the supply chain. In almost 30 years of working with manufacturers, we see […]
At Applied Vision Works, we work with many types of organizations (public, non-profit, government, educational institutions, manufacturing, etc.) We are finding that we are working more and more with “family” businesses. Below are some interesting things about family business according to a report published by the University of Vermont: There are 5.5 million family businesses in the US. Contribute 57% of the U.S. GDP (that’s $8.3 trillion) Employ 63% of the workforce Create 78% of all new jobs 35% of […]
In this week’s video blog our expert guide, Don Hadley, talks about what happens when the leader or business owner gets “off track”, or inadvertently sends the wrong message. This can happen for several reasons. Sometimes is that the owners’ perceptions are that they are being direct and honest and sharing with the team. However, the team interprets this as the leader or owner not having confidence in the work they are doing, success of the organization, etc. So what […]
One of the deepest parts of our work is tying why a business owner owns a business to their personal purpose in life. In our 2nd book, “The Challenge of Meaning”, we show how that impacts the business day-to-day. A client for 25 years started his business because his previous boss threw the phone through a wall while chasing an employee down a hallway when he lost his temper. This client quit and went off to start his very successful […]
In the movie, “Facing The Giants”, one of the potential leaders of the football team is very negative. The coach challenges him to carry one of the team members on his back. They “negotiate” he can carry him 30 yards. The coach says, “Ok, but I want you to do it blindfolded…” Without being able to see his progress, the player with the coach encouraging him, actually ends up carrying his teammate the full length of the field, more than […]
In this week’s video blog our expert guide, Don Hadley, discusses the importance of using the correct tools at the proper time. Many organizations are buying tools (programs, lectures, concepts) without knowing how to actually use them in the practical world. Tools are designed to enhance processes and procedures and make work easier or simpler – for the right reason. Are you clear on what needs to be achieved and if your tools are helping? Do you need additional tools […]
In this week’s video blog our expert guide, Don Hadley, discusses the idea of what do you need to learn versus what do we already know. Many business leaders know a great deal about their industry, business, leadership, etc. They read books and attend classes on a regular basis to keep up with integral aspects of business and family – to continue the “mind feed”. What we as leaders sometimes fail to do is stop and evaluate what we already […]