Wednesday, July 30, 2008

University of Dayton Emerging Leader Program

This fall I will begin a 12 month executive education program to brush up on my skills. Since I completed my MBA just about 1 yr ago, I find I really missed that intellectual stimulation. I'm hoping this upcoming program will be be a chance to look at things in a fresh, new way.

The program is called the University of Dayton Emerging Leader Program and it covers lots of ground. Some of the topics are:

Leading Change
Marketing
Strategic Business Development
Coaching
Leadership
Management communication

I'm really looking forward to it since I earned my marketing degree at Dayton some years ago. As the program kicks off, I'll be posting my experiences and comments about it. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Help Those Who Help Themselves?

I am continually confounded by people who think someone "owes" them something ( a career path, a new job, a chance at some project or something). This strikes me as terribly 1970's union thinking.

These days it is all about value.

Value creation - New products, new markets, new customers, new sales, new people, etc.

OR

Value savings - Cost savings thru six sigma, downsizings, product rationalization efforts, streamlining business proceedures and so on.

So it seems to me that if you can work on either of these two paths, you begin to make yourself more valuable to your employer ( and to any group you associate yourself with). There are plenty of opportunities to do this - most people just don't seem to be able to take that first ( or more critical -2nd ) step.

Perhaps instead of people thinking about "participating" but rather "leading" efforts in these areas then they can rise above the herd. Everyone loves a problem solver. Even if it is a small problem.

Which brings me back to my original train of thought...If someone is willing to stretch themselves, take continuing education classes, go beyond their job description or function, offers to lead projects- THAT is the person I want.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Blue Sky Budget or Negotiated Settlement?

Well it is that time again, budgeting starts for the next year and I was reminded of an article that I read that described budgets as one of two approaches.

1. Blue Sky - Reaching for the stars here - what could you do if you had no boundaries?

OR

2. Negotiated Settlement - The boss wants 25% and you want 10% so you settle on 15%.

The problem with both of these is neither one seems entirely rooted in reality. If you set a blue sky budget and then the organization can't ( or won't) deliver the amunition to fight the battle ( new products, more people, technical or marketing resources) then it ends up being an empty shell of a number that there is no reasonable chance to hit.

But if you choose the negotiated settlement route, you are accused of sandbagging or possibly underperforming ( or worse - just plain lazy).

Both are problematic at best but perhaps the solution lies halfway in between both approaches? I'm working on ones now and I have to dream big but also temper that with what is achievable ( will I have the resources?) against the backdrop of the market.

Time will tell.