Process ain’t sexy, but your business is in big trouble without it:

I like to share with you this article from Donald Cooper's Newsletter. Donald speaks internationally on management, marketing and innovations and is the champion of straight talking. Here is his take on the importance of process. If you want to know more about how Donald works you may like to visit www.donaldcooper.com

"Creativity and innovation are ‘hot topics’ right now. They’re all the rage, and

I applaud that. But, in the end, it’s boring, unsexy ‘process’ that actually gets

things done. Even ‘creativity’ is most often a process. Sometimes it’s just

dumb luck…but mostly not.

In fact, most successful companies have developed a disciplined ‘creative

process’ that delivers innovative products, more efficient operations,

consistent quality, employee safety and an amazing, perhaps even tailored,

customer experience.

'Process' is what keeps airplanes from falling out of the sky. It’s what makes

a Big Mac exactly the same in Montreal as it is in Moscow. Process is what

gets cars designed and made and gets a spacecraft launched and safely back

home. Process is what allows a hotel chain to know that you want a nonsmoking

room on a low floor, near the elevator, with a king size bed, foam

pillows and a USA Today at the door. Process is what gets priority luggage

onto the airport baggage carousel before all the other luggage. Okay, so

clearly that’s not the best example.

In fact, everything that happens between ‘intent’ and ’delivery’ is process. As

a business, you can have the greatest intentions in the world for your

customers and staff, for the environment and for your bottom line. But

without clear, effective and well-communicated processes, these wonderful

intentions will be just that…’intentions’.

To quote the late W. E. Deming, the internationally renowned authority on

quality and efficiency, "If you can't describe what you’re doing as a process,

you don't know what you’re doing."

So, exactly what is a process, anyway? Simply put, a process is…

1. An effectively communicated sequence of activities,

2. Supported by the necessary resources,

3. Designed to deliver a consistent, efficient and effective result,

4. To a specific standard.

OK, so it's not so simple. But that's what a process is...and there are no

shortcuts. Re-read the definition above and, while you're at it, rate your

business’ performance, on a scale of 1 to 10, on each of the four elements.

Then, using that info, determine what needs to be done to improve your

processes.

Emmanuel Kelly The X Factor 2011 Auditions Emmanuel Kelly FULL

Leading Without A Title - Robin Sharma

In many ways, the whole idea behind Leading Without a Title is the democratization of leadership. Yes, positions are important to the smooth running of any organization (whether that organization is a business or a community or a family). Having said that, the new model of leadership (leadership 2.0) is all about every single stakeholder showing leadership in the work they do. This is really all about distributed leadership. Every single person who works within a business, for example, owns the responsibility of showing leadership at their craft. Every single teammate is the CEO of their own small business unit called their job.

Tactic #1: If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others. We have no business leading others into greatness if our own personal lives are a train-wreck. Being successful in the game of life precedes great leadership. Face whatever personal issues you’ve been avoiding head on and clean up on all fronts.

Tactic #2: Never make anyone feel as if there isn’t room in the life boat. No matter the mistake, no matter what mile a person is at on their road to mastery, always be ready and willing to throw a life line – lend a hand, offer insight, donate your time, run out for coffee. The winners understand that strengthening capacity at every level, in every person, is the way to win.

Tactic #3: Watch Invictus. Clint Eastwood’s excellent and entertaining reminder of great leadership. Morgan Freeman performs as Nelson Mandela. The film, teaches us how to eloquently execute astonishing acts of forgiveness, compassion and moving upward when circumstances and people hold the potential to yank you into victimhood.

Tactic #4: Stay Strong “secure your oxygen mask first before assisting others.” Do you know where your oxygen comes from? Routine challenging exercise, healthy eating habits, sleeping deeply, and doing what makes me feel alive and excited is my oxygen. It’s what keeps me strong.

Refuse the lifestyle, the habits and the circumstances that weaken you. Great leaders don’t just own their full potential on the floor or in the field; they claim their potential in all domains of their life. You can’t be great in one arena and mediocre in another. Mistrust will sniff you out and turn you in. Make it an immediate goal to get connected with your oxygen supply.

Keep Leading Without A Title.

Do you want Peace or Drama?

I am just re-reading Eckhart Tolle's book "A new Earth" and each time I read it I am in awe of his clarity and profound wisdom. If you have read the book then you will know what I am talking about. If you have not read it yet then I encourage you to do so.  Here is a small excerpt from "A new Earth", something that I am sure most of you can relate to.

Do you want Peace or Drama?  

You want Peace. There is no one who does not want peace. Yet there is something else in you that wants the drama, wants conflict. You may not be able to feel it at this moment. You may have to wait for a situation or even just a thought that triggers a reaction in you: someone accusing you of this or that, not acknowledging you, encroaching on your territory, questioning the way you do things, an argument about money....Can you then feel the enormous surge of force moving through you, the fear, perhaps being masked by anger or hostility? Can you hear your own voice becoming harsh or shrill, or louder and a few octaves lower?

Can you be aware of your mind racing to defend it's position, justify, attack, blame? In other words, can you awaken in that moment of unconsciousness? Can you feel that there is something in you that is at war, something that feels threatened and wants to survive at all cost, that needs the DRAMA in order to assert its identity as the victorious character within the theatrical production?
Can you feel there is something in you that would rather be RIGHT than at PEACE?  

When the EGO is at war, know that it is no more than an illusion that is fighting to survive. That illusion thinks it is you. It is not easy at first to be there as the witnessing Presence, especially when the ego is in survival mode or some emotional pattern from the past has become activated, but once you have had a taste of  it, you will grow in Presence power, and the ego will lose its grip on you.

And so a power comes into life that is far greater than the ego, greater than the mind.
All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it, as awareness and ego are incompatible. 

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com