“My gut tells me…”
“I have this gut feeling…”
“Trust your gut…”
(All these sound sort of gross when used out of context, don’t they??)
Exactly when should senior leaders “trust their gut” when making decisions??
First, gut instincts are simply visceral descriptors for “judgment,” which is clearly a function of senior leadership. Solid facts may trump judgment/gut instinct, but full information, e.g., “facts,” aren’t often available.
The Wall Street Journal posted an article asking “Are we working smarter, or just harder?”
I say, “What’s the difference??”
Now before some productivity, process, or efficiency yahoo jumps all over that and rails against me for advocating “harder” as equal to “smarter,” let me explain…
We simply don’t work hard enough today. Many of us (self included) seek immediate ways to minimize effort; we use technology, delegation, process improvement, yadda yadda…
Management has been around a while, to be sure.
In fact, I’m quite fond of saying that “Management theories, principles, and concepts haven’t changed much since Moses.” I stand by that. Applications may have been modified, to allow for changing demographics, stilted legislation, excessive competition, etc. But the basics? Nope, no real change in a couple thousand years…
Throughout modern years, there always seems to be a movement afoot to “professionalize” management; to make it a “legitimate profession,” like you do specialty fields such as medicine law, and accounting.
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I love pithy quotes that people regularly share.
A frequently quoted proverb from Zig Ziglar on setting goals and time management:
“A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”
Now, if you subscribe to “SMART” goal methodology, which many of you do, then you already know that goals have an infinitely better chance of being successfully accomplished if they are Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely.
Yeah, yeah… we know that already…
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So, I travel a lot, as many of you do…
The TSA folks aren’t my favorite people, obviously, but I do understand they are merely the object of my ire and not the cause if it; and they have a job to do, that I sincerely hope they do well.
But seriously… look at this picture. It’s a sign posted at the Elite check-in line at Houston’s Intercontinental airport. If you are having trouble reading it, here’s what it says:
“Thank you for your patience as we carry out security procedures designed for your safety and required by law.
Our Transportation Security Officers also have rights. To protect their safety, threats, verbal abuse, or violence of any kind will not be tolerated.
Please give our officers the respect they deserve.
“Your safety is our priority.”
Really?? (more…)
Manufacturing — and I include process industries like chemical, refining, and some distribution — is the backbone of this country. If I’m exaggerating with that statement, it’s only by a small margin.
We can see clearly how Manufacturing really does matter – it’s a real source of strategic advantage for the United States.
In my mind, there are three reasons for this:
1. We build it here. I hate to sound trite, but it does matter when things are “made in the U.S.A.” Now, let’s not get carried away – that can’t be the foundation of manufacturing value in the U.S. (“buy American” is a crock statement, in my opinion; trite and defensive, it’s designed to shame rather than promote), but it certainly does have an impact, particularly today.
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