collaboration
July 2019
Go Ahead and Leverage Your Network
A pithy and seemingly superficial greeting accompanied by a request from a long-lost business associate arrived in my inbox. You know the type: “Hi … it’s been a while … can you direct me to copious leads for my services?” I’m paraphrasing, but that was the nub. I enjoy the role of bridging those in my network with bountiful opportunities, and gaining from the reciprocal benefits. But, in the case of this peer, her past...
Many years ago, I served on focus groups evaluating everything from knee braces and showerheads to ice cream and pasta sauce. It was clear during introductions that we each represented a different consumer. No surprise, we produced a wide range of responses. Sometimes the room remained divided; other instances, a consensus formed as we collectively considered all factors. I thought of those sessions when reading about the latest PR debacle at Google. The search giant...
My friend Carol works as part of a sales team of four … well, now three, since her coworker, Jack, was recently fired. Carol tells me Jack was, on average, moderately successful in his role. Some months, Jack pulled in skyrocketing revenue, giving management hope of greatness in his abilities. But in other months his numbers were flat. Mostly I heard “here’s another Jack story for you” from a very miffed (and sometimes amused) Carol...
Ever since a friend brought it to my attention, I’ve noticed I misuse the word perfect frequently, at least in speech. I say it when I find a mutual time to talk with someone. When I sign off on instructions. When I’m offered fresh fruit in lieu of bacon for brunch. The one place I rarely use it: my own work product. Perfect should not be the goal “Perfect” may be my current catch phrase,...
The days when working remotely were technologically challenging are long gone. Whether you consider it a disruption or an advancement, the new order is enabling collaboration between remote teams facilitated through a multitude of innovations in mobile technology, online networks and project management tools—resulting in redefined workplaces. A report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, that focused on how CIOs can contribute to business performance, concluded that the most effective way to support productivity through mobile...
March 2018
Let’s Agree to Disagree
I’m a fan of the sci-fi anthology Black Mirror on Netflix—a show sometimes described as a modern Twilight Zone rife with biting social commentary. In one season opener, social media standings have replaced credit scores and as a result, everyone is overly polite in public. Spoiler alert: In the end, through witnessing one woman’s swift fall, we discover that one of the few places where people with pent-up anger are openly honest is jail. I’ve seen that same imprisonment by politeness at...
October 2017
How to Collaborate on Content Projects
“We have an interesting cover story on cyber threats to critical infrastructure. Our writer interviewed multiple sources. We’ve covered this topic in the past, so let’s put a different spin on this article,” said the editor-in-chief of a popular magazine on information security. Getting Started To arrive at this point, the author of the article completed extensive research, interviewed industry experts, wrote the article and submitted it to the editor-in-chief. (At this juncture, sometimes articles...