Weekly Download 15.12
Posted: July 13, 2015 Filed under: Weekly Download Leave a comment
Here’s a recap of news and notes from around the Web that caught my attention over the past week or so.
If you have $20,000 to spare, how about a new stereo console? What is old is new again, albeit with a much higher price tag.
Remember Clippy? I didn’t think people were still talking about this annoying little thing that cluttered up our screen. But alas, they are.
Paper isn’t dead yet. I like paper (and pens, of course). I even worked in the paper business for a short time. Despite all our technology, we still consume lots of paper, thanks to niche markets that are keeping the industry afloat.
Weekly Download 15.11
Posted: July 7, 2015 Filed under: Weekly Download Leave a comment
Here’s a recap of news and notes from around the Web that caught my attention over the past week or so.
The Science of Why We Talk Too Much (and How to Shut Up) provides a helpful framework to recognize when you’ve gone on too long. Following the green, yellow, red rule is a good place to start monitoring yourself.
I always felt that my education was somewhat lacking in soft skill, people-related coursework. 7 truths about the mind you missed in psychology class was really good and helped catch me up.
No burying the lead in Fast Company’s How email became the most reviled communication experience ever. Don Norman, the interaction design expert and author of The Design of Everyday Things, explains, “The problem is in trying to make email do everything when it’s not particularly good at anything.” I’m sensing that I’ll be writing more about the downside of email in the near future.
Expert or Adviser?
Posted: June 29, 2015 Filed under: Leadership Leave a commentAre you an expert? An adviser? Both? Experts have deep technical expertise, high expectations, and consistent performance. The job is to be precise and right. They take on the work and get it done to expectations and beyond. Think surgeon, financial investor, aerospace engineer, etc.
An adviser may have many of the same characteristics, but the primary focus is to be helpful. They provide input and guidance. They may assist in a decision-making process without taking control or responsibility. They often point out multiple options and the pros and cons of each. Think coach, instructor, family counselor.
There is nothing wrong with either role. Sometimes we might need both, or one might be more appropriate than the other for a given situation. Personal health care is a good example. Do I need a surgical or medical intervention, which would require an expert? Or am I considering changing behavior to become healthier, thereby needing an adviser for guidance and support?
As a leader, what’s important is to recognize when you need to be in an expert role versus and adviser role. If you approach a situation that warrants an expert and you have your adviser hat on, you may be perceived as indecisive and perhaps lacking in competence. However, if you act as an expert when an adviser is needed, you may come across as too authoritative and not empathetic. Matching the role to the need on a situation-by-situation basis will increase your effectiveness.
ZMAB15 