When everything is urgent, use the value exchange to find the true priority
We exchange value every day without thinking about it. The key to unlocking the power of the value exchange is understanding the value of your time and engaging with intention. For many, value is elusive and they use it as an excuse to avoid exploring if they are giving or ... Read More
How to turn a lack of understanding into recognized value
What does it mean to deliver value? I recently heard a business leader put it bluntly, “if you don’t complete the work you planned in 90 days, you delivered no value.” I don’t agree. The same leader then asserted that completing your planned work within the quarter means “you delivered ... Read More
How to keep up with the industry news and changes when overwhelmed
How do you keep up with all the nonstop news and changes in the industry? This question comes up at office hours from time to time. When we’re overwhelmed, struggling to see our value, and trying to find time to invest in ourselves, there is seemingly no time to keep ... Read More
Who determines your value?
Do you recognize your value? A leader recently shared the disconnect experienced between the words “good job,” and the mismatched actions when the just-praised plan got shot down. When actions outweigh the words, people struggle to see their value. Why do we struggle to see our value? A while back, ... Read More
What to do if your project gets stalled
Have you noticed that things often appear simple until we realize they aren’t? We see this happen a lot with projects that seem simple at the outset. Then we get into the details and our experience doesn’t match our expectation. We suddenly realize the gnarly complexity of the situation. It ... Read More
If you want to deliver value faster, you need more time to think
“I’m suffering death by meeting right now, so I do the work on nights and weekends.” That’s how a leader explained when they get their work done. It’s a common refrain. Maybe it matches your experience. When do you do your best work? Set aside giving up your nights and ... Read More
How to build a good business case quickly, even if you aren’t the expert
On Tuesday, you get asked to produce a business case by Friday for a topic you aren’t the expert on. Sound familiar? I got asked how I’d approach that situation yesterday afternoon and tackled it with the same sort of constraints — four hours this morning to prepare, draft, revise, ... Read More
Why are we meeting again?
Is it me, or does it seem like we have more meetings now than before the pandemic? Despite acknowledging ‘zoom fatigue,’ I find my calendar chock full of meetings. Today I have seven meetings (totaling 8 hours) and only 3 of them have established structure or an agenda. The other ... Read More
Understand the difference between motion and action to drive progress
Ever heard someone suggest action is the cure for suffering? On its face, the concept makes sense, because when people suffer, they get stuck. Sometimes, when people are stuck, they get into what’s called analysis paralysis. Overwhelmed with options (or a lack of options), nothing happens, and the suffering continues ... Read More
The Key to Solving Hard, Complex Problems
Not having a problem to solve is a problem. That’s because we need hard, complex problems to solve to fuel our growth, contribution, and earn recognition. The reward for getting better at solving problems is getting harder, more complex problem to solve. These gnarly, pervasive problems hold the potential for ... Read More
