Tag: J. Mike Smith

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[Coaching] 2 Ways to Increase Your Effectiveness: Two Sides, Same Coin

The challenge for most of us is to do more with less: less time, fewer resources, and do it more efficiency and effectively. Sounds like a tall order but grabbing a moment to pause, think, and then act will frequently help you do all three.

Pulling rabbits out of hats?

Nope. Just performance basics that any successful executive, or a parent with more than two kids will tell you: figuring out how to sequence work so you pick up some efficiencies or batching things to time of day to optimize how effectively you work with them.… Read the rest

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[Coaching Tips] Good Luck or Bad Fortune?

In his book Zen Shorts, author Jon J Muth introduces us to a wise Panda named Stillwater who has both wisdom and the patience to impart it on three young children who live next door.

Muth, who has also written some other really special books geared toward children such as Zen Ties, The Three Questions, and I Will Hold You ’till You Go to Sleep tells the tale in Zen Shorts of The Farmer’s Luck:

There was once an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years.… Read the rest

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[True Stories] Facts – and Fiction – of the Effective Use of Virtual Teams

Virtual teams continue to be popular but the reality is that not all virtual teams are created equal – nor are many even “teams.” The news from recent research is hardly comforting; “1 in 3 executives believe virtual teams are badly managed.”

The post below, first published as a white paper by Dr. M. J. “Jo” Whitehouse and me in late 2007 is based on our direct experience with several start-ups in the challenging biotech drug development world, provides a clear roadmap to the steps to take – as well as the steps to avoid – in using the potential and leverage of virtual teams effectively.… Read the rest