MBA Geek

A great post on Seth Godin’s blog reminds us of the importance of Strategic Thinking when looking at your plans. Seth comments about how easy it is to get lost in focusing on tactical moves, while moving away from (or not having articulated) their strategic intentions.

It’s the old adage of missing the wood for the trees, tactical decision are more tangible than strategic intentions and thus more seductive. It’s also easier to measure tactical actions, thus giving the impression that more is being done. But strategy is what needs to drive these tactical actions. Without a cohesive strategy that has been conceived to move the organisation forward, there’s a massive risk of drifting away from the true course the company should be heading down. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling plasma mounts out of your garage or directing a multinational organisation; if you haven’t articulated your goals and are not using them to drive your actions, you’re heading nowhere fast.

Have you considered using Twitter for your business? If it’s something you’re thinking about, you should check out Chris Brogan‘s post entitled 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business. It’s a distillation of his thoughts and ideas and provides a summary on what to expect and anticipate if you decide to go down this route. Here are some of the more poignant ideas:

• Talk to people about THEIR interests, too. I know this doesn’t sell more widgets, but it shows us you’re human.
• Tweet about other people’s stuff. Again, doesn’t directly impact your business, but makes us feel like you’re not “that guy.”
• You don’t have to read every tweet
• Twitter gives businesses a glimpse at what status messaging can do for an organization. Remember presence in the 1990s?
• Twitter gives your critics a forum, but that means you can study them.

As you can imagine, there are more of these down at the actual post (45 more actually), and they provide some great discussion pointers if you’re organisation is looking to move into this space. It doesn’t matter if you’re working in Government, promoting a Medicare supplement or just running a single-person business, understanding the medium you’re trying to use if paramount and if you don’t do this, you’re running the danger of just wasting your time.

So head down to the blog and read: 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business

It’s been said time and again that communication is the root of a successful relationship and that certainly applies for the business world too. It’s imperative to maintain contact with your clients, colleagues and even prospectives. It’s cheap to do nowadays, especially with technologies like VOIP and Skype; but it’s also important to keep in touch in multiple ways. For example, sending cards at Christmas is a great way to remind your clients about your services.

Again, this doesn’t have to cost the earth. You can get your greeting cards online for a fraction of the cost it used to cost in the past; and you can also get them on recycled card, if the environment is a concern of yours. In the meantime, it’s a way to ensure you’re always in touch with your clients and they always know who you are.

I came across a great article the other day called So, You want to be an Entrepreneur. It raises the question of what sort of person you need to be to be a successful entrepreneur. Given that a number of people are being made redundant based on the current climate, it’s only natural for people to apply themselves to the possibility that they may be able to set out on their own. But there are a number of questions that one should pose to oneself before going down that path. If it’s something you’ve ever considered, have a look at these questions:

• Are you willing and able to bear great financial risk?
• Are you willing to sacrifice your lifestyle for potentially many years?
• Is your significant other on board?
• Do you like all aspects of running a business?
• Are you comfortable making decisions on the fly with no playbook?
• What’s your track record of executing your ideas?
• How persuasive and well-spoken are you?
• Do you have a concept you’re passionate about?
• Are you a self-starter?
• Do you have a business partner?

There are some interesting questions there and a good way to focus your brain on the task at hand. The great thing about them is that they can be applied to any business, from a consulting firm specialising in high-end IT systems, to a web enterpreneur selling magformers on eBay; from reselling holidays at extended stay hotels to setting up a network of nannies across the country.

So, are you ready to take it on? What would your answers be?

Do you have a good grasp of what has caused the current economic crisis? If you haven’t here’s a great video to watch:

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

It’s an excellent video called The Crisis of Credit Visualized produced by Jonathan Jarvis as his thesis for his Media Design course. The graphic instruments used are great, but I particularly like it because it explains the current problems we have succinctly and elegantly. So if you don’t know a derivative from one of these industrial clamps, check it out, as it will help shed some light.

I was reading an article in Computer Weekly by Robina Chatham where she talks about the rise .. and fall (!) of IT representation on company boards. It talks about some research she has done into the subject and also includes a set of key messages which I wanted to share with my readers. Here’s what she recommends:

• Sort out your service and project delivery. Recruit first-rate people beneath you who are team players; then delegate and let go
• Nurture and reward talent. Exercise consideration, compassion and sensitivity in your dealings with people and hence engender trust and loyalty
• Win friends and influence people; build relationships upwards, downwards and sideways. Build trust and respect; generate goodwill and take the opportunity to learn from this diverse network
• Develop your business knowledge and political acumen. Learn the art of influencing, make yourself useful and get noticed. Be passionate and inspirational.
• Take an interest in the wider world. Have an opinion and contribution to make in relation to every item on the board agenda and demonstrate original “out of the box” thinking
• Do now wait to be told what to do; take the initiative and be prepared to make “bold” decisions based on your heart and your gut instinct. Have the courage to challenge authority and accepted wisdom. Remember, it is better to ask for forgiveness than to seek permission.
• Ultimately, become one of the new generation of chief transformation officers who have the ability to give their organisation a competitive edge and to become role models who help others follow in their footsteps.

There’s some great advice there, which would apply to anyone I think. Regardless of whether you’re the IT manager in a small firm of Seattle injury lawyers or an IT executive in a large multinational organisation, focusing on your softer side and having a wider view than just the IT department will hold you in good stead for your future.

photo credit: lumaxart