Innovative Express

"Improving effectiveness by making the complex simple and making the simple work!"

July 2006

In this issue:

New Innovative Website
Getting It Done!
Personally Speaking...

Welcome to our inaugural issue of Innovative Express, focusing on improving organizational and individual effectiveness.

I think you will find Innovative Express to be a practical, monthly tool with which to enhance your performance. The current issue focuses on execution or "getting it done." Future issues will include:

Avoiding the trap of becoming a "narcissistic" leader (August)
Tips on combining strategy formulation and implementation (September)
How to get inside your clients' heads? (October)
Increasing employee engagement and commitment---not just compliance (November)
How to write winning self-appraisals (December)
The art and science of consultative selling (January)

Inspired to agree, disagree, or otherwise comment? We hope that you will let us know your thoughts.

Wishing you a productive and successful month ahead---both personally and professionally.

Abhay Padgaonkar
President, Innovative Solutions Consulting, LLC

New Innovative Website

If you're reading this online, you probably know I have a new website.

After many years of experience and many months of design work, I have unveiled a brand new Innovative Solutions website! It exemplifies the spirit my consulting clients have already experienced: My intense desire to "improve effectiveness by making the complex simple and making the simple work."

The website also encapsulates my thoughts in different areas. I have been fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to achieve significant results in these areas on behalf of my wonderful clients. Most importantly, the website articulates my unique approach, substantiates proven results, and presents testimonials from many important and repeat clients.

Getting It Done!

It's hard to believe that half the year is already gone. Projects you may have started, planned, or budgeted at the beginning of the year must be in full swing. I hope that they are coming in on time and on budget while delivering the promised improvements. However, we all know that projects many times have a mind of their own! As John Steinbeck once said, "The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." But getting things done sounds so simple, doesn’t it? After all, don’t we all do things every day? Then why is it that there is such a high failure rate when it comes to project execution?

In their book Execution, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan describe one of the fundamental problems as this: “People think of execution as the tactical side of the business, something leaders delegate while they focus on the perceived, 'bigger' issues. This idea is completely wrong. Execution is not just tactics---it is a discipline and a system. It has to be built into a company’s strategy, its goals, and its culture. And the leader of the organization must be deeply engaged in it. He cannot delegate its substance.”

It has become fashionable among executives to delegate the substance of execution almost to the point of abdication. Ken Chenault, Chairman and CEO of American Express warned against this last year: "Today, people are focused on IQ, but executional quotient, EQ, is equally important. If a person has a match of IQ and EQ, he or she has an incredible personal commitment and can be an incredible force."

Clearly, a solid business case behind any project is essential. But that, in and of itself, hardly guarantees success. Do you want to increase your own "EQ" by learning about the common elements of successful execution and three simple steps to follow? (Hint: It doesn't really matter if you are an executive or a project manager! Why else would Tiger Woods still bother to practice golf?)

Here's my article "Getting It Done" that was featured in several online publications recently.

Personally Speaking...

Recently, I had custom drapes installed in my living/dining room. I discovered that one of the strings was frayed and called to have it replaced. Two gentlemen showed up---one the installer and another older, well-dressed gentleman (I would guess 70?) who looked like the management type. I wondered to myself why a straightforward job needed two people.

I asked if something could be done to make the drape go farther since it wasn't fully covering the window. I was fully expecting them to say that nothing could be done since the curtain rod was already butted against the wall and that is the farthest the drape could go.

To my surprise, the older gentleman said, "Oh, that's not a problem at all. We will have to cut the rod a little so the drape can go closer to the end." He proceeded to show the installer exactly how to do it.After realizing that the installer didn't have a regular file, he even took out a nail-cutter from his pocket and smoothed out the rough edges!

I was quite struck by his willingness to go the extra mile. I immediately complimented him on his resourcefulness. He modestly replied, "I have been doing this for 35 years. I guess I have learned a few tricks along the way." I told him that so many other people have one year of experience 35 times! He laughed and agreed.

I tried to use that as an example to reinforce to my teenage son the importance of lifelong learning and how one never stops being a student. He just rolled his eyes! However, when I asked him what made the gentleman do what he did, he replied, "Because he cared!"

I think he got it! I guess there is hope for us parents after all.

Disclaimer: "This written advice is absolutely intended to be used, and if used under expert supervision is known to improve organizational and individual effectiveness substantially."