Innovative Express
"Improving effectiveness by making the complex simple and making the simple work!"
August 2006
In this issue:
The response to July's issue of Innovative Express was very positive and encouraging:
"Great newsletter. Thanks for sharing."
"Nice work on these things Abhay. I like the approach and find value in what you have to offer."
"Abhay, you brought a smile to my face! Congratulations on entering a new stage with your company. I wish you well. The newsletter was well done, interesting and informative. Thank you for thinking of me."
In case you missed reading it, you can still find Getting It Done on the on my site...
I know your time is valuable and we are all overwhelmed with reading material. But I think you will find Innovative Express to be a practical, monthly tool with which to enhance your performance. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." In keeping with this thought, I will do my best to provide simplicity on the "other" side of complexity that we all face.
The current issue focuses on avoiding the trap of becoming a "narcissistic" leader by "looking in the mirror." Future issues will include:
- 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
Listing in "Yearbook of Experts" Online
I have been listed in the "America's Favorite Newsroom Resource in print, on the web and via LexisNexis since 1984." This is a directory of self-styled experts on a variety of subjects. The aim of the site is to connect experts with journalists seeking authoritative information on news stories. I am told that reporters are not calling because understandably they are preoccupied with the crisis in the Middle East. In the meantime, you can view my profile and areas of expertise:
View Abhay's profile on yearbook.com...
Looking in the Mirror!
The dictionary defines "narcissistic" as excessive love or admiration of oneself or a psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem. In his book "The Productive Narcissist," Michael Maccoby argues that today's most innovative leaders are productive narcissists with strategic intelligence skills---defined as foresight, systems thinking, visioning, motivating, and partnering.
Maccoby redefines the productive narcissist as the personality type best suited in times of rapid social and economic change. At the same time, he makes clear that narcissists lacking in strategic intelligence are fated to crash and burn. While extraordinarily useful for effective leadership, Maccoby shows that narcissism also has a distinct downside when narcissists harbor the illusion that only circumstances or enemies block their success.
I examined the same issue recently: Even leaders who articulate a compelling vision, inspire followers, and display passion and courage to take on great challenges can have unproductive traits that limit their effectiveness. This popular article titled "Looking in the Mirror" was featured in several online publications including, HR.Com, The CEO Refresher, The Sideroad, and Themanager.org.
Here's my article "Looking in the Mirror" that shows why charity must begin at home and how...
Personally Speaking...
It had been bugging me for months! There were always leaves at the bottom of my pool (yes, EVERYONE in Arizona has a pool). The leaves just weren't getting picked up by the in-floor cleaning system. And they were virtually impossible to pick up with the net despite a 20-foot pole.
Figuring that there was something wrong with the in-floor cleaning system, I scheduled a pool guy to come and take a look. Bill was actually early and offered me some free advice. He said that all I needed was a leaf-catcher that costs about $40 and left in a hurry.
I was excited. I thought I was looking at hundreds of dollars of repair. I went to a pool supply store nearby and asked to buy a leaf-catcher. The guy was very helpful. He helped me pick out all the things I needed: leaf-catcher, long hose, short hose, vacuum head, and adapter. He even explained how to connect and use them all. The bill, however, came to nearly $160!
I told him I needed to think about this since I wasn't planning to spend that much money. I went to another store where the manager asked me lots of questions about the pool---type of surface, cleaning system, etc. Then he recommended that all I needed was a vacuum head and a hose. He patiently explained what to hook up where and in which order. I was out of the store after paying $40! The best news is that the pool is sparkling clean again.
The episode reinforced for me what I learned in Consulting 101: "Do what clients mean, not what they say!"
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."
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."
© Abhay Padgaonkar 2007. All Rights Reserved.