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Author name: Rob Wood

How to Define a Decision-Making Problem

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at defining problems for better decision-making, Elon Musk’s management “algorithm”, leadership in the AI era, managing your own ego, simple rules for balancing autonomy and collaboration in a complex world and, for fun, some new words. Enjoy!

How to Define a Decision-Making Problem
Elon Musk’s Management Algorithm
Leading the AI Expedition
How to Counter Your Egotistical Behaviour
The List: Simple Rules to Manage Complexity
New Words in the Language
Reading: Good Charts
Reading: Necessary Endings

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Five Tests for a Purpose Statement

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at clarity of organizational purpose, types of motivation, how to communicate bad news, power words for marketing success, characteristics of effective executives and necessary endings. Enjoy!

Five Tests for a Purpose Statement
An Overlooked Form of Motivation
Communicate Bad News with 4Rs
Two Words for Marketing Success
Zingers: • Moving-Average Culture
The List: What Makes an Executive Effective
Deal with Necessary Endings
Reading: Right Kind of Wrong
Reading: How We Got to Now (Six Innovations that Made the Modern World)

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Vol-23_No-13_Sept-11-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at helping others to achieve their potential, some enduring and recycled management tools, tips on delivering negative feedback, goofing off, principles of continual improvement (Kaizen), and crisis communications. Enjoy!

When an Employee Doesn’t Meet Potential
Management Tools: Recycled and Enduring
How Best to Deliver Negative Feedback
Make Room for Skylarking
The List: 10 Principles of Kaizen
Seven Assessments for Communications in a Conflict
Reading: The Manager’s Handbook
Reading: How to Change

Vol-23_No-13_Sept-11-2023 Read More »

Vol-23_No-12_Aug-21-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we consider unique aspects of thinking strategically, what the worst bosses do, marketing with email signatures, advance interview questions, ethical boundaries, and a communications checklist for pre-testing your message. Enjoy!

What’s Different About Thinking Strategically?
Dealing with Ethics in the Workplace
Three Things the Worst Bosses Do
Email Signature Essentials
The List: Use Interview Questions in Advance
A Communications Checklist for Your Message
Reading — The Experience Mindset
Reading — Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

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Vol-23_No-11_July-31-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at different aspects of using AI tools (and where to start), how to stop a habit of being late, why we should write things down, and some tips on why partnering strategies fail. Enjoy!

Where to Start with AI
Rethink Idea Generation in an AI World
Tips to Stop Being Late
Why Write This Down
Where AI Writing Is Weak
Why Partnering Strategies Fail
Reading – The Perfection Trap
Reading – Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

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Vol-23_No-10_July-10-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at six types of generative AI, common pitfalls for strategy, the habit of overpreparing, defining content fundamentals, navigating succession in family businesses, and finding flow in a world of overwhelm. Enjoy!

Understanding Six Types of Generative AI
Define Your Content Fundamentals
Curbing Tendencies to Overprepare
Strategies for Family Business Succession
The List: Six Strategic Pitfalls to Avoid
Finding Flow in a World of Overwhelm
Reading: Power to the Middle
Reading: Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand

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Vol-23_No-09_June-19-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler we consider ways to benefit from disagreements, give references, nurture client referrals, organize your summer reading, prepare as a first-time manager, and design strategies better than “best practices”. Enjoy!

Ways to Gain from Disagreement
How to Give a Reference
Four Categories for Your Summer Reading
How to Attract More Referrals
The List: Tips for First-Time Managers
A Strategy Better than Best Practice
Reading: Generation Why
Reading: Ego is the Enemy

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Vol-23_No-08_May-29-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler  we step up “the ladder of responsibility” for decision-making, put employee complaints in categories, pose questions to ask before hiring someone you know socially, offer tips for marketing, reading and dealing with turnover, and counsel you to consider context. Enjoy!

The Ladder of Responsibility for Choices
Handling Four Types of Employee Complaints
Make Someone Happy
A Tip to Counter Team Turnover
The List: Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Friend
Consider the Context
Reading: Grow Your Spine and Manage Abrasive Leadership Behaviour
Reading: Rules for Radicals

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Vol-23_No-07_May-08-2023

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In this 8020Info Water Cooler  we look at ways to develop leaders, team communications, asking questions during change projects, funding frameworks, safety for workplace productivity and pitfalls for strategy implementation. Enjoy!

Leadership Development that Works
How Great Teams Communicate
Initiate Change through Questions
A Practical Step to Improve Workplace Safety
The List: 10 Funding Models
Barriers to Strategy Implementation
Reading: The Anxious Achiever
Reading: Mastery

Vol-23_No-07_May-08-2023 Read More »

Vol-23_No-06_Apr-17-2023

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In this edition we look at eight elements of strategic success, getting feedback, things you can’t teach people, standing up for what’s right, benchmarking, board recruitment and what we’re reading. Enjoy!

Eight Elements of Strategic Success
How Leaders Can Encourage Feedback
Two Things You Can’t Teach People
The Power of Benchmarking
The List: 10 Ways to Stand Up for What’s Right
Cultivating and Recruiting a Great Board
Reading: Real-Time Leadership
Reading: Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity & Become Extraordinary.

Vol-23_No-06_Apr-17-2023 Read More »

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