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- Admit it -- it's weird to be in charge
Bosses who find themselves leading a team of their former peers should start by discussing the weirdness of the situation, Mike Figliuolo writes. Only by recognizing the elephant in the room will people be able to beat it into submission, Figliuolo writes. "Acknowledging discomfort is the only way to truly focus on it and make it go away," he adds. ThoughtLeaders blog
(1/21)      
- How to keep your company from resembling the New York Jets
The New York Jets' star quarterback, Mark Sanchez, has had a lousy year, but coaches will likely stick with him next season thanks to a contract that guarantees him an $8.25 million salary regardless of whether he plays. That's a sign of the sunk-costs fallacy, in which leaders fail to pull the plug on expensive missteps and instead throw good money after bad, writes James Surowiecki. The New Yorker (free content)
(1/21)
- Does Big Blue have a revenue problem?
IBM posted a strong 2013 earnings forecast this week, but the company's 2012 revenue was down 2%, suggesting the company is making more by selling less. That might mean Big Blue isn't innovating the way it used to, writes Ashlee Vance. "IBM's figures seem to match up better with a super-efficient retailer than a purveyor of technology," she argues. Bloomberg Businessweek
(1/22)
| Innovation and Creativity |
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- 4 ways innovators can better explain their ideas
Your most cherished innovations won't add up to much unless you can communicate them effectively to co-workers and customers, writes Stefan Lindegaard. The first step is to realize the need to communicate. "You need to see the bigger picture and go beyond your own small world," he writes. 15Inno.com (Denmark)
(1/21)
- Why GM needed to fall down before rediscovering innovation
Post-bailout General Motors is making exciting cars in a way it hasn't done for many years, writes Gregg Fraley. That's a sign of the ways in which hitting bottom can help companies focus on what really matters. "It's a sad truth that it often takes a drastic emergency to get an organization into more active innovation," Fraley writes. GreggFraley.com
(1/21)
| Engage. Innovate. Discuss. |
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- Where Oprah went wrong with her brand
Oprah Winfrey's brand has slumped since the media mogul ditched her network TV show to launch the OWN cable channel, Henna Inam writes. Things have started to pick up, though, since Winfrey went back to basics, using the channel to host book clubs and celebrity interviews. "Bottom line: Know your brand. Your authenticity is what creates connection -- and authenticity and connection never go out of style -- even if the world around us changes," Inam writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(1/22)
- Flaming fondue causes chaos in Norway
A truck carrying 27 metric tons of brown cheese burst into flames last week, and the resulting conflagration blocked a Norwegian traffic tunnel for nearly a week before firefighters were able to control the blaze. Brown cheese's "high concentration of fat and sugar is almost like petrol if it gets hot enough," said policeman Viggo Berg. Reuters
(1/22), BBC
(1/22)
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 | When executives think they're being patient, they're often just being obstinate."
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Recent SmartBrief on Leadership Issues:
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