"...out-learning the competition"
HEADLINES:
Need Examples for Next Fortune Column -- the next column focuses exclusively on US firms -- see below, but first...
Next Online Topgrading (and Rockefeller Habits) Classes -- planning to hire someone in 2014? Want to be confident you made the right decision? Topgrading is the hiring methodology that provides 90%+ confidence (I just used, this morning, the four killer questions they suggest in a screening interview - powerful). The next Master Practitioner Certification online class (all from the comfort of your office or home) starts Feb 13. Another Mastering the Rockefeller Habits course launching as well.
Great Holiday Read -- just finished Henry Buskin's biography on late night television host Johnny Carson - a great read! Buskin was Carson's lawyer, close friend, business partner, and self-described consigliore. Truth is stranger than fiction as Buskin gives you an insider's perspective of the personal and professional life of one of the greatest entertainers of all time - and you'll pick up some great business insights along the way - Carson amassed a wealth of $450 million. A perfect gift.
David and Goliath -- this is the title of Malcolm Gladwell's latest bestseller. If you're looking for a 25 minute synopsis (play in the background while doing email) listen to this Wharton interview of Gladwell led by Adam Grant, the #1 (and youngest) full professor at Wharton and author of the wildly successful book Give and Take (and opening keynote at the Leadership Summit). You might recall Gladwell considers Grant one of the top researchers in the field of human psychology so it's an insightful interview. Thanks to David Niu, founder of TINYhr for pointing me to this interview.
Keep The Team Focused -- looking to nudge people into a daily huddle? My latest Fortune article touches on the importance of this daily ritual. BTW, the #1 reason daily huddles fail? People are sharing generalities instead of specifics. You want to hear people's names, contact amounts, numbers of projects, etc. Anyway, if the daily huddle isn't working give us a call and we'll have one of our coaching partners dial in and give it a tune-up.
Canada's Smartest Company -- kudos to Nurse Next Door (NND), which PROFIT Magazine named Canada's Smartest Company. A major reason they were awarded this distinction is because of their focus on being a learning organization (NND's team are regulars at the Fortune Summits). Notes the magazine:
| NND's commitment to constantly looking for and attempting to fix its inevitable shortcomings -- or, as company managers like to say, "find a better way" -- makes it PROFIT's choice for Canada's Smartest Company this year. The organization never stops listening and learning. It tracks metrics relentlessly. The company has sent managers all the way to Japan to study the principles of efficient business operations. It has taken a leaf out of Dell's book with an employee-driven troubleshooting program called Fess Up and Fix It. NND's self-examining and self-correcting corporate culture enables it to thrive in a constantly changing world -- and to grow. |
Take 3 minutes to read the entire article for additional management best practices, helping make NND one of the fastest growing franchises in North America.
Need US Company Examples for Fortune Column -- Companies that make their goods in America have found it tough to keep their competitive edge in the recent past. But now global market conditions are changing and some US companies are finding ways to turn their location to their advantage, beyond advertising that their goods are "Made in America." Have you broken into overseas markets where American goods and services are in demand? Why and How? Have you figured out ways to run your operations in the US so efficiently that you can compete with factories in markets where labor costs are lower? I am looking for examples for my next Fortune column where being a US company has proved to be an advantage in selling in international markets. Please include your company name, the city where you're located, annual revenues (Fortune requires this), approximate number of employees and what strategy you're using to be competitive.