
I heard this back a few years ago. The boss yelled, "Get me a good lawyer but not the one with two hands!"
"Huh?" secretary was puzzled.
Boss continued "...I mean don't give me a lawyer that says 'on one hand, we should do....and this. On the other hand..we do..'".
It is not difficult to fathom what's good professional service (and bad service of course). Just switch roles.
When we as clients, walk out of the lawyers office why should we be feeling indecisive thinking "should I do this, or this, or this...." after hearing what the lawyer said. Or after our tax accountant's visit, we feel so indecisive listening to his advise about "..approach this manner....or taking this route.. or this option..".
Even at the office level, how often is it that staff comes out of the supervisor or manager's room after long discussion, and says "so what does he wants us to do?"
And so it is with everything else. Even in major consultancy projects, the consultant will leave volumes of the completed project papers, complete with executive summary, appendices, schedules, the whole works. If you've been a client of such consulting, have you got the feeling that (after going through the papers) "so what's the consultant asking us to do?".
Whether you're a staff subordinate, consultant, accountant, doctor and everything else, it is good to practise role playing. We see things more clearly.
For professional services, if you are the consultant, after considering, explainining the issues involved, options, etc - you should state clearly which is the option you would go for if you are in his shoes. Some call this "putting your money where your mouth is..." And I would strongly add "and OFFER TO TAKE YOUR CLIENT'S 'SEAT" and run or make it happen for him..." if your client is uncertain it would work. As a consultant I do not only tell you what I think you should do, I offer to do it for you for I am absolutely sure it works.
Again role playing is important and common sense - we're either consulting or receiving consulting advice. As a client in charge of the project, I would appreciate and respect the consultant who not only leaves the stacks of project papers on my table, but offers to help me run and make it happen anytime. He is soooo confident.
Don't we love a good doctor, manager, lawyer, accountant if they offer clear guidance and 'one hand' solution.
Afterall if we read carefully in between the lines, all professional firms have a disclaimer clause. We know they are giving their opinion only and never in the executive role.
James NK Khoo is the owner of Qwenkay Information http://www.qwenkay.com a company providing accounting and content management systems software support. He is also the publisher for Go Uncle Web http://www.gouncleweb.com, a practical online business and web oriented guide. James has been in the commercial and industrial sector for many years.
If you need solid practical advice with accounts/bookkeeping or a budgeted yet decent website, contact him at james@qwenkay.com
AP - Israel's government says it will press ahead with its military offensive in the Gaza Strip despite a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire.
AP - Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces almost certain impeachment by the Illinois House, a historic step that would trigger a trial to determine whether the Democratic governor should be tossed out of office.
AP - Lawmakers are under orders to finish action on President-elect Barack Obama's nearly $800 billion economic recovery plan by mid-February. But already it is plain that a set of serious fissures need to be bridged if the bill is to be completed within five weeks.
AP - Democrats are ushering in what they believe will be a new labor-friendly era in Washington with House votes on two bills aimed at helping women fight pay discrimination in the workplace.
AP - Trying to survive a deepening recession, employers are cutting their work forces to the bone, leaving more Americans unemployed and with dim prospects of finding a new job any time soon.
AP - Millions of tons of toxic coal ash is piling up in power plant ponds in 32 states, a practice the federal government has long recognized as a risk to human health and the environment but has left unregulated.
AP - President-elect Barack Obama is completing his national security team by announcing his unusual choices for CIA director and a national intelligence director who may face tough Senate confirmation questioning over how he confronted the Indonesian military when civilian massacres were occurring in East Timor.
AP - Just minutes after George W. Bush took the oath of office eight years ago, he signed papers formally nominating 13 Cabinet-level officials. Several hours later, the Senate, meeting in a special Saturday session, confirmed seven Cabinet secretaries, including the heads of the key posts at State, Treasury and Defense.
AP - Tim Tebow enjoyed the battering-ram runs. He liked the old-school jump pass. Drawing a rare penalty, that really made Tebow's day. With No. 1 Florida about to finish off No. 2 Oklahoma 24-14 for the BCS championship Thursday night, Tebow was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Reuters - Steep falls in European industrial output underlined the severity of the world economic crisis on Friday and more grim news was on the way with the United States expected to report the biggest monthly job cuts in more than 30 years.
Reuters - Israel pushed ahead with its two-week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday, defying a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Reuters - Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly said a deal to monitor gas exports via Ukraine would be signed on Friday, allowing for the resumption of supplies to Europe cut off by Moscow's price row with Kiev.
Reuters - Financial giant Citigroup Inc will support a proposal in Congress to rewrite U.S. bankruptcy law to help troubled mortgage borrowers avoid foreclosure, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said on Thursday.
Reuters - A legislative committee on Thursday recommended the impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, citing widespread abuse of power including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama's economic team is urgently overhauling the $700 billion financial rescue package to broaden its scope beyond Wall Street, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
Reuters - An analysis of proposals to overhaul U.S. health care by President-elect Barack Obama and members of Congress suggests it is possible to insure all Americans without significantly raising total health spending.
AFP - Israel and Hamas launched heavy air strikes and rocket attacks on each other Friday, ignoring a UN Security Council order on the warring rivals to end their conflict.
AFP - The European Union demanded Friday that Russian gas supplies to Europe resume immediately now that details of a mission to monitor the flow through Ukrainian pipelines have been agreed.
Are you trying to hire dozens of hourly workers or a senior... Read More
Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge. If you... Read More
Picture all the people you know who are dynamic, successful and self-confident.... Read More
Most of us have found ourselves working on a team at one... Read More
Does your organisation have one of those annual 'occasions' that few look... Read More
Do you ever need to find some good ideas, or come up... Read More
Did you know that an airplane in flight is off course nearly... Read More
I'm too busy; I'd love to but I'm very busy; I'll get... Read More
"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent,... Read More
What is the principal thing you need to succeed in your business... Read More
Recently, I attended a webinar with nearly 400 other Chief Learning Officers... Read More
Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to take on... Read More
Yesterday I look at my calendar and saw that my newsletter was... Read More
I've seen several articles that begin with lines like "the only constant... Read More
Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone is busy giving... Read More
There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity. This is... Read More
It's that time again! Perhaps the most dreaded management practice is the... Read More
My background is in retail management - yes, running stores, from tiny... Read More
This article relates to the Human Resource Functions competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More
IntroductionManagers have two powerful ways of improving the performance and productivity of... Read More
You, the Entrepreneur, are 'normally' a type-A individual. One who has little... Read More
At first blush, it would appear there is no shortage of Succession... Read More
I was watching a TV program some months ago about a biologist... Read More
Do you have more projects than time? Help might be as close... Read More
Have you ever worked with someone who always seemed to have the... Read More
Many concepts in the fields of managing creativity are very much applicable... Read More
The wellspring of confidence is belief. When you believe in something, you... Read More
In our fast paced work culture, manned by technology savvy generation in... Read More
The title implies that some people are and others not.This is a... Read More
People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on one hand... Read More
Does your company need to retain the services of a competent computer... Read More
Writing a Business Plan for your next entrepreneurial endeavor is crucial. You... Read More
Creativity measurement is often required in order to benchmark existing competencies, monitor... Read More
If you search on Google for "virtual assistant", you'll find a ton... Read More
Change is exhilarating. Change is terrifying. Change is badly needed around here.... Read More
THE MARGINAL PERFORMER: Every manager must, from time to time, deal with... Read More
Individual and corporate security stand in the center of the Sarbanes Oxley... Read More
Each year many people create a list of resolutions designed to help... Read More
Mistake #1: Going with the flowInexperienced interviewers sometimes fall into the trap... Read More
Many operations leaders have been there, done that with re-engineering. And they... Read More
Hiring someone new to work in your business is one of the... Read More
Step 1Get the proper level of Six Sigma expertise at the executive... Read More
I'm sure you've experienced those typical "headache" meetings! You know the kind... Read More
Solving a big problem is a project: you're far more likely to... Read More
Top leaders...Are Visionary Top leaders have a very clear understanding of where... Read More
Old style management doesn't encourage personal mind control, employees aren't encouraged to... Read More
There's a common phrase used by Organizational Development and Human Resource professionals,... Read More
This article is directed at senior managers. As a senior colleague you... Read More
Virtually any type of organizational change involves role transitions of some type.... Read More
Everyone wants to succeed in life. And no one starts a business... Read More
I don't encourage managers to wear funny hats, appear in self-deprecating skits,... Read More
Sometimes, I harbour a suspicion that Dante was a Financial Director. His... Read More
The candy box is a container for all your favourite chew bars,... Read More
If you sit at a computer for most of the day, it's... Read More
In his book, The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker pointed out that the... Read More
Every business must strive to provide quality products and services to customers.... Read More
Business IntelligenceBusiness Intelligence has become a very important activity in the business... Read More
Your organization's continued growth and success depend on making smart choices and... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation... Read More
If you are a department, division or subsidiary manager, your budget is... Read More
ACCOUNTING AND BILLINGCHECK BOOKSWe recommend that you maintain a business checking account... Read More
Many business owners are sabotaging their business without even realizing it. They... Read More
US Work Ethic Issues and Lack of serviceWell many of us... Read More
Individual and corporate security stand in the center of the Sarbanes Oxley... Read More
At some point, your business is going to need to have some... Read More
Today, companies have an ever-expanding list of options available to them when... Read More
INTRODUCTIONThe typical approach executive teams use to cascade, or roll out, their... Read More
The overriding goal of ISO-14000. (History 1995)As ISO-9000 becomes a way of... Read More
My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for the past... Read More
The story of the emperor's new clothes is a fairy tale about... Read More
I heard this back a few years ago. The boss yelled, "Get... Read More
I was talking with first-line supervisors in a utility company about how... Read More
Do you want to measure your workers' level of satisfaction? Or change... Read More
Child custody? How'd that get to be an employer's concern?When an employee... Read More
One of the most difficult tasks you will face as a business... Read More
So you did such a good job in 2003 at bringing in... Read More
Managers make three mistakes when they try to run businesses. They do... Read More
Picture yourself standing on the bank of a river watching a rowing... Read More
Globalization is requiring companies to make important choices about how to deploy... Read More
Did you know that maintenance accounts for 50% to 80% of the... Read More
This article relates to the human resource functions competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More
The CultBecoming a part of the Cult, consists of being recruited a... Read More
You may have the MBA but if an internal critic constantly berates... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation... Read More
Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However, all of... Read More
Old style management doesn't encourage personal mind control, employees aren't encouraged to... Read More
Before Gertrude Ederle began her historic swim off of Cape Griz-Nez, France,... Read More
Interest in the field of human resources has exploded in recent years... Read More
Janet DiClaudio, who was charge of medical records at two large American... Read More
Meetings ? they are a fact of our business lives. And while... Read More
Can a person's behavior and values really determine if they will be... Read More
Results of Poor Cross Cultural Awareness. Having a poor understanding of the... Read More
Researchers have undertaken numerous studies to look at the connection between customer... Read More
In these days of restricted head count and tight budgets, the question... Read More
Business Management Business Management |