Published Articles

The following are excerpts of published articles that were written by EXXEL. The full articles may be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat file format. A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader is available from the Adobe Web site. Individual copies of these articles are available from EXXEL. Feedback is welcome.

Align Purpose and Practice Through the 3 C's of Partnership
Partnerships are relationships that thrive on effective communication, collaboration, and commitment... the 3 C's. The business world demands quality, speed, flexibility, performance, and profits. Customers and clients have limited or no patience. Employees have limited or no loyalty. In this environment, even if you have a great product or service today, there is no such thing as steady state. Use the 3 C's to help assure your future success.

Communication In Times Of Uncertainty And Rapid Change
What's moving faster than the speed of light? Just a hint: It isn't Superman! Companies and their employees are coping with more and more in real time. E-mail and faxes have replaced letters and telephone tag. Mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances and partnering have left most employees wondering who's on first.

Empowerment
Empowerment is an overused word and an underused process. It does not come from a wand you wave over your firm, or from a memo you write. It cannot result from the systems, and command and control structures that exist in many organizations. Empowerment doesn’t happen because you wish it to be so. But, management can help employees understand they have the power to affect results.

Humor Is Good For The Bottom Line
When humor is part of your culture, employees approach work with enthusiasm. And, enthusiasm tends to encourage spontaneous encounters and synergistic solutions. When people are relaxed, they are more creative, more tuned into problem solving, brainstorming and innovative thinking. And, that makes humor good for the bottom line!

Is Coaching Another Fad?
High quality executive coaching can add significant far-reaching value to an organization. And, creating a coaching culture can have even broader, positive results on business success. First and foremost, a coaching culture is intent on creating an organization of adults, not on perpetuating paternalistic relationships or the old command and control model of managing that existed for years.

Losing Control... Is Bad For Business
Today some technology, and other firms, practice a handsoff style regarding the management of people. These companies are run in a seemingly laissez-faire manner (e.g., casual dress, open space office design, toys and playthings around, no bureaucracy), and believe that is the reason for their current success. Owners and founders neither look nor act differently than any other person. They view themselves as employees just like everyone else. They balk at assuming any elements of authority. They hesitate to assert themselves. They refuse to lead. Why? Because they interpret these behaviors as control, and view control in negative terms, as bad for business.

Management Style
Managers should develop and nurture an environment that is nimble and light on its feet, embraces new thinking, is open to learning, has a broad perspective on the world, and is a good place to work. No small feat, but it is the culture that will best succeed in the future. Whichever management style you identify with, know that it has important implications for your company... today and tomorrow.

Objectivity: A Powerful Tool For Growth
The more senior you are in an organization, the less honest, the less frequent is the feedback you get on your own performance. You need to have some resources in your professional life that challenge your view of yourself, your behavior, and your interpretation of “facts”. Even if you are achieving all your goals, beware complacency. If you are not growing, changing, maturing, or goaded in ways that are helping you develop, you are at best standing still and at worse, failing to keep pace with rising standards of excellence.

Personal Characteristics For Success
Nine personal characteristics: adaptability, creativity, commitment, communication, decisiveness, future orientation, independence, judgment and teamwork are essential attributes for individual success and leadership. How do the leaders in your organization measure up?

Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is the critical evaluation of an activity, process, or program performed by the individual or organization accountable for the work. Self-assessment capability is an essential element of quality organizations and is a basic expectation for well-managed businesses. For companies in trouble, all too often one finds that self-assessment and corrective action were not effective.

Strategic Use Of People Management Programs
Too often, companies spend precious resources… time and money… creating and implementing new programs for employees that are not linked to their business needs and goals. They develop systems and practices in a vacuum. There is little or no connection to corporate objectives. What’s the result? At worst the program fails; at best it’s a missed opportunity.

Stress Test For The New Millennium
Reduction in force (RIF), downsizing, rightsizing, strategic restructuring, reengineering, reorganization... whatever organizational change is called at your company, few firms in corporate America haven’t experienced one. Many have had several. At first, most of these changes and employee termination programs were intended to be cost cutting measures. Increasingly, they became strategic in nature. That is, while eliminating some individuals and positions, other specialties or disciplines selectively grew. While employers dealt with the structural aspects of termination, often there was limited focus on the human side of the organization. Strengthening the managers responsible for terminating employees is one of the keys to passing this corporate stress test.

The Big Picture
Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, says that some times the big picture is hidden in the details. At a point in history where many business leaders are concerned about retention of employees, focusing on the big picture and the details are critically important.

Tuning In To The Outside
Whatever means you employ, ask the necessary questions that will give you suggestions on how to improve. Listen to your customers... before it’s too late.

Using Consultants: A How-To
Not all consultants are equal. There are ways to help ensure effective use of consultants in your organization. Here are some practical tips.

Using Control… For Effective Results
When managers capture the hearts and minds of employees, they are more likely to stay for a while! One of the repeated themes in articles about retaining staff is that people are motivated less by money than most of us assume. Instead, challenging work, getting recognition for their efforts and achievements, alongside great co-workers, excites them. Also, important is freedom from the unnecessary scrutiny of intrusive bosses.

© 2011 EXXEL, Inc.