Category Archives: Strategic Planning

Values Redefined

Human Relations, Strategic Planning
Until now, I have defined the term value to mean a constraint in the Problem-Vision-Mission-Strategy planning framework. In that framework, values are boundaries that limit your possible strategies and actions. For example, a value might be, “We will not break any laws” or “We will do no harm.”

However, when developing a personal mission statement, you can define value to mean “Something I hold valuable”, implying that you strive for that condition. They become your personal vision and mission. Continue reading Values Redefined →

Asking Questions – A Fundamental Leadership Skill

General Management, Grant Applications, Strategic Planning,
A common view of leadership involves an omniscient guru sitting at the top of a mountain, dispensing answers to the questions brought by admiring supplicants.

However, many leaders view their function to be asking questions instead of dispensing answers. Continue reading Asking Questions – A Fundamental Leadership Skill →

Faro Card Game

Overcoming the Self-Bias Error

General Management, Strategic Planning,

All of us have a strong tendency to evaluate our decisions in the way that is most favorable and least damaging to ourselves, based on the outcome.

My favorable outcome proves my wisdom and skill.
My unfavorable outcome is just bad luck.

However, when we evaluate other’s decisions and their results we say:

Their favorable outcome is just good luck
Their unfavorable outcome shows a lack of wisdom and skill.

Continue reading Overcoming the Self-Bias Error →

How to Hold Mindful Conversations – Part 2

General Management, Strategic Planning, ,

In our last post, we discussed three ways to structure conversations, even everyday ad hoc conversations, to achieve your objectives. Every conversation is an opportunity to build relationships, to coordinate activities, to plan for the future, to sell your ideas, to get ideas, or to recap the past.

Today, we add another structured conversation, with a specific focus strategic planning

Continue reading How to Hold Mindful Conversations – Part 2 →

How to Hold Mindful Conversations – Part 1

General Management, Human Relations, Strategic Planning, ,

Mindfulness is an important buzzword these days. Basically, Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

We each hold dozens of conversations, mostly mindless conversations, every day. These are wasted opportunities to build relationships or coordinate activities or to plan for the future or recap the past. It is possible to focus a conversation so that it has a meaningful result by using some simple techniques. It is possible to plan your conversations. And after a smidgeon of practice, you can apply these techniques with little or no effort. Continue reading How to Hold Mindful Conversations – Part 1 →