Vision. Mission statements.  Strategic frameworks. 

These phrases leave me cold and clueless.  Does anyone really know what they are?  And more importantly, do they make a difference?

“Vision without action is a dream” said management guru Joel Barker.  With this in mind, I’ve crafted a short “management for the rest of us” guide to how to create a vision and make it a reality.

“Never, Never, Never Give Up”

said Winston Churchill, UK prime minister, after heavy Blitz bombing in World War II.  We know in our bones that perseverance, persistence and determination are solid character strengths.  But when the pressure is on, why do some dig deep and others buckle under the strain?  Here’s my take on why sheer bloody mindedness is a useful trait.

Management Buzzwords – useful code or hot air?

This month I’d like you to tell me what works and what winds you up in everyday business speak this tiny 2 question survey.  I’m curious to find out what management buzzwords you think are okay to use and what is utter nonsense. Let me know…

Chatter, chatter, chatter…

Thanks again for taking the time to fill in the “Talk, talk” survey.  In short, we like to talk …and write!

• 95% of you use email and land phone-lines.
• About 60%  use conference calls, mobile phones and real world meetings
• Half of you use company intranets.
• Social networking, blogs and Twitter are least common, with less than 1 in 10 using these at work.

And we’d like to get better at…

• A third want to get better at video conferencing.
• Check out this new mftrou article “7 top video conference tips”.
• A quarter want to improve their emails and phone conversations.
• About 20% want to get more from social networking, blogs and Twitter at work.
• ….so check out www.commoncraft.com for outstanding 3 minute explanation videos using plain English and a light-hearted presentation style.

Warm Regards
Lyndsay

PS If you participate in the survey I’ll let you in on the results next month :o)

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1. Vision without action is a dream: 4 simple steps to achieve a paradigm shift in your work
Joel Barker encouraged business leaders to have vision, to claim the future for their own. And work hard to secure that future, and make it a reality. Here in 4 simple steps, you can affect your own paradigm shift at work.

2. Learn how to video conference: 8 web video conferencing tips
Learn how to video conference with these 8 web video conferencing tips to turn you from novice to natural in no time. I regularly use web video conferencing to keep in touch with people for both work and home life, and here are my 8 best tips.

3. Never Give Up: Perseverance, Persistence and Determination at Work
“Never, Never, Never Give Up” said Winston Churchill, UK prime minister, after heavy Blitz bombing in World War II. We know in our bones that perseverance, persistence and determination are solid character strengths. But when the pressure is on, why do some dig deep and others buckle under the strain?