Alan See
Six keys to building a culture of learning
Only small amounts of the learning people do in their jobs takes place in a classroom. In fact, the 70/20/10 Learning and Development Model based on research by Michael Lombardo and Robert Eichinger for the Center for Creative Leadership suggests the following...
Are you developing future leaders?
Former Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams' keen ability to watch a baseball and react with a precise and powerful swing led him to the Hall of Fame. But he had a difficult time trying to pass on that skill. When he retired as...
Are you mentoring the next in line?
In a fast changing business environment do "I remember when" or "when I was your age" stories have value? My twenty something year old children listen to my stories - sometimes. My twenty something year old direct reports listen. Of course...
If the customer is not “engaged” has marketing failed?
Research shows that we tend to remember: • 10% of what we read • 20% of what we hear • 30% of what we see • 50% of what we hear and see • 70% of what we say • 90% of what we both…
Three Keys to Talent Development
Peter Gibbons (employee): The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy; it's that I just don't care. Bob Porter (consultant): Don't...don't care? Peter Gibbons: It's a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships...
Marketing Mindsets
Beloit College recently released their Mindset List for the class of 2015. This year's list contains 75 items that provide a look at the cultural touchstones that have shaped the lives of this fall's entering class. Most of this year's freshmen were...
How’s your Twitter curb appeal?
Think about what first attracted you to your home. Your initial impression as you pulled up and viewed the unique landscape and exterior architecture. Realtor's call it "curb appeal." First impressions are important, as we all remember this warning: "You never...
Personal Clout vs. Company Clout
Somewhere in America, a business leader is standing in front of an audience prepared to use the phrase "Our most important asset is our people." Do you think they really mean it? What about other key assets, for example: 1. Real estate 2. Rights to…
Automated Direct Messages on Twitter
Imagine two people entering a crowded room. The first person bursts in and announces: "Here I am!" The second person walks in, looks you in the eye and says: "There you are!" Which person feels like they are engaging you at…
Building an Innovative Organization
Bell Telephone developed the first automatic switchboard in 1910 after projections indicated that by 1925 every adult woman in America would be needed to staff the manual switchboards that were in place. Do you think the new innovative automatic system was an immediate hit with...
Does anyone still really use the book?
I recently read "The Phone Book / The Curious History of the Book That Everyone Uses But No One Reads" by Ammon Shea. It was an interesting and fun read. Did you know that early phone books included detailed directions on how to use...
Give it to me in plain English
"Give it to me in plain English." My children are grown now; but when they were teenagers I can still remember a few conversations that started with that phrase. As a parent, I just wanted a straight explanation. Come to think of...
Your Fanatical Support Is Making Me Uncomfortable
Maybe it's just me and my Midwestern roots. But when you come at me full forces with "fanatical support" speak I feel a bit uncomfortable. Should I tell you my true feelings when you end our conversation with this question? "Have I...
The Chief Marketing Officer Social Media Alert System
It's springtime and that means my weather alert radio will soon be broadcasting storm warnings: "The National Doppler Radar System has indicated that local conditions are right to produce severe weather. High winds, damaging hail, and flash floods are likely products of this storm....
Engaging Consumers with Local Search to Promote and Persuade
Historically, consumers have relied on local media channels such as, print Yellow Pages, newspapers, TV and radio stations to find products and services close to their home and work. Consumers are now increasingly using specialized internet search sites that allow users to submit geographically...
8 Steps for Building Customer Bonds
It's Army vs. Navy this weekend. It's an annual football game between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. A national championship is not on the line; but pride and inter-service bragging rights are always at stake. ...
Will social media encourage the CMO to adopt a COO mindset?
The role of the Chief Operating Officer differs from industry to industry and from organization to organization. In most cases the COO is responsible for the daily operations of the company. Many COO's have worked their way through the company holding different...
Is marketing turbo-boiling your sales prospects?
I have a new electric stove with turbo-boil. The manufacturer calls this feature "America's fastest speed-to-boil" element. In fact, it heats liquids in a snap. Are you currently feeling pressure from your sales organization to use the turbo-boil feature? You know, turn up the...
Using Metastrategy to Amplify Your Media Performance
The prefix meta- is used to mean about its own category. For example, under the umbrella of business intelligence you often hear the term "metadata" which means data concerning data. For purposes of this short post, "metastrategy" could be described as an...
What’s your marketing strategy when your product becomes the target?
Military Recruitment Challenges November 11th is Veterans Day in the United States. It's a day set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. My son is a veteran. He served in the 4th Brigade...