It’s Not About the Nail – Empathy
My most challenging interactions play out a lot like this. I’m a fixer. I want to get in and fix it (or if I can’t, I want to figure out how to…
Satisficing – The “Good Enough” Approach
Satisficing – (verb) Pursuing the minimum acceptable results or outcome because that decision is familiar, hassle-free, and requires the least investigation. Herbert Simon first coined the term in 1956. The difference between…
Leaving Your Foot In – Adding More Than What’s Needed
The phrase “to leave your foot in” in soccer is analogous to behavior we sometimes see in software implementation. “To leave your foot in means to first go for the ball but continue after…
Why You Need a Side Hustle
Unable to find any work as a teacher or academic, Albert Einstein worked as a clerk at the Swiss Patent Office. He found the lack of intellectual challenge perfect for his side…
Implementation Parable – Starfish
If you are ever overwhelmed with the amount of work or the number of people coming your way and feel that you can’t help them all – I’m hoping the below Parable…
The Customer is Always Right
The Customer is Always Right. One of my Executives mentioned that to me the other day when I was speaking with them about an Irate Customer. The Customer is Always Right. That…
Do Successful Implementation Leaders Play Candyland or Chess?
Software Implementation is not like Candyland. First, take a card, and move a few spots. Then, take another card, and move another few places. Repeat until the game ends. Implementation is more…
Implementation Parable – The Ceramics Class
There’s a classic story from the book Art and Fear: The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of…
The Idiot Leader
I’ve found, and this will be controversial, that there are very few idiot leaders. Instead, I’ve seen employees who believe they deserve recognition, and the only logical reason they don’t receive that…