Can you single task?

Most of us have become so good at multi-tasking that we sometimes forget that there are advantages of single-tasking ... concentrating fully on a single focus until it is complete.

So, next time you look at your ToDo list, just take one of those tasks ... work on it ... and complete it.

You'll feel better for it!

Power costs

I was speaking to an Indian businessman recently, He told me he could compete with his Chinese counterparts on everything - labour costs, material costs, capital costs - except the cost of electricity. That was why Chinese manufacturers were more competitive.

Do you know the single biggest impediment to greater competitiveness for your organisation?

If not, you ahould? ... and then you should deal with it!

Publishers learn

Take a look at some of the new books aimed for children ... but delivered via tablet computers. They are starting to how real innovation in terms of interactivity and exploration.

(Note the use of the word 'tablet computers' above ... eReaders tend simply to mimic printed materials.)

Think how this might affect your catalogue and other print materials .. and think about taking some small steps to explore the art of the possible.

SMEs don't ...

Reading the business literature, there is plenty of material that suggests that small to medium sized enterprises either DO or don't DO certain things.

For example, the 'wisdom' has it that they don't measure performance and/or benchmark themselves against competitors ... they are simply too busy or they are unaware of such practices.

However, my experience is that they do many of the things they allegedly don't do ... its just that they do it more informally. They might not know the 'theory' but they know (often instinctively) what they need to do to survive and grow.

Or, of course, the goods ones do ... the others perhaps don't survive and grow.

So, if you're still here, give yourself a pat on the back ... before, perhaps, reading one of the books that tell you what you don't do ... and working out whether you do .. or perhaps should!

Are you fit?

A healthy mind in a healthy body. That's what we all want. Research shows that fit people also concentrate more and are better performers at tasks, even when they don't involve significant physical work.

So get your workforce fit.

But, of course, you have to think first about the kind of role model you offer.

Time to get on the treadmill?

Lean, listen, learn

In Lean Thinking, they talk about the 'voice of the customer' ... saying that if you do not know what your customer thinks and feels, you have little chance of anticipating and meeting their needs.

This need to listen extends, of course, to other groups of stakeholders ... investors, suppliers and employees.

Only by listening do we learn about concerns, about problems, about needs, about motivations, about resentment, about dissatisfaction, about ...

Start listening!

Think!

Stop what you are doing. take a deep breath. Look around you ... and think.

Think about the your customers ... what are they doing right now ... what are there concerns ... how have those concerns changed recently ... how have you responded?

Now, that was the easy part. Now you have to think about what you can do in the future that is different .. better ... more focused on your customers concerns and needs.

If you think that is difficult, think again .. about what your competitors might be doing.