Tag: Managing people

Learnings

Multitasking is merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time

Chris Labs

When they “multitask,” they switch back and forth, alternating their attention until both tasks are done. People can actually do two or more things at once, such as walk and talk, or chew gum and read a map; but, like computers, what we can’t do is focus on two things at once. There is just so much brain capability at any one time. Divide it up as much as you want, but you’ll pay a price in time and effectiveness. Bounce between one activity and another and you lose time as your brain reorients to the new task. Those miliseconds … Continue reading Multitasking is merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time

Learnings

Make Relationship Deposits

Chris Labs

Too many people try to make withdrawals from bank accounts they’ve never made deposits in. Just like a real bank account, that’s not how relationships work. Withdrawing from an empty bank account puts you in debt. The same is true with relationships; a relationship must have an equal flow of currency between two accounts, if not a positive balance in your favor. But how do you get there? Well, you have to start making deposits. You get there by giving. I’ve said this before, you always want to go for the give instead of the ask. If you go for … Continue reading Make Relationship Deposits

Copywriting Library

Don’t Be Tamed

Chris Labs

Tom Watson, the chairman of IBM, use to read the following story to his employees each year. Read it in full. I promise you’ll feel refreshed, energized and ready to kick today’s ass. The Wild Goose There was once a wild goose and in the fall, around the time for migration, it became aware of a group of tame geese on a farm and stopped by to learn what they were all about. After landing, the wild goose became enamoured with the lifestyle of the tame geese and thought it’d be a shame to fly away from them. Free food, … Continue reading Don’t Be Tamed

Being CEO, Hiring

Filter out losers with those questions

Chris Labs

Don’t hire losers. They might be able to do the job for which they are hired. But that is not good enough. Especially at a startup where you are able to hire a lot fewer people than you would like. Here are some of the questions you can ask to detect losers: “Tell me about what you studied in college, and what were some of your favorite classes?” A person who spent $120,000 and dedicated four years of their lives to any pursuit better be able to speak eloquently for five minutes on that humongous experience. Or else they are … Continue reading Filter out losers with those questions

Learnings

Identify people strenghts and put them in a system that exploits those strenghts

Chris Labs

You have to remember, not everyone can do everything. It’s not a matter of them trying more or working harder. They really just can’t do it. You have to look at your employees, or your teammates, and know what they can do, not what they can’t. As a leader, your job is to recognize people’s talent and put them in situations where they could use those talents. Work with the strenghts of the person and don’t make them face situations to expose their weaknesses. 3h19mins, Relentless, Tim S. Grover Continue reading Identify people strenghts and put them in a system that exploits those strenghts