Well yes I did but you’ll have to forgive me if I take a look at some other things. I will try and be a good business person and focus a bit more. And todays posting is all about communication. Communication and how to design a business that people want to work in.
Communication is extremely important in the world in which we live and work today. This is even more important if you’re looking to do business in another country.
As an Englishman in New York I was, even after over 3 years, still surprised about how differently the British and Americans use the English language. Sometimes even though I try and speak the same language I’m afraid my version of English sometimes means I don’t always communicate as clearly as I could.
Obviously I’d prefer it if I could have encouraged my American friends and colleagues to speak the right version of English but after 36 months of trying I am close to admitting defeat.
When it comes to communication one of the most important things is to make sure people understand what you expect of them. And I really notice the challenge when I am trying to describe the sorts of behaviors I like to see. Getting this right in todays highly competitive world is really important; its about focusing as much on how people do things not just what they do.
Fortunately a colleague (now my wife!) , probably keen to help me learn another version of English (she’s from New Zealand) found a great article in the New York Times . This article summarizes some ideas on what would make a good business – and a good place to work.
Even if you don’t read the article the five key items it highlights are
- passionate curiosity – relentlessly asking questions about why we do things in any particular way and whether there are other or better ways to do things
- confidence – learning from mistakes, having confidence “People who have it will take on, and own, any assignment thrown their way. They say those words that are music to a manager’s ears: “Got it. I’m on it.”
- team smarts – being an active member of a team, leading when necessary and getting the best out of peers, colleagues and others. Using influencing skills.
- simple mind set – what is the easiest, most effective way of making progress. Is 80% now worth more than 100% at some point in the future.
- fearlessness – have the confidence to have a go at making something different. “Companies get into trouble when they get really complacent, when they settle in and say, ‘O.K., we’re doing O.K. now.’
I think it would be great to work at a company that demonstrated all the time that it was passionately curious, confident, worked well in teams, focused on being simple and was fearless in trying to make this better. And of course the best thing is that in any business you get to make the choice on how you want business to be.
If your business isn’t running like this perhaps its time for a change.
And for any of you still reading I thought I’d close by showing you the video of ‘An Englishman in New York’
The Burble 