Laura’s Winning Ideas

Welcome to the September 25, 2007 edition of business proposal carnival.

Marketing

David Kam presents Threatening Marketing posted at MarketingDeviant.com.

Management

Karl Goldfield presents Building a plan Part 4a: Get to know your team (New Hires) posted at Coaching sales champions.

Proposals

Pete Johnson presents Word Tactics posted at
Nerd Guru, saying, “Tips on writing proposals using Microsoft Word.

Pete Johnson
HP.com Chief Architect
Personal blog: http://nerdguru.net”

Talent

FitBuff presents Brain Gym Exercises: Get Fit, Get Smart posted at FitBuff.com’s Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, “As if there weren’t already enough reasons to get in shape, a new study confirms that exercise can actually cause your brain to produce more neurons, thus increasing your creativity and productivity.”

Organizational Development

Howard Ditkoff presents My Scheme Team Dream: Partners Wanted for Shaping and Changing The World posted at SystemsThinker.com Blog, saying, “Scheming – or creating schemas – helps us shape a clear understanding of how the various parts of systems relate and connect. It then empowers application through developing strategic, intriguing, and often subversive plans to create innovative change in the world – for better or for worse. After a period of undefined frustration, a discussion with a friend helped me pinpoint my recent lack of partners with whom to co-scheme as the root of my dissatisfaction.

In this post, I discuss what scheming means to me and its central role in my worldview and throughout my life in areas ranging from math, medicine and sports to relationships, politics and business. I explore key examples of special shared moments, evolutionary factors and enviably successful teams that explain the excitement and rewards of co-scheming. And, in the service of initiating connection and dialogue with dynamic new “partners in crime,” I describe the similar and complementary assets and qualities that I and they would ideally bring to such an emergent and generative partnership. Read my thoughts on the process and goals of co-scheming at its best and consider whether you might be one of the fellow co-schemers I’m looking for.”

Technorati tags:

business proposal carnival, blog carnival.

Yesterday the Wall Street Journal ran a column about successful teams working virtually. Click here to read the story now (however this free link expires about September 25, 2007) and Click here to read the story after September 25, 2007 when you’ll have to be a registered subscriber.

In research we performed at Radian International a number of years ago, we found the same results.

We’d noticed that there were some teams successfully performing virtual work, and others who were failing to break even, let alone make a profit, on virtual projects. My theory was that successful teams had protocols they used to streamline communication, and prevent mishaps and overlooked opportunities.

We pulled data from accounts payable about closed projects that were performed virtually. Then we tracked the project team leaders, paying particular attention when we were doing a proposal with them (they were like lab rats in our own little laboratory) to take notes about what they did differently.

No one had a technology advantage. They all had pretty pedestrian technology tools.

And we found that indeed they had different protocols for communicating and managing their projects:

• They had specific protocols they used through out the project
• They were particularly adept at communicating on-line
• They seemed to have relationships with the team members, even though they’d never met in person

However, there was something more. The leaders of these teams were not the usual superstar project managers. In fact, many of the best project managers could not come close to the results of the successful virtual managers. Something was different, and I was surprised to figure out that certain personal attributes of the team leader were important for virtual team success.

Click here for my case study that explains why Introverted Auditory Accessors are the new SuperStars in a virtual environment.

Sunday, I was quoted in the London Times.

Click here to read the story about Fun in the Workplace and why it is becoming a requirement.

Daniel Pink wrote a piece for Wired Magazine this month with some ideas a proposal/marketing team could steal.

The article is about Pecha Kucha, an Open Mic night for intelligentsia. Each person is allowed 20 powerpoint slides, and the slides show for 20 seconds each. After 6+ minutes, they are done, and the next person is up. Cuts out long winded yammering, leaves room for more folks to present without feeling quite so naked as a canned presentation of too many minutes.

This would be a neat idea for a company event. Invite clients in for a Pecha Kucha night/lunch. Have your technical professionals do their “20 slides/2 seconds each slide” presentations about their work, their research, outside interests, favorite projects, latest technology they are hoping to use, perspective on the industry, etc. Serve Sushi and sake.

A great way to connect with clients, a great way to give folks a taste of public speaking, a great way to inspire members of the staff. . . . O.K. Serve barbequed brisket if you must.

Daniel Pink included his Pecha Kucha presentation on Emphathic Signage.

This is the second idea you can steal. Daniel shows a variety of emotionally intelligent signs. That is, signage that begets compliance by using empathy. For instance, which is more effective?

• Pick up after your dog.

• Children Play Here. Pick up after your dog.

If you are managing a proposal, practicing using principals of empathy might help speed along those resume updates and project summaries. Think they know why you are asking for this? Don’t be surprised to find that your technical professionals think you are just crying wolf. “After all, the proposal isn’t due for another x days.” Transform them from clueless to understanding and see if you don’t get your materials on schedule.

Writing a proposal for a large project?

Not every reader of your proposal is operating at the professional level of your technical staff. Look for places to insert empathetic guidance and see what happens. “Gee, I never knew why that study is done before drilling begins. It’s really an important part of the project.”

Daniel Pink is an author of several best-selling books, including A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule The World.