Welch, This Oracle Is Just What the Doctor Ordered

Organizations and their leaders can react in different ways during tough times. With many industries experiencing tumultuous and fundamental change compounded by recession, it is more daunting then ever for leaders to understand what the best choices are for the future. From Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions to Collin’s Good to Great , theories abound regarding the relevant paths to success.

Such uncertainty makes the advice of those who have “been there and done that” quite refreshing. Jack Welch should be the “poster child” for such enlightened and valuable counsel . As with the Oracle character from the Matrix films, he possesses the power of foresight, and his experience serves to advise and guide those attempting to overcome serious challenges. His back to basics philosophy, founded on the four pillars of mission, behaviors, candor and differentiation, is just what the doctor ordered for many leaders in today’s world. Watch Jack during this Managementv interview explain what is truly relevant to organizational success as he outlines his beliefs in the four pillars. An adoption of these rules is a good place to begin when evaluating how to move your organization forward in the best manner possible.

Eric Schmidt On Transparency & Open Immigration

Google's head, Eric Schmidt, recently shared his views on a series of topics at the Aspen Ideas Festival. He addressed how "old" institutions are inefficient and in particular governments. His solution is transparency because as he puts it, "many bureaucrats know what they are doing is not effective". Schmidt goes on to question why the US attracts foreign students and then kicks them out, a significant impediment to retaining the brightest minds from around the world. Finally, Eric touts the excitement that instant translations tools and photo identification being created by Google will offer. Check out this brief 6 minute interview to learn more.

Apple Tablet & Mobile Computing

Anticipation around Apple's upcoming tablet product is heating up. The creation of netbooks and powerful mobile devices are eroding margins in PC's and Apple is trying to figure out what white space it can attack to maintain its high end margin. The reason being that mobility, as video, is THE growth market for computing devices. See the review of the market and Apple's tablet from Scot Moritz below.

Words Matter - The Mehrabian Myth

Yesterday a colleague shared the observation that the term "systems" is being increasingly heard as a negative in the marketplace by prospective buyers. The context of our discussion was the fitness industry and how buyers perceive terms or words. This led to my thinking about communication and the often misunderstood Mehrabian Myth, 7% of communication is derived from words, 55% body language and 38% via tone. As my friend pointed out, words do matter and this video brings the point of what Mehrabian's findings really meant.

Game Theory and Non Zero Solutions

Game theory is applied mathematics enabling an evaluation of strategic decisions.  Win loose or Win Win: its a choice based on our beliefs and the  perceived nature of our relationships.  As the networks of interdependence within and beyond communities and nations get more complex, the more enlightened people are forced in their own interests to find non-zero-sum solutions. That is, win-win solutions instead of win-lose solutions. In leadership the measure of success is not so much whether you won at anothers expense, but whether you got what you wanted because you enabled other people to achieve their dreams and to do what they want. Learn more about how the Non Zero solution is key to traversing enormous revolutionary change. If your relationships are not based on Non Zero sums they cannot be productive long term in this day and age. Watch Clinton's brief talk about this reality in todays world.