Helping Organizations Succeed - Leadership & Emotional Intelligence

Its funny, with all of the existing and emerging tools, the biggest challenge facing businesses is not technology, its people. To get folks to work together well takes a lot of ingredients. Unfortunately in many instances "leadership" is not helping. The issues at the top burden and stiffle the organization and inhibit the potential that readily exists but is unrealized because of the lack of awareness at the top. I have seen it over and over again in many businesses which I have consulted with and participated in.

Daniel Goldman shares some interesting instights on Emotional Intelligence pertaining to leadership. This Harvard Business Review clip, part of an excellent series, is worth a look to learn more about how organizational achievement in the LONG RUN is largely influenced by the emotional intelligence of its leadership.

What is Cloud Computing Exactly ?

I take for granted that many folks really understand what "Cloud Computing" is. Speaking at different events and talking with clients in the fitness, wellness, franchising and other industries, I've recently become more aware that many don't truly understand what the term "Cloud Computing" means.

Its really important for people in any organization to graps the concept of the "Cloud" because it is going to touch everything in our lives and organizations, if it hasn't already started to. Catch up on the basics with this video which is an excellent and short explaination of how Virtualization, Utility Computer and Software as a Service are converging to make Cloud Computing an important aspect of the world today.

Marketing & Twitter

Like a lot of businesses ours has been working on integrating social media. Many Kudos to our team, in particular Denisse, Justin, Robert, Rodney, Kelli, Kristina and others who are experimenting with Twitter, in addition to other tools, over the past few months. It isn't easy and we're just getting started, but we are learning more every day.

Many don't understand the value of Twitter in particular. But a lot of folks have learned, as this Hubspot article expresses, it is VERY valuable if its just used properly. That is the trick using it properly. Watch Mark Shaw's expert twitter tips video that gives some great pointers on adopting this technology to engage your customers and create a discussion friendly environment around your brand.

The Internet of Things

The day when we will have communicative clothing might not be too far off, according to a report titled “The Internet of Things” recently prepared by McKinsey & Company. The research highlights major changes that will result from a growing ubiquity of sensors and objects connected to the Internet, including “sensor-driven decision analytics” and “complex autonomous systems.” Watch the IBM video below for more details on autonomous systems.

The report identifies these systems already exist. For example, pill like cameras are now used to explore the digestive tract and send pictures back to doctors to pinpoint sources of illness. Data from remote satellites and sensors in the ground can modify fertilization of crops. Billboards in Asia can change to display the preferences of passers-by.

This however, is just the beginning. The McKinsey report claims as more sensors enter our devices and even clothing, we will have the ability to monitor the behavior of people, places and things through space and time, enabling such business applications as presence-based advertising.

Would consumers want to experience this kind of intrusive advertising? If done correctly, it could offer great benefits.

As much as any industry, health care should benefit most from this evolution. The McKinsey report notes, “In health care, sensors and data links offer possibilities for monitoring a patient’s behavior and symptoms in real time and at relatively low cost, allowing physicians to better diagnose disease and prescribe tailored treatment regimens.”

Technology and Rising Cost of Sick Care Creating New Opportunities

For all the wrangling and complaining about health care reform, an important fact is rarely included in the discourse. The one thing that could really reform health care is people living healthier lives.

As much as three quarters of U.S. health care costs are preventable. With most of the expense going to treat a few chronic diseases that are closely linked to behavior, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

The good news is a “pay for prevention” industry is emerging, offering organizations ways to reward workers with cash or reduced premiums for exercising more and eating wisely. Some of the early competitors in the space are RedBrick Health, Tangerine Wellness and Virgin HealthMiles.

At the center of this emerging business opportunity is technology. Smaller and more powerful devices and the ubiquity of the Internet are converging to deliver new solutions for the user that can impact behavior and outcomes.

In a recent NYT article, Sean Forbes, president of Virgin HealthMiles said, “We’re trying to create the good-driver discount for health. One reason that’s been so difficult is there’s never been a way to really measure things before, but that is changing because of technology.” Watch Kyle Rolfing, CEO of RedBrick Health explain the opportunity these new business models offer.