Too Close to the Margin

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 15, 2006 11:12:00 AM

An interesting example from Computing of the drawbacks of going for maximum efficiency.

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Cowboys make Indians out of customers

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 15, 2006 8:03:00 AM

Two comments from people I respect have illuminated a pattern I’ve seen in many places.

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Data doesn’t do it

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 9, 2006 9:15:00 AM

I was asked recently for a peer-reviewed piece that demonstrates why stories are better at communicating than data.

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Get them while they’re fresh

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 8, 2006 8:57:00 AM

One of the most effective points on which to focus when you’re trying to change an organisation’s culture is on its most recent recruits. It’s not obvious – and often left to the vagaries of HR and training to put together an induction process.

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Achilles heels and body armour

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 3, 2006 4:26:00 PM

Earlier this week, I facilitated a conference session at which I’d also coached one of the in-house speakers. The speaker in question took one major step out of his comfort zone in finishing his speech on a different note.

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Bit part or starring role?

by Tony Quinlan on Oct 30, 2006 7:36:00 PM

I’m in Geneva today running a communications workshop and looking foolish as I struggle to get the hang of buses: how to pay, how to open bus doors and so on.

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Taking responsibility for mistakes

by Tony Quinlan on Oct 25, 2006 10:46:00 AM

I’ve talked about the need to take ownership and responsibility before, but it’s worth mentioning again. I recently received an email from a newsletter provider admitting to a problem.

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Unintentional Design

by Tony Quinlan on Oct 24, 2006 4:00:00 PM

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The Change Angels’ Share of Performance

by Tony Quinlan on Oct 13, 2006 10:09:00 AM

Whisky makers have a concept of “the Angels’ Share” – it’s the 2% of whisky that evaporates each year as the whisky matures and mellows in the cask. Thankfully, they also understand that there’s little point in trying to improve efficiency and retain that 2% – it’s part of the process …

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Employee surveys don’t provide answers

by Tony Quinlan on Oct 7, 2006 10:45:00 AM

Yesterday’s post on the FT article threw up some questions for me, in particular relating to the use of employee surveys and other tools that, in the words of the article, "take your staff’s pulse." Most of the tools we use, are sensible, rational questions in surveys, with a little s …

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