Tag: growth

A culture of focus

FabrizioLeave a comment

We need to reset the expectations when it comes to synchronous communication at work.

People feel the pressure to be on top of things, to answer messages, to be available, to participate, to socialise, to share, to comment, to leave a funny emoji. Unfortunately, none of that is productive, none of that delivers value to the customer, the shareholder, the community, and none of that is good for the long-term well-being of the individual employee.

We need to facilitate people to do work that matters, that they are proud of, that makes them feel accomplished. And as managers, we need to be able to keep in check our ego, our anxiety, our excitement, to accept that colleagues will get back to us when it makes sense to them.

It’s not only about turning notifications off, setting do-not-disturb time, removing apps when on holidays. It’s about changing the culture.

If you are on top, it’s for you to set the example.

Three levels

FabrizioLeave a comment

There’s a great level of customer service. It’s personal, human, helpful, and resourceful.

There’s a basic level of customer service. It’s quick, some times robotic, a bit repetitive, not always helpful.

And then there’s a shitty level of being human. It’s arrogant, pointless, definitive, and unaccountable.

People will only remember the first and the third. Up to you where you want to be.

Take pride in boring

FabrizioLeave a comment

Most things are boring.

Like Terms of Service.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while doing them. Or be proud of them. Or make somebody enjoy them.

The guys at Wistia know this well.

Scams

FabrizioLeave a comment

There’s an increasing amount of people that sells get-rich-quick schemes. They leverage weakness and dissatisfaction, and they abuse platforms that don’t care about quality, or well-being, or best interest. Their quid pro quo is usually something like “give me a few hundreds euros to enroll in this class and this person will teach you how to make thousands of euros every day”.

I know it sounds great. I know it’s appealing. I know it’s a difficult time, and it will probably get more difficult before it gets easier.

But those are scams.

The only way is the long, impervious, boring, frustrating way of doing.

So take the urgency of those fake gurus and channel it towards a practice. Start now.

Equinox doesn’t speak January

FabrizioLeave a comment

A positioning statement is not for everybody.

It’s supposed to divide, in order to conquer. It’s supposed to draw a clear line between trite practices and a new way. It’s supposed to be met with opposition, disdain, surprise, resistance – first of all, from those who are supposed to approve and support it.

If a positioning statement does not do that, it’s not a positioning statement.

This IS a positioning statement.

Love it or hate it. That’s the whole point.