Human Performance Technology:
the study and ethical practice of improving productivity in organizations by designing and developing effective interventions that are result-oriented, comprehensive and systemic. (Handbook of Human Performance Technology, James A. Pershing)
And where are you heading off this morning? I drove my son to school. We had a joyful conversation imagining all sorts of things that were funny. Everything was possible. The world a great adventure full of new challenges. And if you were to ask me: ” What is happiness?” The answer would be: “Driving my son to school on a early morning…” All the rest are details.
Have a good working day…
Gränsfors make one the finest forged axes in the world. It has become more than just an axe. It is an icon for quality and a belief that there is another way of making things. But how did they come to this position and how did the believe in their values helped them to become the Rolls Royce maker of Axes.
I have their axes and these are tools you want to invest in. Not only it is a great tool, more than that by buying an axe you share the values and beliefs of the team that made them. Let the CEO explain it himself.
David Allen’s book ‘Getting things done’, has sold 2 million copies all over the world. The premise of the book is simple enough. That a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them externally. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.
Unlike a computer, we can not add more ram to our brains. So we have to free up ram so we can think more. That’s why David’s book is so amazing. That is gives you a system to take all that stuff and get of your head, so you can do more. Brilliant stuff.
From all authors about management and self improvement, David Allen is one who really helped me to improve my own planning system. What makes his story different from authors is for you to find out.
Here is some view of the place where I live. The most complicated story even getting more complicated. This is what happens when the logic takes over and looses “Common Sense”. What happens when the system becomes so difficult to understand that nobody tries to understand it anymore? I studied Law, live in the place for more than half of my life and read newspapers, and I lost it. Dear Bart and Elio, stop forcing something the world gave up already. Just let it go. Hope this video will help you understand. If so call me… Enjoy
Did You Know? started a world – wide discussion. At the moment it knows its 4.0 version as you could read in my previous post. But I felt the need to give somewhat more background and resources for you to help continue the discussion. We use the discussion in our Strategic Sales Management Program when we reflect upon Vision, and Strategic Planning.
Did You Know? is intended to be a conversation starter. As you use the presentation with various audiences, leave plenty of time at the end for questions and discussion. Questions such as the following are good ways to start conversation:
What are your initial reactions to what you saw in the presentation?
How are these changes manifesting themselves in your personal lives? Professional lives?
What do we think it means to prepare students for the 21st century? What skills do students need to survive and thrive in this new era?
What implications does this have for our current way of doing things?
Do we need to change? If so, how?
How do we get from here to there?
What challenges must we overcome as we move forward?
What supports will we need as we move forward?
What kind of training will we need to move forward?
What kind of commitments will we need to make (with each other, our students, and our community) to move forward?
Who’s scared? Why?
What will we do next? What are some concrete actions that we can take in the near future?
Is it possible for a teacher to be an excellent teacher if he/she does not use technology?
This is an amazing story of a simple presentation that became a world-wide discussion. “Did You Know?” started originally out as a PowerPoint presentation for a faculty meeting in August 2006 at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, United States. The presentation “went viral” on the Web in February 2007 and, as of June 2007, had been seen by at least 5 million online viewers. Today the old and new versions of the online presentation have been seen by at least 20 million people, not including the countless others who have seen it at conferences, workshops, training institutes, and other venues.
Some questions for your thinking:
What skills do you want to teach your kids?
What and how many languages does your kid speak?
How will this impact your professional life?
How are you preparing to coop with these changes?
How is your organization adapting to these changes?
Since a couple of years we have a cooking program on the Belgian TV called “SOS Piet”. Its success is unseen. Piet Huysentruyt, a former chef and owner of a Michelin star restaurant quit his kitchen and went on the road with a little cooking survival kit and a camera crew to help the Belgian TV audience to cook. He also wrote three cooking books which are top selling books in here in Belgium. What are the secrets of his success and why does the concept sell? SOS Piet applies some fundamentals of the successful sale. What are they?
Put yourself at level with you audience
SOS Piet literally left is kitchen, all his rewards and status signs. This is, as far as I know the first cooking program in the world where a well regarded Michelin Star chef gets in his car and comes to your kitchen. By doing so, he becomes as the expert very accessible and at level with his audience. It will cost you absolutely nothing to have Piet over, you only need to mail him with a real cooking problem and get selected. He is open to anyone and puts himself at level of his customers.
Listen to your audience
Since many years cooking programs are very popular. You can not count how many chefs have their program telling how they do things. SOS Piet reversed the roles. He let you cook in your kitchen. He only observes listens, tastes and sees what goes wrong. Listening is all about the story of the other, noting about your story. And most importantly, Piet does not comment on your problem, he only changes some details in the way you do tings.
Speak their language
In one of the shows the lady is Spanish and speaks a mix of English and Flemish. SOS Piet adapted his language using his best English mixed with some Flemish. The chemistry was not only going in the pan but also in the Kitchen. By copying the same language and wording of your counterpart, you create a connection. The other party feels immediately at level and is motivated to talk.
Think and go in little logical steps that really help
SOS Piet gives “Tips and Tricks”. No more, no less. At the start of a sales training, I ask the participants about their expectations. And I always get the request for Tips and Tricks. Why? It easier to remember little tricks that work rather than having to remember great theories and complex models. We only want that one trick that does it all. SOS Piet gives us this “Wonder Trick”. It is the trick that sticks and will makes a world of a difference. His audience feels helped. Change and success comes in small steps.
Everyone 15 minutes famous
What happens when someone you know in your town comes on television? You will be watching. The whole town will be watching. Is it not more fun to peep into your neighbour’s kitchen? And that person will be the talk of the day. When Andy Warhol said that in the future everybody will be 15 minutes famous, it sounded unrealistic. Coming on TV was only for celebrities. Now you just send a mail to SOS Piet and chances are big that you end up in his cooking show and become the talk of the day. We all want to feel important and need attention.
Back to basics
Every cookbook should start with “how to cook an egg”. It sounds boring but it is essential. If you are not able to cook a potato properly, why would you bother to make “Gratin Dauphinois”? Often when, I coach experienced Sales, I see them make errors against the basics. Bad habits or good habits never learned? In sales, minimum of skills are required. When those are absent, it is no use to invest in advanced sales training programs.
“What did we learn?”
Every activity can be a learning opportunity. We only have to process our learning. This is reflecting on what we did and what was important to remember and repeat or to do different in the future. The most easy and basic way of processing this learning is by asking: “What did we learn?” This question became SOS Piet’s trade mark. I recognise successful sales agents only by their learning attitude. For them every sales call is a learning opportunity and they actively process their learning again and again. Selling is a continuous learning event. Not one sales call is the same.
And have Fun
When SOS Piet is around, everybody has fun. Last, he was invited on the “De Laatste Show” which is a late evening talk show on the Belgian TV. Piet sat on the bench with Sting and Dennis Rodman and made everybody laugh and joke. There is some saying that “if you can’t tell it on a fun way, it is not the truth”. We are naturally attracted to fun. Laughing is one of the best stress relievers and it relaxes us. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Here are some questions that could help you with your success.
How do you put yourself at level with your customer?
How long do you really listen to the story of your customer?
How much do you use the “exact” wording of your customer?
How do you help your customer with small practical advice?
How do you make your customer feel important?
How well do you practice the communication basics?
Recent Comments