Influencing and Problem Solving for Leaders and Others Mike Lehr's Blog

Creative Innovation (Pt 14): Time Alone

Posted on14 Jan 2013

Tagsbrainstorming, Creative Innovation Series, creativity, introvert, Susan Cain, The Atlantic, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Gregory Feist, solitude

Comments5

Other posts in series: Creative InnovationMaking Group Brainstorming More Effective And Innovative Linking Disruptive Innovations and Disruptive Personalities How Work Pressure and Fear Affect Innovation...

Predictability as Hell: A Problem-solving Perspective

Posted on10 Jan 2013

Tagsproblem solving, assessments, control, emotions, Influence, perspective, standardization, The Atlantic, Predictability as Hell Analogy, predictability, Walter Kirn, The Twilight Zone, heaven, hell

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Businesses strive for predictability. Standardization helps them achieve that. Still, many employees like their jobs for their variability, “It’s something different every day.” Herein is...

Lightning-rod Employee (Scapegoat)

Posted on07 Jan 2013

Tagscomplexity, conflict management, organizational culture, employees, integration, leadership, problem solving, process, process management, Lightning-rod Employee Analogy

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Early on in my career, I witnessed a manager’s termination for the incompetence of her boss. The strategy he outlined for her area failed, and...

Wildfires, Computer Models and Sophisticated GIGO

Posted on03 Jan 2013

Tagsanchoring, wildfires, Michael Behar, Velten Mood Induction Procedure, The Atlantic, quantify, Influence, history, experience, confession, computers, computer simulations

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Early on, I learned about GIGO, Garbage In Garbage Out. Translated, if you don’t input good data into the computer don’t expect good data in...

Creative Innovation (Pt 13): Overcoming Biases

Posted on31 Dec 2012

Tagschange, decision-making process, Harvard Business Review, leadership, leadership vs management, management, process, quantify, Scientific Method, statistics, associative thinking, Giovanni Gavetti, empirical evidence, institutional biases

Comments1

Vanilla Words and Uncreative Personalities, Cultures

Posted on27 Dec 2012

Tagscreativity, diversity, innovation, Personality, power, Real-time personality assessment, standardization, vanilla words, Velten Mood Induction Procedure, word choice, words, Vanilla Word Analogy, Vanilla Words-Thinking Series, analogy collection

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Other posts in series: Vanilla Words-Vanilla ThinkingStandardization: A Form of Thought Control Vanilla Words and Uncreative Personalities, Cultures Vanilla Words, Vanilla People, Succumbing CEO’s Vanilla...

Mobile Workforce: Less “Face Time,” Less Advancement

Posted on24 Dec 2012

Tagsbehavior, employees, face-to-face interactions, Influence, London Business School, management, subconscious, technology, The Economist, unawareness, Business Spectator, MIT Sloan Manangement Review, UC Davis School of Management, mobile workforce

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One day long ago, I was working late for an employer when the President walked into the department and commented, “You’re working late!” I replied,...

Clausewitz’s Friction and Project Management

Posted on20 Dec 2012

TagsStefan Thomke, deadlines, Donald Reinertsen, friction, On War, Clausewitz, The Economist, project management, process, planning, management, Harvard Business Review, budgets, body analogy

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A reader requested more clarification and examples of Clausewitz’s friction in business. Project Management is excellent for this because of its detailed planning, more so...

Relationships: The Ultimate Power

Posted on17 Dec 2012

Tagsinformal organizational power, Battle of Ganjgal, Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, Adam Smith, warfare, vision, training, strategy, relationships, power, morale

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Many say relationships in business are important, but the real question is, “How important are they?” In reality, they are the ultimate power; yet, business...

Creative Innovation (Pt 12): Associative Thinking

Posted on13 Dec 2012

Tagsanalogy, Creative Innovation Series, creativity, organizational culture, diversity, Harvard Business Review, Heidi Gardner, innovation, The Medici Effect, associative thinking, Frans Johansson, Giovanni Gavetti, Intersectional Thinking

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Competition, Success & Testosterone

Posted on10 Dec 2012

Tagsaggressive, Challenge, competition, competitive, conscious, control, free will, rational actor theory, risk, success, The Economist, Patrick Markey, Charlotte Markley, Rutgers, Villanova University, testosterone

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Many chemical reactions occur in our bodies. This we know, but how they affect our decisions and actions is another matter. The most commonly known...

Computers, Emails, Dishonesty

Posted on06 Dec 2012

Tagscomputers, email, Facebook, happiness, Harvard Business Review, management, management by email, management by walking around, relationships, social media, team building, team intelligence, The Atlantic, Mattitiyahu Zimbler, Robert Feldman, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Stephen Marche

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Technology has made communication tremendously convenient and fast. Consequently, communicating via computers, especially emails and varying forms of text messaging and instant messaging, has become...

How to Assess Creative Problem Solving Potential

Posted on03 Dec 2012

Tagsassessments, creativity, organizational culture, people's differences, problem solving, questioning techniques

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Assessing creative problem solving is not easy. It can be done though. You do not need to be a pro either. I call this way...

Placebo Management (Pt 4): Tiger, Golfers, Superstitions & Performance

Posted on29 Nov 2012

Tagsemotions, golf, Harvard Business Review, Influence, management, motivation, Performance, phraseology, placebo, Placebo Management Series, Sally Linkenauger

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Other posts in series: Placebo ManagementNurturing Positive Feelings Dramatically Improves Employee Performance Placebo Management: Impacting Employees’ Beliefs Management Tips From Changing Taste Using Stories Placebo...

Creative Innovation (Pt 11): Quantification Restricts Creativity

Posted on26 Nov 2012

Tagsbrain, cognition, Creative Innovation Series, creativity, decision-making process, Harvard Business Review, Heidi Gardner, innovation, knowledge, pressure, problem solving, process, quantify, Scientific American, Evangelia Chrysikou

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Mike Lehr’s Blog

Creative Innovation (Pt 14): Time Alone

Predictability as Hell: A Problem-solving Perspective

Lightning-rod Employee (Scapegoat)

Wildfires, Computer Models and Sophisticated GIGO

Creative Innovation (Pt 13): Overcoming Biases

Vanilla Words and Uncreative Personalities, Cultures

Mobile Workforce: Less “Face Time,” Less Advancement

Clausewitz’s Friction and Project Management

Relationships: The Ultimate Power

Creative Innovation (Pt 12): Associative Thinking

Competition, Success & Testosterone

How to Assess Creative Problem Solving Potential

Placebo Management (Pt 4): Tiger, Golfers, Superstitions & Performance

Creative Innovation (Pt 11): Quantification Restricts Creativity

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