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

Cruise Ship Analogy: Quantification as an Illness

Posted on09 Aug 2012

Tagsanalogy, quantnik, quantify, numbers, intuition, decisions, decision-making process, Cruise Ship Analogy, attraction, assumptions

Comments4

Imagine preparing to board a cruise ship, and a Quantnik stops you. He asks, “What is your suitcase’s volume?” You are puzzled and slowly say,...

Creative Innovation (Pt 4): Spontaneity & Frequency

The executive walks through the facility or offices to attend the manager’s meeting and finds many employees having conversations; they are laughing, smiling and enjoying...

Protection from the Power of Subliminal Smells

Posted on02 Aug 2012

TagsWe Li, unawareness, The Economist, subliminity, subconscious, smells, Northwestern University, intuition, Influence, conscious, awareness

Comments0

Smells are among the best examples of influences acting upon our unconscious. In fact, their power to influence is greatest when we cannot consciously detect...

Body – Emotion Connection: People Are Very Different

People are different. However, we tremendously underestimate how different we are. We often think someone is purposely trying to upset or harm us when in...

Manager – Employee Relationship: “Acid Test” Question

Posted on26 Jul 2012

Tagsclosed questions, truth, trust, summarize, relationships, questioning techniques, question, open-ended questions, management, honesty, employees, conflict management, acknowledgement

Comments2

Even though we tend to focus on employees complaining about their managers, they do compliment them too. However, one employee over fifteen years ago totally...

Difference Between Innovation And Creativity In Business

How Work Pressure and Fear Affect Innovation

Posted on23 Jul 2012

Tagscontext, Creative Innovation Series, creativity, organizational culture, Daniel Gilbert, fear, fun, Harvard Business Review, Heidi Gardner, innovation, management, relationships, The Economist, emotional triggers

Comments2

It is simple. Employees who feel pressure and fear are less creative and innovative. Daniel Gilbert in “The Science Behind the Smile” is blunt: I...

Education Bias (Pt 3): Leadership Over Knowledge

Posted on19 Jul 2012

Tagsinformation, power, Patrick Spenner, matter of the heart, matter of the head, leadership, knowledge, Karen Freeman, interpersonal, relationships, Harvard Business Review, eloquence, Education Bias Series, education, organizational culture, Corporate Executive Board

Comments0

An education bias overlooks the profound impact of feelings, emotions and intuition on thinking in choice. Leadership is the most poignant example. Patrick Spenner and...

Lying About Honesty

Posted on16 Jul 2012

Tagseuphemisms, who we think we are, who we are, The Economist, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, relationships, rationale, positive reinforcement, lying, honesty, facts, eloquence, Dan Ariely, organizational culture

Comments2

We like to believe we’re honest. However, who we are is often quite different from who we think we are; thus, we are less truthful...

Too Much Information & Indecisiveness

Posted on12 Jul 2012

Tagsdecision-making process, Tony Hey, thinking process, standardization, process management, process, problem solving, Patrick Spenner, Karen Freeman, innovation, information, Harvard Business Review, decisions, adaptability

Comments4

Tony Hey in his article, “The Big Idea: The Next Scientific Revolution” (Harvard Business Review, November 2010 edition ), and Patrick Spenner and Karen Freeman...

Ferrari Analogy: Fast Service vs. Good Service

Posted on09 Jul 2012

Tagsspeed, service, relationships, quality service, quality, Ferrari Analogy, entertainment, customer service, assumptions

Comments2

Often we assume fast service is good service; however, we need to challenge constantly this assumption. As I wrote previously, customer service borders on entertainment....

Linking Disruptive Innovations and Disruptive Personalities

Posted on05 Jul 2012

TagsClayton Christensen, Creative Innovation Series, crisis, David Kushner, Disruptive Innovation & People Analogy, dissent, George Holtz, Harvard University, innovation, management, Personality, sensitivity, Steve Wozniak, The New Yorker, glass half full-half empty metaphor

Comments0

Innovation is born from people. Children are like their parents in many ways. Do disruptive personalities give birth to disruptive innovations? Research on Disruptive Personalities...

When more information and education don't persuade

Why More Information And Education Don’t Solve Problems

Posted on02 Jul 2012

TagsHarvard Business Review, Thoughts, The Economist, resistance to change, relationships, problem solving, Patrick Spenner, Karen Freeman, interpersonal, Tony Hey, Education Bias Series, Corporate Executive Board, change management, change

Comments2

More information and education often don’t solve problems alone. Yet, people often think they do. It’s common. It shows up whenever one concludes a talk...

Setting The Mood For Change As A Change Management Tactic

Posted on28 Jun 2012

Tagschange management, Change Management Tips Series, cooperation, organizational culture, goal setting, Painting Analogy, relationships, resistance to change, Velten Mood Induction Procedure, internal communications

Comments0

An owner of a top-flight commercial painting company once said to me, “Mike, prepping the surface is 90% of the paint job.” Setting the mood...

Feelings, Emotions, Intuition And Their Differences

Posted on25 Jun 2012

Tagsbread, emotional intelligence, emotions, feelings, Food Analogy, intuition, Personality, Real-time personality assessment, Thoughts, Feelings Emotions Intuition - Difference Series

Comments2

Much does not exist when it comes to feelings, emotions, intuition and their differences. For instance, a commenter (Roger) to my post on the difference...

Making Group Brainstorming More Effective And Innovative

Posted on21 Jun 2012

TagsAlex Osborn, brainstorming, Creative Innovation Series, creativity, group, innovation, Jonah Lehrer, Keith Sawyer, problem solving, The New Yorker, Washington University

Comments11

When leaders try to drive creativity and innovation in their organizations, they frequently jump into holding group brainstorming sessions. This not only creates huge inefficiencies,...

Mike Lehr’s Blog

Cruise Ship Analogy: Quantification as an Illness

Protection from the Power of Subliminal Smells

Body – Emotion Connection: People Are Very Different

Manager – Employee Relationship: “Acid Test” Question

How Work Pressure and Fear Affect Innovation

Education Bias (Pt 3): Leadership Over Knowledge

Lying About Honesty

Too Much Information & Indecisiveness

Ferrari Analogy: Fast Service vs. Good Service

Linking Disruptive Innovations and Disruptive Personalities

Why More Information And Education Don’t Solve Problems

Setting The Mood For Change As A Change Management Tactic

Feelings, Emotions, Intuition And Their Differences

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