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Last Quarter Energy
The last quarter of the year is a great time to tie up loose ends and
tap into energy reserves to complete outstanding goals, manage the
holiday season, and prepare strategic plans for the upcoming
year.
At J.Ferm we are starting our annual strategic planning
process and are aligning resources to meet the demands of a busy
year ahead. Accordingly, please welcome
Petersen Thomas to the
team as Project Manager. In his role, Petersen will head up the new
"Lawyer's Edition" of the popular
"No Frills, No Fluff Management Skills Certificate Program."
He
brings diverse in-the-field experiences as a litigator and law firm
leader.
In addition, Cindy Loughran, senior executive coach,
and
Kassie Steegman, teleCourse facilitator were certified as
TriMetrix© Systems Analysts and they will assist J.Ferm with the
growing demand for effective screening and hiring processes.
Congratulations on this important achievement!
This year, we are proud to sponsor English At Large, an adult
literacy organization
based in the Boston area. With a waiting list of 250 and
an average wait time of 17 months, we wanted to make a difference!
For a
donation of $750 we were able to sponsor a conversation group for a
year. To learn more, click
here.
| We Recommend |
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The Seven Secrets of How to Think
Like a Rocket Scientist, by James Longuski
You often hear the phrase "You don't have to be a rocket
scientist..." Jim Longuski, rocket
scientist and professor of dynamics, aerospace optimization, and
spacecraft design, realized that there are specific skills and
concepts that rocket scientists use that are are, in short, not rocket
science.
This book is about straightforward concepts that stick with you.
Some of the chapters are titled "Work on the Big Picture," "Sleep on
It," "Ask Dumb Questions," "Ask Big Questions," "Ask What If?," and
"Make Small Improvements." Each chapter is about 1-5 pages long
and tells short stories that are funny, inspiring, and thought
provoking.
One chapter is named "Have a Backup Plan" and it begins with:
"The quickest way to separate the rocket scientist from the
non-rocket scientist is to check out their backup plan. All you have to
do
is ask, 'So, what's Plan B?'"
These seemingly innocent
questions begin to add up as you read. I found myself saying "I knew
that" or "Of course..." and when I asked myself WHAT
I am doing about it, I realized that understanding is good, acting is
better. So, I set out to take a concept and work with it for one
day. The results have been great. One day I focused on "Working on
the Big Picture." The next day, I focused on "Looking
at the Little Picture." Another day, I "Slept on it" (it being a
major business
decision) putting me in a great negotiation
position.
I encourage you to read this book and keep it
handy for those days when your leadership or management skills
need a quick tune up or an energy boost.
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| Success Strategies |
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Strategies for leadership and management development can
be found in books, articles, on the internet, and by observing others.
I was recently asked by a client to write down the "one-
liners" I
frequently use which help him stay on track as a leader.
Here are three:
- Don't Make Statements, Ask Questions:
Many of the executives we work with are accustomed to giving orders
and
making directive statements. These can be powerful and memorable.
They can also be a turn off and cause a great deal of trouble.
Practice
asking questions FIRST and making statements later. Here are some
great questions that work in management and leadership situations.
"Where did you get that information?" "Do you know that for sure?"
"What can I do to help?"
- It's Not About Them, It's About YOU!:
When
you experience challenges with employees, clients, shareholders,
board members, etc., avoid over-focusing on what they are doing
wrong and/or what you would like them to do differently. If you
instead
focus on you and what you can control, you will reduce
your stress
level, stop unproductive work habits, and maintain emotional control.
If you find yourself making statements or asking questions that are
about THEM, try asking yourself these questions instead: "What can I
do more effectively to resolve this situation?" "What am I doing that is
contributing to the challenge?" "What can I do that will help me stay in
integrity while resolving this situation?"
- Beware of
Your "Profit Holes":
The idea of
"Profit Holes" came about when I was working with a client who
consistently put energy and money into projects and people with
absolutely no return. The problem was that she didn't see
where she was losing energy and resources. So, we
reviewed her Profit and Loss statements and there it was in black and
white. Her profit and financial viability were in trouble. It was time to
stop chasing losing propositions. After making some significant
changes with clients, employees, and
herself, she is now profitable, happy, and financially healthy. To
prevent putting your money and energy into "Profit Holes," ask
yourself: "Is this a good use of my time?" "If I could find something or
someone better for this job, would I keep what I have or change it?"
"If I wasn't doing this, what would I do?" "Is what I am doing helping
or hurting me or the company?"
For more "J.Ferm One-liners" email us at
jessika@jferm.com
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Client Stories |
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George reflected on the successful law firm he helped to
build. Under his leadership, the firm had grown to include four offices,
150 employees, and an opportunity to add another 30 attorneys this
year. Finding people was easy. The real challenge...
Read on...
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