Creativity, harmony, longing and timing

Every time I see this clip I just go wow...

When a client speaks on your behalf

I was speaking the other day with the director of a consultancy who does not want to “waste his time” encouraging clients to speak at our conference, time he can better spend selling to them.

Isn’t he missing a trick?

I have seen the powerful impact on others when someone enthuses or moans about their experience of a service. And isn’t it great to give all your clients an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments, and for you to benefit from the associated glow of exposure?

The consultancy’s area of expertise is apparently “people communicating with other people”.

Hmmmm.

Are Awards worth the effort of entering?

I was speaking the other day with the director of engagement at a telecommunications company about entering for awards, about the benefit of the investment of time and effort required.

People do seem willing to write thousands of words for a standard award entry, and to work hard on their presentation to the judges if invited, even though only a few win, and their ideas are rarely publicised as a consequence.

I think that the yearning for recognition is strong. But I also think that for entering to be worthwhile, all the innovative ideas should receive strong exposure.

Social Media in Compliance Training?

I was speaking the other day with the global e-learning training manager at a leading bank. He was saying that he did not see scope for social media in compliance training.

So I was wondering.
Just because compliance is more “training” than “learning”, why would this preclude a really powerful role for social media? I think there is always room for a group of people that share a common goal (in this case to master the compliance training) to be able to communicate, share and discuss.

What do you think?

Retaining the Knowledge of Exiting Talent

I was speaking the other day with the head of learning and development  at a government agency. They have a scientific focus, but because of the current cutbacks, are having to let go of many staff.

A key challenge they are facing is to not lose the know-how of those people that have been fulfilling key roles. This can be a sensitive issue, because some of the people quite naturally feel that if the agency needs their knowledge, how comes they are letting them go?

Any thoughts?

CR - Good for Business, or just Good PR?

I was speaking the other day with a senior environment manager at a large insurance group, about their entering the Peer Award for Excellence in Corporate Responsibility.

After some hesitation she declined. She explained that they do not seek awards, because care for the environment makes good business sense, and is not about good PR.

I think it is true that some/many organisations pursue CR ideals because it looks good. Isn't it inspiring though when an environment manager says it really is about the environment, and about good business, and is not about the kudos?

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