Weekend Reminder for Quarantined Friends

For those of you working from home, I wanted to share a quick weekend reminder:

1. Be grateful. So many people have lost their jobs permanently or are furloughed. I’m Christian and thank God. You might do the same or simply whisper positivity into the Universe.

2. Say thank you. Your family is likely just as stir crazy as you but at least you are working. Instead of just relaxing this weekend, make breakfast for your partner or take your dog on a long walk!

3. Please share. Almost every major company has created employee assistance funds. If you are still getting paid, please give a bit to those who are not. Here is a tracker of company efforts in support of their employees or communities. And here is a broader list.

4. Be safe. Stay home. At this point, I’m listening to my elected officials for sure but following my gut as well. And my gut tends to be a bit more conservative. So I’m staying home and staying safe for a while longer. Please be safe as you are led.

Make friends before you need them.

5. Reach out. Make at least three calls this weekend. And not just to the sick or most vulnerable. Call your single friend working from home alone without a pet. Send a handwritten note to a family member or friend just because. We are all kind of lonely during this crisis, whether we realize it or not.

For more thoughts on how you might use this crazy time for good, read my blogs “Make Friends BEFORE you need them” and “Aim for life connections”. Or start here.

Be well. Lead on.

Adam

Even if protesting, wear your face mask. #staysafe

Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog
Technology. Leadership. Food. Life.

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Please also read my perspective on why “All Lives Matter” is not a reality until Black Lives Matter.

Be You. Be True.

National Coming Out Day means a lot for so many people, and I wanted to share briefly why it is important to me.

Until I was around 27, I was not out as a gay man at work or to my family. Since being honest and open with both coworkers and my family, I feel more comfortable at work and in my personal life.

I have experienced greater success because I no longer have to hide a significant part of who I am. I want to encourage that individual who feels they must hide to stop hiding and bring us ALL of who they are. Inclusion is not about “agreeing with” a particular difference. It is about realizing that everyone is unique and that difference provides opportunity: an opportunity to learn and grow, to reach better conclusions, and to meet people that bring new perspectives and experiences.

I invite you to read my blog The Power of Authenticity and to see the article Smashing the Lavender Ceiling: Inside The LGBT World Of CRE for more on why this matters to me.

Finally, if you want to talk to someone about your personal coming out journey, I’m all ears. You will always have a safe zone for discussion with me.

Be well. Lead on.

Adam

Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog
Technology. Leadership. Food. Life.

AdamLStanley.com (Driving Value)

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6 signs your business might still be in the dark ages

…and how you can help them emerge.

2018. The fact that I have to write this blog at all is quite surprising but yes, it is in fact necessary. There are still some companies (and industries) stuck in the dark ages.  But, unlike 100 years ago, or even earlier in this decade when Kodak and Blockbuster were struggling (without success) to survive, there are clear warning signs to watch for … look for them and escape before you have an extinct company on your CV.

1. Your IT department is viewed as a necessary evil

It’s extraordinary, isn’t it, that in this tech-saturated world that there are still companies out there where the IT department is about as popular as chopped liver. These companies and their employees see IT as that necessary evil they contact when a PC breaks down, password is lost, or to solve some another niggling problem. In an era where technology has transformed the way we work, shop and live — and techies are now C-suite regulars and modern-day heroes – the few straggler companies that still don’t get it may want to step into the 21st century and make a few important adjustments.

2. Tech is listed as a corporate function

Is technology listed on corporate presentations as a function along with finance and legal? With respect to my friends in finance and legal functions whose work is essential to the success of any company, there’s a problem with technology being seen as a function. The reality is that the line between technology and business is blurring rapidly, and, as I have said many times, the term “digital business” is almost redundant. True forward-thinking companies have long ago elevated IT to the same level as strategy or product development – an integrated element of their business model.

3. Tech is NOT included in earnings reports

Imagine if Netflix, Google, or Facebook had an analyst day without mentioning technology. Ok, that may seem farfetched as these companies are fundamentally technology based. But, to my point that all businesses are becoming digital, it’s almost astonishing when IT initiatives, which are all about the quality of future operations and competitiveness, are absent in CEO calls. Talking too much about technology when you have never mentioned it will of course lead to skepticism, but technology should clearly be a part of your strategy and story.

4. Executives do not have tech objectives

“You manage what you measure” is a common catchphrase. Therefore, company leadership that sees the irrefutable and powerful value of technology will ensure tech goals become annual performance measures for their executives. You could see this as being similar to how adding diversity to annual performance goals has helped some companies change the tide in this area. One global leader I know has only two unique objectives above and beyond the normal financial and operational measures. Both of them are about enhancing client experience through technology and analytics. They came directly from the CEO. That’s how change starts.

5. Same tactics continue to be used

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. Yet, some companies still manage and think about problems today the same way they thought about them a decade ago. I’m not just talking about moving from waterfall to agile, though techies love to talk about that transition. I’m talking about literally thinking about problems differently. Technology doesn’t simply enable businesses to be more efficient, it has the power and potential to create entirely new business lines. It can disrupt the current model and displace competitors. The problem is that many companies are still looking for ways that technology can enhance an existing model. That’s old thinking! “You can’t continue to do what you’ve always done to stay ahead and be successful,” is how Paul Chapman, CIO of Box, put it in a recent interview with Apptio in their Emerge ezine. Watch out for people who stick to the narrow word “enablement” when referring to technology. Let’s talk about new revenue models and EBITDA enhancement instead.

6. Your CIO is NOT on the senior management team

Many studies have discussed the reporting structure of company CIOs. In the United States, a Deloitte study found, 50% of CIOs report to the CEO while globally this figure is 46%. But there are many companies where the CIO reports to the CFO, COO or and they thrive. Reporting structure does matter but I would argue that structure alone does not determine whether your business will emerge from the dark ages. A CEO that does not understand or appreciate technology, or one that is too stretched to give it focus, could possible make things worse for a CIO trying to drive digital strategy. A tech savvy and engaged CFO might therefore be a much better reporting structure. What’s most important is that the CIO is seen as a strategic part of the management team. The CIO can report up to the CFO, COO, or CEO — studies have shown that it really doesn’t matter. However, regardless of structure, the CIO leader must be in “the room where it happens” or your business will ultimately falter in our digital age, which continues to transform almost everything with mind-blowing speed. If your technology leader is relegated to the next level and not a part of critical meetings where business strategy, M&A, and revenue growth are discussed, he or she will be trapped in an enabler role. And your business will struggle to keep up. Is this comprehensive list? Probably not. Are there some successful companies out there that do not adhere to the above guidance? Yep. Be well. Lead on. Adam
Adam Stanley
Adam L. Stanley
Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog Technology. Leadership. Food. Life. AdamLStanley.com (Driving Value) Follow me on Twitter or Instagram Connect with me on Linked In
Technology is an opportunity not a threat

Technology is an opportunity not a threat

Someone asked me to explain what I meant when I tell people I view technology as an opportunity but not a “disruption.” Thought I would share with you as well.

I don’t think of technology from the perspective of some threat of disruption. I view it as a means to drive value for clients. The underlying message is “we are not scared”, which drives stupid behaviors. But “we are not stupid” so we focus on our clients and technology.

I argue that if Blockbuster or Kodak REALLY focused on meeting their clients needs, they would still be in business. Lead with what your client needs, trying to get really good at that such that you know before they do what they really need. Then make sure you have tech that can help you more readily meet those needs.

My religion, really, and why I have never been much for chasing shiny red balls.

Be well. Lead on.

Adam

See my other blogs on the dreaded “D” word >>

Disruption: Thinking like our ancestors

Purging overused buzzwords (Part 2 – Disruption)

Adam Stanley
Adam L. Stanley


Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog

Technology. Leadership. Food. Life.

AdamLStanley.com (Driving Value)

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Success is all about the C’s

Success is all about the C’s

Clearly, it’s not just your work

Success is multi-variant, for sure. I’ve known people who were considered amazing employees in one company and complete misses in another. I’ve seen truly smart and talented leaders miss promotion after promotion. And, of course, I have known some that I found mediocre at best that thrived. There are so many plausible reasons for the seeming anomalies, not the least of which is the fact that, while pretty good, I do not claim to be the perfect judge of talent.

Recently, however, I have begun to form a hypothesis around four traits that might just guarantee your success if you can master demonstration of all of them. They just happen to all start with the same letter. And, as always, I welcome your thoughts.

Competence

This is pretty obvious, right? Of course, if you hire someone, you want them to be able to deliver to your job description. And yet this is not always what we look for in hiring or promoting.

If you’re hired to lead a team of engineers, you must have the appropriate leadership skills and technical acumen to do so. You must be able to lead, guiding your team toward some shared vision and objective. You must understand engineering, at least enough to sniff out poppycock and identify opportunities. Likewise, CIOs must be able to talk about business strategy and how to tie strategy to technology investments. Architecture leads need to understand structure and working with developers. Finance professionals must know financial standards and practices. Sales people must be able to manage a client sales cycle. This is table stakes.

Yet, all too often there are individuals who have so mastered the art of “networking”, that they forget they actually must understand their area of responsibility. This blog is not really for those guys, however. This blog is for those who are highly competent yet still miss out. Read on, because knowing your stuff is simply not enough.

Content

I truly believe that most humans do enjoy learning something new — whether it’s from time to time or everyday. Therefore, the ability to come to the table with content above and beyond your primary role is very important to success. This could be a deep understanding of one particular area of expertise so that you are the smartest person in the room whenever this topic is discussed. Or it could be a broader, slightly more shallow knowledge of many different things. Either way, the goal is that every time you bring up one of these things someone learns.

People are by nature intrigued by something previously unknown to them. When you come with facts, studies and insight, they are engaged listeners– and that increases your value and likelihood of success.

Whenever I talk to mentees, especially younger ones, I encourage them to get a subscription to Harvard Business Review, The Economist, or The Atlantic. Each of these three publications are amazing at providing insightful analysis and background on things relevant to the world today. But your content can be loads of things.  If you know a lot about diversity, support your company’s D&I goals. If you are a trained musician, bring that up and perhaps apply your music talents to the crafting of strategy, which is simply a collection of “notes” coming together to form the “music” of profitable growth.

In short, bring content and you will be invited back to the table. Or the “room where it happened.” But, guess what? It’s challenging for people to find out you have content worth inviting you if they have never actually invited you to the room. See the challenge?

Communication

As you advance in your career you must communicate with greater awareness/ with purpose/ more consciously. It is absolutely amazing how many people NEVER talk to their boss about their goals, aspirations, and development needs. You want to have a spot on the agenda at the next company retreat? Ask. You think you deserve the promotion? Ask. Know something about a topic you know is important to the CEO? Make it known. How on earth would anyone know about that if you don’t speak up?

I learned this the hard way. Heck, sometimes I still forget. Earlier in my career, there were lots of specific projects and tasks and initiatives to which I was assigned. There were managers overseeing me and my work showed my worth — but these managers were mostly low-to-mid-level. They had time for overseeing and were trying to drive their own careers.

As my career progressed (as any does), management above me were more senior people with significantly less time for oversight. I realized almost too late how important it was to communicate what I had done and how I had succeeded. The fact is, senior managers are communicating regardless of whether you’re in the room so you better talk too. And the more senior you get, the less you will have others talking about you, your needs, or your successes. Sad but true.

That said, communication is not simply about selling yourself. It is also about communicating challenges and asking for support. It is about probing to find out what’s going on that you might have missed. And it’s about being clear with your intentions and your direction so that there is no doubt the path/strategy is right. And that is where confidence comes into play.

Confidence

I must admit that it took me years to realize just how confidence shrouded so many subpar professionals in a cloak of seeming invincibility and perceived intellect. Mediocre performers become super heroes daily with a simple turn of a phrase, swagger in the walk, and well-placed compliment from a close friend for whom he or she would do the same. Confidence is important and for many, it is a very difficult task to ensure you do not confuse confidence with arrogance. In cultures where talking about yourself is frowned upon, this can be even more difficult.

Ok, now stop reading my blog and read this post on the difference between arrogance and confidence. (Click here to open, but come back!). In case you don’t have time, here is the key point: “Get the idea of ‘overconfidence” out of your head right now. Overconfidence doesn’t exist; there is no such thing as too much confidence.” The article goes on to say that “The opposite of arrogance is not a lack of confidence. It’s deference.”

This is so very important. I have seen time and again that people are so afraid of being confident that they miss opportunities to shine. They come off as weak because they are trying not to come off as arrogant. I have suffered from this as have many friends. You don’t have to suffer as well!

“In the board room, when you’re perceived as tough and aggressive for the right reasons, in the right moments, that’s an asset, that’s an attribute. That’s helped me,” said Gene Todd, interviewed in a recent article.

Bottom line

(This is why “culture” does matter, as an aside.) A lot goes into success, including teammates, partners, relationships, company, intelligence, work output, adaptability, etc. But these C-words above drive a ton of what constitutes “success” in most work contexts. Focus on being good at what you do, uniquely contribute content to the conversation, communicate your needs and your successes, and remember that it is absolutely ok to be confident.

You’ll rise up.

There are about 97 million books, podcasts, videos, and blogs about how to be successful. What if it’s just a series of C-words?

Be well. Lead on.

Adam

Adam Stanley in suit with coffee


Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog

Technology. Leadership. Food. Life.

AdamLStanley.com (Driving Value)

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Purging overused buzzwords (Part 3)

 The Big-D Jargon Hit list: Cutting out Disintermediation

Purging overused buzzwords opens our minds to the new realities of succeeding in business today

If you’ve been following any of my blogs lately you’ll know that I’ve been on a rant about jargon, and, so far, have tried to exorcise both digital and disruption from our daily lexicon. Good luck, you say? Ok, well, the point I’m trying to make is that many of these words have gone past their due dates, and should be sent out to the business-as-usual pasture.

Generally, the rampant use of jargon isn’t only annoying, it blocks our ability to see with fresh eyes and stifles the way we communicate. Even worse, such words, often coined by consultants, can cause us to cram our great plans into safe, universally-defined small boxes. So much for thinking “outside of the box!”

Jargon gets on everyone’s nerves, yet, we all use it because it’s easy and everyone else is doing it. When you take overused words out of the equation, you’ll find that you’ll look at things differently and be more focused. Suddenly those meetings won’t be such a waste of time and you and your team will have a better chance at refocusing on what matters: delivering ever-better services to your clients and growing your business.

comic style woman blah blah blah speech bubble

And if you don’t believe me, take the jargon-lite challenge; go a few days without using digital or disruption or any other buzzwords for that matter and see how it challenges your thought processes.

Ok – for this blog installment, I’d like to take on a longer “d” word that’s also polluting our lexicon: Disintermediation. What? I get that this isn’t a word you commonly toss around over a drink with your pals, but it’s one that consultants love and looms large over many businesses today.

Disintermediation would really be the removal of the go-between in business transactions, reducing the “friction” in a transaction and, at least in theory, improving the value of an existing product or service. Inversely, intermediation injects a middleman between distribution channels e.g. a customer and businesses that previously sold directly to consumers.

Where I work at a brokerage, disintermediation is a big topic. Stock brokers, residential real estate brokers, and insurance agents are all intermediaries, and constantly wonder how new concepts will impact their value. “Will brokerages be disintermediated?” is a constant question at industry tech events.

Ok, stick with me on this one – it’s a bit of a reductio ad absurdum argument. Disintermediation assumes that a there is a recognized, consistent intermediary that provides services to a recognized, consistent channel. But with channels changing frequently in a digital world where disruption occurs regularly is there, in fact, a recognized consistent intermediary?

Insurance brokerage, for example, has changed but it isn’t really about disintermediation. The channel is still the same: a customer looking for insurance who goes to a “source” to help them get what they need. What has changed is that that source is no longer only a person but also a website or a mobile application.

For businesses today, the idea of threat of disintermediation is negative and potentially limiting. In this world, one size does not fit all. New models must be free of narrowly defined concepts and, instead, focus harder on understanding their customer base. We must find new ways to meet needs with improved levels of convenience and selection. It’s not about disintermediation, it’s about the realities of doing business today.

So, let’s stop talking about disintermediation. Instead, here is what your meetings should cover:

  1. Who are my customers, and what do they need? Not just which of my existing services do my customers need.
  2. What are the most important relationship factors desired by my customers in a partnership?
  3. How do my customers access their needs today and what factors (environmental, demographics, etc.) may influence these buying patterns in the future?
  4. Are we willing to change the way we deliver services even if that means we lose good people or abandon successful products?

Netflix did not disintermediate Blockbuster. Customers have always wanted entertainment. They want convenience and enjoy watching movies wherever, whenever, and on whatever device they want. Netflix did not disintermediate Blockbuster. Netflix recognized the channel was changing and became an intermediary of that channel.

I’ve now covered digitaldisruption and disintermediation in my Big D Hit List. I would love to have your thoughts on this post.

Be well. Lead on.

Adam

Adam Stanley - Connections blog - Thinking like a disruptor


Adam L. Stanley Connections Blog

Technology. Leadership. Food. Life.

AdamLStanley.com (Driving Value)

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