Application

As each week goes by in this course, I can appreciate the weeks that I can find applicable concepts to my current job. 

Here are some things I learned from this week's materials:

"A Message to Garcia"

There were so many wonderful tidbits of information crammed into this reading.  Here were some of the highlights for me:

• Learn to get the job done.
• The ability to execute is more valuable than education or talent, because it is far rarer.
• It is impossible to build an effective organization without delegating important tasks to talented and capable people.  
• If 90% of life is "just showing up" then the most important 10% of life is execution.
• The greatest challenges always come from within.

The secret to developing the right attitudes, habits and instincts for execution:

1. Accept the mission and get started.
2. Be curious.
3. Immediately sketch out a plan.
4. If you need resources, don't be afraid to ask.
5. Enlist help when needed.
6. Report back and show your work.
7. Under promise and over deliver.
8. Expect to make (small) mistakes.
9. Put results before schmoozing.
10. Replace the voices in your head with positive action.

This list is particularly beneficial to me because I sometimes do struggle with executing tasks.  It isn't because I am incapable, but rather because I get so overwhelmed that I don't know where to start.  I really like to make lists so the irony isn't lost on me that I connected with the above list!  It is often the act of making a list or sketching out a plan that helps me focus and navigate the path to completion.  

"Aspects of Building Trust"  Guy Kawasaki

I think this was my favorite video this week in which Mr. Kawasaki laid out the three characteristics of trustworthiness.

1. Trust people and they will trust you.  The basic concept is that that you have to extend trust first before people will ultimately trust you.  He gave an example of three business that exhibit this characteristic...Amazon, Zappos, and Nordstrom.
2. There are two kinds of people...Bakers and Eaters.  Eaters will look at a situation and see what they can get out of it which is essentially a zero sum gain.  Bakers will look at a situation and see it as an opportunity to make it bigger and better.  Be a baker.
3. Default to YES.  As you meet people, you should always be thinking of how you can help that person rather than wondering what that person can do for you.  This can be beneficial with networking and gaining customer loyalties  

I think the reason this resonated with me so much is that I can see the lack of these three characteristics of trustworthiness in my current place of employment.  It isn't blatant or always obvious, but there is definitely an underlying tone of a lack of trust between employees and with customers.  This is something that I definitely want to evaluate and change within myself but also change the trust culture at my work.