What if "The Cloud" visited a psychiatrist? Does Cloud and Cloud Computing
need therapy? Are they suffering from split personality disorder? With so
many people giving different definitions of what Cloud Computing is, no
wonder The Cloud has an identity crisis. Be a fly on the wall and listen in
to the Cloud's therapy session.
Scene: Office of Dr. Virgil I. Zation, a noted Silicon Valley Psychiatrist.
Dr. Zation is having a therapy session with a new patient named Cloud.
Doctor: How can I help you, Mr. Cloud?
Cloud: You can drop the "Mr." and just call me "The Cloud."
Doctor: Ok, Cloud. What brings you to my office?
Cloud: Doctor, I think I'm in an identity crisis. I just don't seem to know
who I am anymore. On the one hand, I'm "The Cloud." I've got a handle on that
identity, but now people are talking about "Cloud Computing," and it's really
confusing me, and worst of ... (more)
A CEO once asked me, "As an executive coach, what are the top mistakes you've
seen when business leaders give a presentation"? He was expecting just a few
insights, I'm sure. But once I got thinking about all the mess-ups I'd seen,
I just could not stop writing them down. What started as a Letterman "Top Ten
List" took on a life of its own.
So, for all you executives getting ready to present, here are 100 of the top
mistakes I've seen over the years.
100 Ways to Bore Your Audience
Don't have a story Show lots and lots of slides Don't have clear messages
Have plenty of bullets and... (more)
One has to wonder what business leaders are thinking sometimes when they
utter things that they have to know are going to send waves throughout the
universe.
The iconic Warren Buffett opened up his mouth in May 2009 and turned the
financial world on its head.
In an interview, Mr. Buffett chose to express his views of the current
economic times by saying, “this is an economic Pearl Harbor” and equated
the current financial situation in the United States to “falling off a
cliff.” These comments may seem innocent enough. But coming from a
financial executive who has changed a whol... (more)
The late Walter Cronkite as a role model for IT managers? At first glance, we
might not see the connection between "the most trusted man in America" and
high tech management. But if we pull back the layers of how Cronkite
approached his job, there are solid day-to-day career lessons for those
working in IT.
Seven Best Practices Straight From the Desk of Uncle Walter
1. Explain things in a simple way so everyone can understand. CBS' Bob
Schieffer said people "understood Cronkite was guiding you through events."
He translated the complex or hard to understand in a way that made you n... (more)
The death of Walter Cronkite got me thinking about his leadership qualities
and how business leaders can take a few cues from "the most trusted man in
America."
I posted on Ulitzer about what IT professionals can learn from the legendary
newsanchor, and even if you are not in IT, "Walter Cronkite's IT Career
Advice" might be an interesting read. But from a purely leadership
perspective, Cronkite is a fabulous role model with lots to offer anyone in
any management position.
Leaders Set the Tone
Cronkite as a leader of news, created an atmosphere of trust and honesty. His
long-time... (more)