Gray matters…That is the gray substance that exists between your ears. It’s been said that technology is doubling every six months, a statistic that has been reducing in time and increasing in speed. As technical know-how advances, so does the need to keep our minds sharp and our access to information fluid. Your ability to acquire knowledge, master skills, and put the skill to use in solving life’s challenges is your intellectual horsepower. Read More
About Mike Koper
Mike Koper is the Senior Projects Specialist for RWD’s Manufacturing group and has been a leader in the company for 11 years. As a certified Project Manager, he works to interface with client’s plants while establishing new and maintaining current training programs. He brings over 20 years to the manufacturing industry and has authored over 15 articles in trade magazines.
Oh…We’ve tried that before and it didn’t work. Ever hear that before? It may be coming from senior management or from team members on the manufacturing floor. What could have made them so bias towards a new initiative? Was it that they have seen the song and dance once before, or was it given an honest shot and it failed on its own demise? Maybe the strategy was mistimed, lacked leadership buy-in, or not applicable to the current economic condition; either way, the initiative didn’t pass muster. As a front line performer, you need to lead the team in a new direction to improve the current performance. Read More
Problem-Solving Skills (PPS) should be one of the primary sought-after skill sets of a company’s workforce. Do you have those skills? Just what is meant by PPS? Most colleagues and coworkers are smart enough and have the ability to solve problems effectively; additionally most possess the know-how. Yet time and time again, without a methodology, most people struggle in getting to the desired outcome on a consistent basis. Read More
From an early age we have all heard the analogy, from our parents that “you were given two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak”. So true is this lesson in today’s business environment especially for the leaders in charge of company growth. Read More
“Know thyself” – Socrates, 78 AD.
“You can know yourself only through
accurate analysis” – Napoleon Hill.
Self-knowledge is conscientiously divided into gut-checking, soul searching and reacquainting with self-time, each strongly related to the success in life and work.
In the writing of this blog, I normally stick to the mechanical steps of leadership development and performance improvement. Yet, feedback is a crucial element. In many ways it can be eye-opening, informative and possibly open a can of worms, pending the responders’ demeanor. In one study, the best predictor of a high performance appraisal was seeing yourself as others see you; the best predictor of a low appraisal was overrating your skills.
