It is estimated that in 1993 the Internet carried only 1% of the information flowing through two-way telecommunication. By 2000 this figure had grown to 51%, and by 2007 more than 97%. Is it time, now in 2012 to fully embrace new, mostly digital technologies, to improve your business management methods?
“The digital divide has increasingly become about knowledge and adoption of new technologies rather than access. Which side of the divide are you on – are you a leader or a laggard?”
This week there were a few events/blogs that really triggered our thoughts. The first was a “Mastermind” meeting. Initially put off by the name, I learned that this group was designed to help people with their business, not too different than a “C” group or young presidents club. A mastermind group is simply an alliance of two or more individuals dedicating themselves to a specific goal.
Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, first defined the mastermind as a “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”
Andrew Carnegie
“Mr. Carnegie’s Master Mind group consisted of a staff of approximately fifty men, with whom he surrounded himself, for the DEFINITE PURPOSE of manufacturing and marketing steel. He attributed his entire fortune to the POWER he accumulated through this ‘Master Mind.’”
Since the publication of Think and Grow Rich in the 1937, the idea of mastermind groups has grown and evolved to become a staple tool of successful individuals.
The benefits of having a supportive mastermind group are plenty:
1. You have a group of people available to help you succeed.
2. You get the benefit of differing perspectives, input and feedback.
3. Your mastermind team can bring resources and connections to the table you might not have had on your own.
4. You receive accountability and inspiration from the group, thus enabling you to maintain focus in achieving your goals.
The second event this week was article in the Harvard Business review on Culture and why it matters. Part of our ongoing challenge in the company is to understand the organizations purpose. It’s important to understand not just what we say, what the Team is doing, but how.
How is the purpose being achieved with Teamwork, vulnerability and performance? The author a partner at McKinsey goes on to discuss learning and its critical role in a successful culture. It’s every employee’s role to continually learn. Don’t miss the chance to ask customers, suppliers and others what they perceive about the companies culture.
The digital era, the digital divide has triggered some serious thought starters and challenges. The cost of flexibility, of tools and systems permit us to do so much more analysis and design with lower investments. The access to software-as-a service or a cloud based network tool kit should help separate us from others.
Digital technology is an enabler, a utility. It is a means to an end; we must recognize the importance of the human element and create space, time to capture the synergy of digital technology and human talents, treasure. We must overcome our guarded efforts to overestimate opportunities, underestimating challenges and misestimating risks.
Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose; sounds like a good start to a TEAM. Understanding the company’s purpose is a key to the Team. Finding, using and getting value from digital tools enable the Team. Teams need leaders. Leaders are developed over time; they come from a crock pot not a micro wave.
“The digital divide has increasingly become about knowledge and adoption of new technologies rather than access.” We need to be a firm that makes progress that makes changes, improvements. Some firms think progress is staying the same slowly. We need to use more of digital tools, more systems and analyze data and costs.
Are we leaders or laggards?
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