Grolistic

Breaking Innovation Barriers

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  Most organizations pronounce their commitment to curiosity, creativity and innovation; yet the reality is that many of these companies can be hostile to the exploration of new ideas. To achieve predictable growth, it is perceived as less risky to pursue operational efficiency through continuous improvement than to challenge the status quo, encouraging the exploration of innovations that might possibly disrupt a stable business. But with most organizations being steadily challenged by changing customer needs, technology …

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Relationships Matter

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Bob Schultek Author of  The Gauntlet You’ve heard business people say, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” But nothing could be further from the truth. Because you care about your business, everything about it is personal. The relationships you build, inside and outside your business, are your most important asset. Relationships matter. Business is a team sport. As a leader, you are dependent on others for your success. You create a direction and context for action; …

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Battling Commoditization

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Bob Schultek Author of  The Gauntlet The market is tilted in favor of commoditization: information about available suppliers and options is easy to acquire online; assessment of these alternatives is designed to enable prompt, simple allocation into pre-determined boxes; and minimal energy and time is invested to gain additional insight about offerings beyond what is evident through readily available information. In this market, your process for responding to inquiries must be distinctive, separating you from competitors. …

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3 Questions About Choosing to Follow

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet rschultek@staging.elfin-bead.flywheelsites.com 216-272-4449     People act in their own best interest. Before choosing to follow your lead, your team will assess your credibility (are you genuine?) and your intentions (why should I follow you?), asking themselves these 3 questions: 1. “Can you help me?” The number one reason that people choose to follow is because the leader is credible. More than vision, or communication skills, or other effective leadership characteristics, people need to believe that a leader has the credibility …

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Sustainability & Value Creation

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet The fundamental premise for business acquisitions is that the merged organizations will be more valuable together than they would be if they continued as separate entities; an acquisition is expected to create value. Yet, a multitude of research studies cite a high failure rate for mergers. One KPMG study indicates that 83% of acquisitions fail to boost value, and another by A.T. Kearney concludes that total return on many M&A deals is often negative. These studies consistently …

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Benefits from Promises

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet Delivering promised benefits to a new customer communicates that you respect and value the business shared with you, and that your commitments are reliable. The customer’s confidence and trust grows, earning you consideration when the next opportunity arises. Consistently producing promised benefits, time after time, builds customer loyalty. And when your solutions do more than resolve short term needs, when they also contribute to the customer’s progress and goal achievement, an …

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Sustaining Change

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet Because people drive change, sustaining a change initiative requires a commitment from leadership to invest significant time and energy in engaging everyone connected with the effort. By remaining personally involved, modelling behaviors that support the change, and focusing more on why the change is essential than what is changing, leaders can preserve the vision of desired outcome or common goal. They lead by exhibiting 3 qualities: 1. They remove barriers …

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Opportunity from Disruption

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet Change often leaves disruption in its wake. When that disruption is personal, it can be unsettling and disheartening; the sense that you have no control can paralyze decision-making. Regaining control begins by recognizing the opportunity hidden within your challenge and moving forward to exploit it. One of my associates recently shared the following quote about such situations from the book “A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living” by Joseph Campbell. When …

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3 Growth Culture Drivers

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Bob Schultek Author of  The Gauntlet Organizations that sustain profitable growth tend to demonstrate three cultural drivers. They are guided by their Purpose Motive. The organization understands how it contributes to its customers’ strategic progress, beyond providing quality products and exceptional service. Because its people realize how they make a difference, they are motivated to invest extra effort, strengthening offerings and operations to sustain their progress. They are committed to Innovation. The business recognizes that innovation fuels its purpose by …

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Why Buy the Quarter-Inch Drill?

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Bob Schultek Author of The Gauntlet “The customer rarely buys what the company thinks it is selling him.” Peter Drucker “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole.” Theodore Levitt Customers don’t care about products or services – they want solutions. Developing a creative, satisfactory solution to a vital, unmet customer need is the origin of many businesses. But as it matures, the business often loses its focus on how it makes a …

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