Success comes via learning from when things go wrong, to be able to get them right more often.
This applies to the expert-speaker who gets stopped before he can finish his “talk”, because he over-shot allotted time. Just like it does to the freelance writer, who misses agreed deadlines for submission of completed pieces. Such “failures” can lead to poor rating/reputation…and even loss of business.
When you win a buyer over, that can often just be the beginning of an unpredictable journey. Even when it’s simply to deliver an already made product, all sorts of thing can STILL go wrong.
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Is this email not displaying correctly? Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter Date: Monday 28th October 2013 No:113 Title: A Best Practice Strategy That Solves ANY Problem Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ] Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here Hi, Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.
No. 113: A Best Practice Strategy That Solves ANY Problem**** ********** NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule ********** Success comes via learning from when things go wrong, to be able to get them right more often. This applies to the expert-speaker who gets stopped before he can finish his “talk”, because he over-shot allotted time. Just like it does to the freelance writer, who misses agreed deadlines for submission of completed pieces. Such “failures” can lead to poor rating/reputation…and even loss of business. When you win a buyer over, that can often just be the beginning of an unpredictable journey. Even when it’s simply to deliver an already made product, all sorts of thing can STILL go wrong. Example: Unexpected Damage of an Ordered Item in Transit to the BuyerMaybe you sell DVDs and manuals. And they probably don’t come cheap. Imagine the delivery man accidentally dropped them in the rain – getting them wet – and ruined, on arriving at the buyer’s place. The latter would naturally not be happy. And it’s likely s/he would call YOU! Strictly speaking, that would not be your fault. If you’re lucky, the courier company may offer something – in addition to free delivery of a replacement. Otherwise, you’d end up being short changed. If that happens, and you eventually survive, what would you do?Thank God that it was not worse, and pray it never happens again? I certainly hope that’s NOT all you do! I once read a quote credited to someone whose name I cannot recall, that goes something like this: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”We therefore need to LEARN how to get things right as often as possible. That’s why SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are important. SOPs are based on Best Practices, which are always evolving, by incorporating latest learnings made in the process of carrying out an activity, or running a process. A Real-Life Example of “Formal Problem Solving” – Set By the US MilitaryBack in 2000, I read a newsletter issue dated Wednesday 6th June on “Management and Strategy” (published by Zooba.com – now defunct I believe). It narrated how the American military developed a system to improve their ability –as a learning organisation – to successfully tackle various problems they faced in the field. On reading it, I realized what they had done was simply to implement the Best Practice principles of Formal Problem Solving. What follows below, is a paraphrased version of that true story: Backed by a United Nations mandate in 1994, US Army troops invaded the little country of Haiti to return to the country’s legitimate government. The first soldiers were however not prepared for the roles they ended up having to play while there. Case 1: Soldiers Delivering Babies!For instance, due to disrupted medical services provision, in Port-au-Prince, the soldiers discovered they would actually have to formally engage in delivering babies! Being the soliders they were, they adapted, learned and survived the experience. Those first teams were later tasked to develop SOPs by reviewing all that transpired during their unusual tour, for use by those who followed after them. But they were only able to do this and get results, because an “assessment and evaluation process’ called “After Action Reviews” (AARs) had been established about 20 years previously. It was however the Haiti experience that triggered the incorporation of AARs into use at all stages of the military’s field operations. This made it possible to capture new learning about how to get things done, and distribute/propagate that “organisational knowledge” to all members who needed it. In the case of the soldiers who had to adapt to delivering babies, the report they generated recommended that medical personnel dispatched received a minimum elementary training in obstetrics. AARs can be put to successful use in any organisation.What’s more, my personal experiences confirm individuals can also successfully adapt them for use as well – because it’s actually based on common sense! The process involves all participants in an activity, formally coming together, post-completion, to review their experiences against the following four questions: 1. What was the objective I/we aimed to accomplish? 2. What actually took place during the event, or mission, or process? 3 Why did it occur? 4. What do I/we do next time, to make the event, mission or process end more successfully? NB: The event or process could be giving a talk, running a seminar or workshop, delivering a product, implementing a client project as an expert etc Case 2: Getting Civilian Cooperation Without Using “Excessive Force”…The Zooba.com newsletter also narrated an interesting example, of how an initial failure by certain “spearhead units” in Haiti was eventually overcome. They had orders to retrieve guns from areas on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, where rebels were suspected to be based. Their initial searches yielded little success – because many residents refused to give soldiers access to their homes. And the soldiers had instructions NOT to use excessive force. Later on, during the AARs, the forward units learned the people were scared of German shepherd dogs used by the soldiers in “rear-guard action”.That knowledge let to the deployment of dogs to the front units. Not surprisingly, the people immediately stopped resisting the soldiers! In other words, the AARs yielded instant feedback, from which useful NEW knowledge, about how to get better results was harvested. The soldiers consequently achieved what Zooba.com described as “rapid and secure occupation” – with minimal casualties on both sides. Final WordsI’ll end by repeating what I said earlier… Just as the AARs can be used by groups and organisations, the same principles can be successfully applied by individuals too. Need More Ideas on How to Use The Above Information?If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter, send me a message using this request form – with “Re: No. 112: Change Your Environment to Succeed – If Necessary” in the subject line.
Have a lovely week!
Tayo K. Solagbade* Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist *Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur. He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide. In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager. When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent). For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more. Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook. ================== Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?Here’s a tip: Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him. Comments?What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts! Share this issue!Do you know anyone who might benefit from reading this newsletter issue? Why not hit the forward button now, and send it to him/her with a short recommendation. You can also use share it via your social media channels. Thanks in advance.
What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class). At least that’s how I like to think of them! All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here] Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) . . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.
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