Shipulski On Design

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We have growth targets, stretch goals, corporate initiatives, and improvement plans.  If we achieve all this but it comes at the expense of our health, what do we really have? When we have our health, we can forget we have it and take it for granted.  We forget we can easily get into our car […]

New ways to work are new because they have not been done before. How many new ways to work have you demonstrated over the last year? New customer value is new when it has not been shown before. What new customer value have you demonstrated over the last year? New ways to deliver customer value […]

When new ideas come from the outside, they are dismissed out of hand.  The technical term for this behavior is Not Invented Here (NIH).  Because it was not invented by the party with official responsibility, that party stomps it into dust.  But NIH doesn’t stomp in public; it stomps in mysterious ways. Wow!  That’s a […]

Show them how the work is done. Ask them what they saw. Praise them for what they recognized and describe what they didn’t. Repeat Tell them how the work is done. You do some and they watch you, and they do some and you watch them. Ask them what they felt and what questions they […]

If you can’t imagine it, it’s impossible. But if you can imagine it, at worst it can only be almost impossible. Who controls your imagination? What you think about something affects you like it’s true, even when it isn’t. And what you think is true often isn’t. Are you responsible for what you think? If […]

When you notice someone having a difficult time, take the time to check in with them.  An in-person “Are you okay?” is probably the best way, but a phone call, text, or video chat will also do nicely. When you’re having a difficult time, when someone notices and checks in you feel a little better. […]

Companies that are good at planning their projects create roadmaps spanning about three years, where individual projects are sequenced to create a coordinated set of projects that fit with each other.  The roadmap helps everyone know what’s important and helps the resources flow to those most important projects. Through the planning process, the collection of […]

If you want to help someone grow, use the work.  Put them on mission-critical work that gives them the opportunity to demonstrate next-level skills.  And the work must fit the person – it can’t be too difficult or too easy.  It must be just right.   And don’t create new work. Instead, for the company’s most […]

Show customers what’s possible. Then listen. The best projects are small until they’re not. Today’s location before tomorrow’s destination. The best idea requires the least effort. Ready, fire, aim is better than ready, aim, aim, aim. Be certain about the uncertainty. Do so you can discuss. Put it on one page. Fail often, but call […]

Do you believe in yourself? Belief in yourself manifests in your actions.  What do your actions say about your belief in yourself? Belief in yourself doesn’t mean everything will work out perfectly.  It means that you’ll be okay regardless of how things turn out. When you see someone that doesn’t believe in themselves, how do […]

If when you write your monthly report no one responds with a question of clarification or constructive comment, this may be a sign your organization places little value on your report and the work it stands for.  If someone sends a thank you email and do not mention something specific in your report, this masked […]