| Issue 23, June 2004 |
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This is m-news, M Power's monthly e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it. M Power is a communication, consulting and training company. m-news includes information about related themes - six quick snippets about business, organisational and individual effectiveness, communication and public relations. Communication empowers. Karen Morath, managing director, M Power
1. Winning!
1. Winning! Former GE chief Jack Welch is writing the supposed definitive tome on business success, rumoured to be called 'Winning'. Based on the premise that while someone is winning, someone else must be losing, it is hard to see how this could be the ticket to success. Let's hope Jack Welch takes a historical view in his book because surely this isn't the recipe for 21st century corporate success.
2. A quote we like “No communication creates division.” Source – Krystal, Big Brother Up Late, Channel Ten, May 25 (seriously)
3. Introducing M Power speaker Geoffrey McDonald Continuing the series of profiles introducing speakers represented by M Power Speakers. No matter what business you're in, a Geoff McDonald presentation or a longer workshop will engage your staff or industry group, and motivate them to greater innovation and creativity. Geoff presents a thought-provoking seven-point framework for re-inventing your products and services to transform your business. He began exploring the effects of new technology in 1984 when confronted by the impact of computer technology on his future as an architect. He has been exploring this ever since. He'll work with you to dissect innovation and technological change as it is affecting your business and your industry. In any business environment he is topical and provocative. He motivates by challenging his audience. What are you doing about creating new products and services? Where is your industry headed and what opportunities lie ahead? Geoff McDonald can be booked by calling M Power Speakers on 9510 2592. 4. The power of beautiful writing
I don’t know if plumbers get excited about great pipes, I’m pretty sure architects react positively to good design, but as a writer I know the pure joy of reading something original, inspired or cleverly out of place. Beautiful writing can be moving, amusing or poignant. At its best, it connects with the reader, forcing an emotional response. Of course I only watch the New York-based Sex and the City for the writing and this professional dedication was rewarded by a line in a recent episode. The relatively demure Charlotte York was behaving out of character and her state of mind was described as “somewhere between Old York and New York”. (Gorgeous) Sometimes it’s just a phrase that delights. Brochures promoting guru seminars are usually boring and poorly written. But Garry Hamel’s offering promises to teach attendees how to build competitive advantage (cliché, cliché, cliché) “in a world where change is shaken, not stirred” (unexpected, out of place, as exciting as 007 himself). Writing – beautifully crafted – is a powerful tool.
5. Gratuitous plug for M Power M Power is expanding its community engagement/public participation practice. Indeed, we prefer the term ‘community empowerment’. We have worked in the field for a number of years but are responding to an increased demand for services and expertise in the area. M Power managing director, Karen Morath, recently attended an international conference on public participation in Brisbane and became a member of the International Association for Public Participation.
6. This month's book review
The Seven-Day Weekend. A Better Way to Work in the 21st Century, by Ricardo Semler, 2003, Random House, London. This book shakes up every known convention of work and organisational life. The author describes the Brazil-based multinational company he has built. The way it functions challenges everything you learn in business school and whether you agree with him or not, there is certainly plenty to think about. He is decidedly anti-MBA, anti-business plan, anti-organisational structures, anti-titles and position descriptions. His company’s success is testament to his faith in people’s capacity to ‘self-manage’. Ricardo is my new hero – here is everything I aspire to in one book. It’s a great read! To buy the Seven-Day Weekend from Amazon click here.
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