Declaring a Major at 18 When We Don’t Know Who We Are Until We’re 30

By Michelle Malay Carter on January 30, 2008 

I think most people reach about 30 years of age before they really know who they are and how that might translate into a job, and for some it happens later than that.  Some of this likely stems from our current education and work paradigms.
My 15 year old neighbor is already being pressured as a [...]

Filed Under Organization Design, Personal Observation, Strategy, Talent Management | 7 Comments

Circumventing the Four-Year University Machine

By Michelle Malay Carter on January 29, 2008 

I’m not a futurist, but my last post about Management Megatrends got me thinking about other potential “machines” that may become either irrelevant or reinvented in my lifetime.   So this post is mostly musing and is more about questions than answers.  I’d love to get your perspective as I go out on a limb and poke [...]

Filed Under Corporate Values, Organization Design, Personal Observation, Strategy, Talent Management | 5 Comments

Science Doesn’t Lie, But Liars Can Use Science (and Idiots too)

By Michelle Malay Carter on January 16, 2008 

The Invisible Killer - Dihydrogen Monoxide
Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there.  Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage.  Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can [...]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Executive Leadership, Organization Design, Personal Observation, Requisite Organization, Strategy, Talent Management | 2 Comments

Making the High Road Accessible - My Hope for 2008 and 2009 and 2010…

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 28, 2007 

I’m feeling philosophical at year’s end - an intriguing mix of sadness and restlessness tempered by faithfulness and hopefulness.
Systematically Building Trust through Integrated, Consistent Systems Design
One of the greatest attractors I have toward Elliott Jaques’ total-systems Requisite Organization model for organization design and managerial leadership is that it is the epitome of the high road.  I believe those who [...]

Filed Under Corporate Values, Employee Engagement, Executive Leadership, Managerial Leadership, Organization Design, Personal Observation, Requisite Organization | Leave a Comment

Wii Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Tax Write Off Too

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 24, 2007 

Good news.  Those of you have purchased a Wii for your enjoyment might be able to claim it as a business expense.***
I don’t consider myself much of a tech-head.  Gadgits and gizmos don’t turn my head, but this video of Johnny Chung Lee’s unique use of the Wii remote was too good not to share.

***I am not [...]

Filed Under High Potential, Personal Observation | 2 Comments

The Perfect Job Title?

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 18, 2007 

Google is currently recruiting for a Director of Other.  This sounds like a dream job because it affords the potential to clench the proverbial best of both worlds.  Imagine the freedom to set your own agenda. 
If you are given an assignment that does not interest you, you can say:  “Obviously, that doesn’t fall into the category of Other,” [...]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Personal Observation | 5 Comments

I Didn’t Say You Stole My Money - Why You Should Deliver Sensitive Messages in Person

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 12, 2007 

I’ve got some heavy writing commitments outside my blog this week so my entries will be a little lighter and less often.  It’s painful because I’ve stumbled upon some good stuff this week that I have not had time to research.
Back in the day when I did customer service training, I used the following sentence [...]

Filed Under Executive Leadership, Managerial Leadership, Personal Observation | 9 Comments

Creativity Versus Innovation - A Friday Funny

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 7, 2007 

Creativity is the bursting forth of new ideas.  Innovation is putting them into application.  Many creative people have no interest in the application of their ideas.   Their satisfaction comes solely from the creation of the idea.  If you are a manager creating a team, keep in mind that you need both.  All talk with no [...]

Filed Under Employee Engagement, Managerial Leadership, Personal Observation | 2 Comments

Snappy Boring Quotes from Timothy Ferriss

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 4, 2007 

I’ve talked about the fact that 20% of workers are underutilized and bored.  Further, we often fiind that many higher level jobs within organizations are not “fully loaded”.  Meaning although an employee might be matched to his job on paper, much of the employee’s time is spent doing tasks that are substantially lower in complexity [...]

Filed Under Employee Engagement, Managerial Leadership, Personal Observation, Talent Management | 7 Comments

Short Term Versus Long Term Thinking - A Friday Funny

By Michelle Malay Carter on November 30, 2007 

I stumbled across this old Subway ad on YouTube.  I only saw it a few times on TV, so it still makes me laugh.  I am really stretching to find a way to weave it into my blog for your Friday enjoyment.
How about this? Short term gratification often rules in America. Corporations often meet [...]

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