All Blog Posts (136)

Don't Forget! Geoffrey Moore- NEXT WEEK! REGISTER TODAY - SPACE IS LIMITED!

Event management for "Hierarchy of Powers: A Framework for Next-Generat

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Added by Lacy Taylor on June 9, 2010 at 5:19pm — No Comments

So, you SAY you want to collaborate but...

You say you want to collaborate.

Since I have been a member of IMC that's what I hear people saying - "Let's collaborate. Let's get together and do something. Let's do coffee."

Okay, you "did coffee." Now what? What does collaboration look like to you? What are your expectations? What are their expectations?

You say you want to collaborate, BUT! Have you really thought about what it means to collaborate? Hav… Continue

Added by Bart Gragg on May 21, 2010 at 6:40pm — No Comments

Confab 2010 - Early Bid Special Expires May 1,2010!

Hi there. The deadline is approaching for Confab 2010 early bid pricing! Confab is the annual national consulting conference hosted by IMC USA. I would encourage any of you who have not attended to give it some consideration. It is held in the Silver Legacy hotel in Reno Nevada, from October 23-October 25.

If you register by April 30th (this Friday), the registration price is $495. This is a savings of $100 of the standard registration price.

Take

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Added by Jeff Thompson on April 27, 2010 at 9:48am — No Comments

Improve Customer Experience by Borrowing Ideas

Creativity is essential in our highly competitive business environment. As technology and options expand, customers' expectations for higher value are always rising. Companies that use creativity to understand, anticipate, and exceed

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Added by Lynn Hunsaker on April 15, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Apologizing Properly: Is There Enough Mea in Your Culpa?

Last year U.S. Senator George Allen went serially apologizing across Virginia after demeaning a man of Indian descent at a campaign rally as “Macaca or whatever his name is.” Up popped a virtual cartoon bubble caption over his head - “racist.” By continuing to exhibit the same lack of understanding about his mistake each time he apologized, that caption worsened, from “racist” to “bumbling politician” to “bumbling politician who does not learn.” He did not mean harm but he did harm his reputati… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 22, 2010 at 3:30pm — No Comments

SEIZE YOUR FEES: A study in net present value

SEIZE YOUR FEES

A study in net present value

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Added by Cox Ferrall on March 21, 2010 at 4:55pm — 1 Comment

Become Quotable by Comparison

“It's like saying we're going to make some improvements in the Titanic after it's hit the iceberg," said mortgage finance expert Guy Cecala today in characterizing the futility of government attempts to fix the current home mortgage finance system rather than, as Paul Volcker suggested, “reconstruct” it. What dramatic, apt comparison can you offer to make your characterization: 1. Stand out from others? 2. Be the most frequently repeated? 3. Establish the criteria by which others decide on t… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 20, 2010 at 3:49pm — No Comments

Your Likeability Quotient: A Gut-Instincts Quiz

Why do we instinctively like some people and find others irritating, or worse? What makes us agree, buy, help... or not? Do your gut instincts help or hinder your "LQ" – Likeability Quotient?

Answer this quick nine-question quiz and get some tips. Some of the answers may surprise you.

1. Do people get along better when talking to each other if they are facing each other or if they are standing side by side?

2. Who tends to face the person with whom they are speak… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 20, 2010 at 6:30am — No Comments

Great Workshop Involver for Gauging Audience Upfront

Leading a small workshop? Like to find out, upfront, how much they already know? Or how they feel about your topic? Try a fun, audience involver called the Spectrogram. This exercise also helps them feel heard, learn a bit about each other and get closer. Plus it is simple to set up and to do – as I’ve discovered after using it in nine interactive seminars.

Beforehand place a line of colored tape across open space on the floor of the workshop – preferably in front of the room. Make it… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 16, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

GIVING IT AWAY ... without giving away the store.

GIVING IT AWAY

How to offer “free samples” without giving away the store!

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Added by Cox Ferrall on March 15, 2010 at 10:31am — 5 Comments

Make Wiser Choices, Stronger Friendships and More Opportunity by Visualizing Your Circles of Connection

When meeting Natasha, photographer Rick Smolan never imagined she’d be an emotional thread of continuity for his life. Human stories take unexpected turns, especially next year.

I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. That’s a mighty welcome feeling as we enter 2009. Why? Because, more than any of the last 25 years, 2009 will crackle with change, unexpected loss and fresh opportunities to be there for each other. Consequently,

prepare by picturing your Circles o… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 14, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

More Powerfully Attracting Than Charisma

“When you deeply listen and get where people are coming from, and then care about them when you’re there, they’re more likely to let you take them where you want them to go.” ~ Warren Bennis Thoughtful questions enable you to strengthen relationships. They can be disarming, breaking down barriers so you can begin to talk more directly to solve a problem or seize an opportunity – with others. How, then, to ask great questions? First avoid an off-putting pitfall: stating an opinion disguised as… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 13, 2010 at 8:30am — No Comments

Opportunity Makers Are the True Leaders in a Flattening World

Other than your best talent your most vital trait is the capacity to collaborate – especially with people extremely unlike you. That’s the great leverager of value. Many people – even some social media advocates - still hew to the Leaders/Followers model for work and social life. Yet those most likely to succeed and savor their lives in this flattening world are those who can recruit people extremely unlike them to join in accomplishing “first-evers.” They will be sought- after Collaborators.… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 12, 2010 at 8:30am — No Comments

Build Strong Teams the Obama Way

We can be stakeholders in the future of the U.S., not free-riders. We are called to participate in its renewal. Not only can we do what is asked but we’re being asked what should be done. In true Me2We style Obama keeps assuming that you and I can recruit teams of rivals (and participate in other teams) to get greater things done better – together. Why not try these team-building behaviors in your social, civic or work life now? Here’s six keys to cultivating thriving teams like the thousands… Continue

Added by Kare Anderson on March 11, 2010 at 8:56am — No Comments

Great article on 5 Tips for using Video to grow your business

By the Patrick Moran is chief strategy officer at Fuze Box, the company behind Fuze Meeting, which I use regularly. http://mashable.com/2009/12/09/business-video-tips/ Continue

Added by Bart Gragg on January 26, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

What Kind of "Fast Paced Environment" Are We Talking About?

The term "fast paced environment" (FPE) seemed to come into prominence in the dot.com era of the late 1990s. At that time, the term, which was often used in job descriptions and the like, seemed to say...."This isn't an industrial era, bureaucratic company. If you want to work here, you need to be aggressive and expect to work hard. We're in the race to win". The term, was effectively used to advertise for 'the right kind of employee', while at the same time promise excitement and success… Continue

Added by Brett LaDove on January 22, 2010 at 2:57pm — No Comments

IMC NorCal Announces New Time Tracking & Invoicing Partnership

IMC NorCal is working to help you manage your consulting practice, and has entered into a relationship with Freshbooks, to provide IMC members with a discounted plan.

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Added by Brett LaDove on January 14, 2010 at 5:07pm — No Comments

Loyalty is Not Just for Customers

Customer loyalty is important to business success. Profitability of customer retention is pretty much common knowledge. So companies do a lot to encourage customer behav… Continue

Added by Lynn Hunsaker on January 2, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

Confab 2010

The Confab committee is already hard at work planning the 2010 conference which will be in Reno, NV once again, at the Silver Legacy. Based on feedback and brainstorming, many new things will be offered this year at Confab. Too keep pace with the committee please join us on our Facebook page by following this link http://bit.ly/8HcUCX. Happy New Year! Continue

Added by Alice Heiman on December 31, 2009 at 12:14pm — No Comments

Share Your Presentations on NorCal Consultant's Network

We're testing out a new feature on the NorCal Consultants Network (NCCN). Click on the "Presentation Share" tab and upload a presentation (either via Google Docs or Powerpoint). By uploading a business overview or a presentation on another topic, we'll have one more vehicle for understanding our fellow consultant's businesses. Please do let me know what you think of this feature by commenting on this blog post. Continue

Added by Brett LaDove on December 1, 2009 at 4:46pm — No Comments