All posts by steve@kerrzone.com

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Trade War

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On its own war is defined as a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.

A trade war does not include armed aggressions (which typically has life or death consequences) but all of the other aspects of widespread conflict including unpleasant results apply.

Illogical

War, whether violent and destructive with associated loss of life or just destructive making lives miserable rarely have outcomes that are worth the cost.

The trade war results in negative impacts for all participants and even for the innocent bystanders (the global community).  Waging this kind of operation has an emotional foundation but if logic were applied there would never be a war of any kind.

In the television series Star Trek, the fictional Vulcan race was culturally based on pure logic.  As a people, they could not think and act in any way that was not logical.  Hence, no wars, of any type, ever.

Justification

The current US versus China trade war is based on fairness.  The US accused the Chinese of not operating with fairness in the realm of trade.

Fairness defined as impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination.  Unfortunately, all of these descriptors are very subjective.

What one person, group or another entity view as just or without favoritism could easily be quite different from others perspective.  So ultimately the trade war is justified by a biased opinion leading to emotional angst between all the stakeholders.

We can see how this can lead to war.  How illogical.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Over-thinking

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Spending too much thought about something can make simple things appear to be complex.  The ultimate result is often delayed action.

Sometimes not deciding how to proceed because of analysis paralysis (i.e., over-thinking) can have significant negative impacts.  Acting too late often is like not acting at all.

Balance

Making a snap decision can have the same impacts as over-thinking.  The amount of analysis should be enough to make a good decision.  This requires a careful balance to prevents spiraling down a rat-hole in search of every answer, perhaps ultimately achieving nothing.

Decisiveness is the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.  Too often we focus on the quickly part while the critical key to being decisive in a positive way and achieving the best results is making good decisions rather than quick ones.

The circumstances vary when we are thinking through an issue.  The impact of our decision should be the influencing factor relative to the balance between a quick or carefully measured and thought out choice.

Self Awareness

Overthinking is something we need to manage ourselves.  Thinking is a very personal action.  How much or how little thought you put to something is completely a personal choice.

Granted external factors can influence, even pressure us, to make a faster decision.  It is our best interests to avoid undue pressure for a quick decision.

Being aware of and using all options available to enable a reasonable amount of time to consider the best approach is a key practice of getting the right balance between and time and analysis.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Roll away the stone

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Often wonderful things are hidden from view, all we need to do is some simple activity to reveal them (metaphorically, roll away the stone).

This is, of course, the risk that nothing lies under the stones beyond worms or worse.  However, if we don’t take the opportunity (should one present itself) to uncover the beautiful secrets within, we will never know.

Be Aware

Uncovering the value under the stone does require awareness.  The opportunity is hidden and unless we are continuously observant we can easily pass it by.

Of course, together with observation, we need the motivation to take the chance.  This is influenced by our innate drive for curiosity coupled with our individual level of initiative.

The magic underneath the stone is unknown, could be dangerous or explosive but when you take the chance on a hidden mystery and hit gold, it feels good.

Watch out for the Stone

One of the problems with rolling away the stone is when it rolls back.  Ouch.  It is important to be prepared for the unknown.  Taking the chance to uncover the secrets can well be worth it,  but be ready to protect yourself if the stone rolls back on you.

Reluctance to seek the hidden magic underneath the stone does arise from the unknown.  Fear or at least caution about the unknown makes sense, however, not to the point of standstill.

Frozen with fear can often mean the golden opportunity is missed.  Taking the risk with caution, at least you tried, maybe great things won’t be uncovered, but at least you tried.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Firm or Gentle

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When you are in charge, albeit of a company,  organization or just an general undertaking, your style of management can be firm, gentle or all points in-between.

What you are managing should influence how you administer your power.  The impact of your directions, leveraging both your granted and earned power, depend very much on technique.  Your approach should match the objectives.

Firm Management

The firm approach is typically apparent when your actions are not soft or yielding.  They are enduring and steady showing determination, strength and resolve.
This firm approach can be effective but off putting to some people.    Also one size does not fit all, that is the style of management used in any given situation should be tailored to the circumstances.
When working with other people who desire strong direction t(e firm approach makes sense while others who are seeking greater independence and personal authority may rebel.

Strong Leadership can be Gentle

Kind,amiable, soft and delicate are key descriptors of those that practice gentle management.   This style can translate to strong leadership, firm management is not necessary to be a strong leader.

Most often some combination of firm and gentle approaches works best, the most important factor is demonstrating care and consideration for others and particularly addressing their needs.

Whether practicing a firm or gentle style or some hybrid the most important thing to remember is it’s not about you, at all.  Both other people and the their goals in context of the greater objective needs to be the focus.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Changing Views

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A view can be communicated as a noun describing what can be taken in by the eye from a particular place or perspective.  Typically an object with some fascination or attraction.

Or it can be referring to the action of how you look or see something, usually in a particular light or with a particular attitude.  View is a word which (whether the object or the action) is colored by your own perspective.

Interpretation

What you see is translated through your thought processes into specific meanings.  These interpretations are heavily influenced by your personal bias, both conscious and unconscious.

Your view can change instantly depending on minor changes in circumstance.  For example, you may be viewing a tranquil scene in the woods lakeside.

You perceive the view as calming until a bear is sighted and instantly the calm of the situation is disturbed and the way you see and how you consider the view and its impacts are changed.

Innovation and Creativity

Changing your view, overcoming built-in bias and seeing things differently is at the core of innovation and creativity.  Flexibility in how you view things enables you to see alternatives that might not otherwise be apparent to you.

Changing views is often the key to improvement.  Being able to see things from a variety of perspectives, with a willingness to adopt the best alternative puts you on the path to positive change.

Openness in how you view things focuses on seeing the multiple possibilities which exist for most things.  Do not discard these out of turn.  Take time and settle on the perspective that provide the best results (e.g., enjoy the scenery, avoid the bear)

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Motivation

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Do we just act or behave in a particular way for no reason?  It is unlikely, in most if not all cases and underlying drive can be identified for our actions.

Without motivation would we do nothing or are we always doing something?  Arguably, yes we are also doing something, whether sleeping or remaining motionless, but awake, your mind is active to some extent although your focus may be vague.

The motivation that matters is related to outcomes that increase your happiness, joy, pleasure.

Focus on Results

Doing stuff leads to outcomes.  Sometimes these may be soft or subjective.  Or, they can be definitive and measurable very objectively.

For example, after being asleep, you might say the outcome was you felt rested or were no longer tired (or maybe you are still tired).  Alternately your activity could be to eat food. Either you ate or you did not.

Typically the more rewarding the outcome, the greater the motivation required to achieve it.  The greater the reward the less motivation needed.

Motivation Sources

Individual levels of motivation largely arise from 3 main drivers

  • Personal initiative – This is your own internal bar and in this context refers to motivation for actions  which the other factors listed below are not relevant.   For you to take action the your personal values and desires must exceed your personal bar, the decision lies with you.
  • External Authority – In this case someone in authority (e.g., your boss, police, leader) directs you to take action.  Not doing so has consequences and these are motivating factors.
  • Need – this is intended to refer to things you need to do or consequences are dire.  For example – eating.  Although you can be motivated to eat via personal initiative even when you don’t need to, there are circumstances if you don’t eat, you will die.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Respectful Behavior

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Broadly speaking, showing consideration and regard for someone or something constitutes respectful behavior.  Unfortunately, the interpretation of what constitutes consideration is subjective.

A lack of consideration and regard is not necessarily disrespectful, pro-actively behaving in a way that clearly demonstrates derision is.  As noted though, the interpretation of derision or disrespect can be subjective.

Respectful, why bother

In recent years many people have indicated they find the behavior of the current U.S. president (Donald Trump) less than respectful.  His supporters argue his directness (apparent disrespect to others) is one of the key reasons he achieves his goals.

Perhaps politicians have a higher bar for respectful behavior and Tumps behavior is more acceptable for a businessman than a politician (although subjectively I would question that as well).

If Trumps behavior is not at the level of respect expected for someone in his position (i.e., POTUS) but he is achieving his goals and applauded by his supporters, why should he bother being more respectful?

In fact, it appears he is rewarded for being abusive.

How to behave respectfully

Although respect has a subjective component, this is not a fair excuse for not acting in a respectful way.  We constantly receive feedback from others (both direct and indirect).

Respect simply requires us to be aware of this feedback and react accordingly.  Others constantly send messages about how they are feeling (happy/unhappy, comfortable/uncomfortable, confused/clear, etc).

Sensitivity to this feedback (regardless of our subjective interpretation of the context) and responding accordingly to create a positive context is all that is needed to be perceived as respectful.  It is that simple.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Red Herring

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Something that is misleading or distracting from a relevant topic or important discussion can often lengthen discussions and delay conclusions.

A red herring may be an unintentional logical fallacy or in some cases, it could be a purposeful misdirection  (e.g., a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion).

Staying on Track

Recognizing and highlighting red herrings during an earnest discussion (whether group or individual) is a key facilitation skill.  Identification of a red herring is the first step to calling a halt.

Unfortunately, however well-intentioned misleading distractions only make achieving acceptable conclusions more difficult and can even lead to lower quality results.

Keeping a discussion on target is not only a helpful skill but can be critical to achieving a successful resolution to the topic under review.

Focus on the Objective

There can be some subjective analysis as to whether points raised constitute a red herring.  Most likely the progenitor of the comment considers it both important and valid.

Identifying red herrings in a way the discussion does not get derailed or “go down a rat hole” is an important skill.  Be gentle, not adversarial.   Focus on the objective.

The discussion has a purpose and objective.  Red Herrings may be valid points but the key is they do not focus on the purpose nor are they likely to help achieve the objective.

Identifying and disarming discussions that are getting off track (missing the purpose and objective) can be done most effectively by reiterating the goal.

Use care though that your intervention is facilitative and not argumentative.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Bug or Enhancement

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The term bug has long been used by engineers to describe an error or flaw,  that causes an incorrect or unexpected result or unintended behavior.

In the 1940s Grace Hopper immortalized the term software bug when she wrote about how a moth in the MarkII computer caused erroneous results.

Although this was not the first use by engineers of the term bug to describe a fault it has become famously ingrained as the first instance of a software bug.

Perception

If we are able to change our perception of a result from the unexpected to the expected arguably it is no longer a bug.  If the software performs unexpectedly we can save a lot of time and effort by simply successfully marketing it as an enhancement.

Assuming perception is a reality, using this approach bugs can actually be perceived as worthwhile and used to help sell the product.  In this case, all you need to do is sell the unexpected behavior as a positive aspect of the software program.

For example, you could say this gaming program is great because it is unpredictable.  You can never be sure if it will work or not, you don’t necessarily get the same experience repeatedly.  Exciting eh.

The Emperor has no clothes

Undoubtedly there will be detractors who smirk at this approach.   These are the folks that read the children’s tale “The Emperor has no clothes” and laughed at the Emperor’s plight.

The Emperor in the story believed the lack of clothes was in fact an enhancement.  It made him happy.   Who am I to question that.  When software I develop has bugs, I sell them as enhancements and move on.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Silence speaks volumes

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Not speaking appears to be a less than effective way to communicate.  In fact not making or being accompanied by sound can send a powerful message.

Phrases like “strong and silent”, “silence is golden”, “silent night” associate the term with positive attributes.  The reality is silence is a powerful tool in your communication kit bag.

Repeating

Like banging your head against a wall does little more than hurt you, being part of a discussion where the point is reinforced through verbal repetition can be painful.

For many, there is an innate belief that if you repeat it enough then it will become true.  Interesting logic, however, in my experience this has never been the case.

Surprisingly to some, silence often proves more powerful in selling an argument than filling the space verbally, most of which (if not all) just get tuned out.

Speak and Wait

Silence is often treated by others as wisdom.  We generally don’t even know we are doing this.  Speak a few words, then wait.  Let others fill the silence.

Many times I have observed this technique to return powerful and positive results.  Often others will flesh in your arguments without prompting.  All you need to do is wait, quietly and voila.

Written or Spoken

Words are most powerful when there are few of them but the meaning is clear.  Consider the simple phrases; “I go now”,  “Let’s go”, Should we go?” or just “Go!”

The most powerful and commanding of the four is just the one word that works every time. The other phrases could lead to questions like; “Where are you going?”, ” Why should we go?”.

The single word go brooks no challenge, it contains its own simple clarity.  Just (implied) GO.