Image Credit: deviantart
Posted by: Albert Weng
The picture, a term I use too often and cause much curiosity and questions wondering what the picture I intentionally mean and how to build that capability to have a good picture at work, in life and on everything.
First of all, I don't have a perfect answer to this perfect question, but trust me, if you have this question in mind, no matter where it come to cause your attention. Stick with it, this quest will lead you to a better place.
What's the Picture and How Does It Work for You?
The picture comes from the whole picture, which refers to all the required information and background understanding of a specific thing that's concerned, in a logical way of presence. Simply put, for anyone who think he or she has got the picture on a particular topic, the one shall be able to pitch, explain the whole picture in a level of detail that the key stakeholders could fully understand. You can have your own field test of this assumption.
An example of dealing with colleagues at work. The person in charge who considers to have a business picture in mind is the one who has sufficient background and progress of the case while in the human side, is also able to master a smart touch of stakeholders on their position (power), profile, character, also those being told and untold agenda from both personal and professional levels.
So, what's the power of this magic picture?
I'd say, it's everything when people engage, meet up and work toward the same assignment and project for successful joint force. Here's the few key examples of why the mastery of the picture in between matters.
1) The Picture, Help Build Better Sense
The picture derives from the information and understanding of the thing that's concerned, therefore, the larger the picture reaches out, the better the consensus will be created sooner. This common ground will help build the framework and base of a conversation, thus to pinpoint the issues to deal with faster and more precisely. In addition, the picture will evolve itself alongside the talk, whereas to keep a same page effect eventually.
2) The Picture, Help Turn More Mature
A person with good/ great sense of creating a quality picture on communication and engagement will be recognized as more considerate, experienced, resourceful, and a kind of always being ready for everything (Gosh..., too good to be true!). Continue the pace, the one will be considered as a mature individual who can prepare and make smart moves at work (the picture is the map to guide for right action).
3) The Picture, Help Engage Much Empathy
The more you discover the picture and then managed to master it, you'll become a person with more empathy and able to put your feet into the other's shoe, in a gentle manner. Therefore, you might be able to starting from face to face engagement, and move on to side by side, hand in hand then all the way to heart to heart with a smooth switch during the engagement.
How to Build a Quality Picture (on everything)
The capability to build a picture, of course a quality one is somehow an art rather than science. Two of the endeavors which will help build and shape the competence.
1) Experimentation (not experience)
Try out to explore the best possible experimentations when you have a chance to do so. Taking a new assignment proactive, even those are not directly relate to your knowledge of the domain. The absolute factor that would affect the experimentation is time, and time is the only resource you hardly can really buy and buy back. Use your time wisely is everything, for a successful initiative. Cherish the chance and the moment you have in any given situation, no matter it's good or bad you considered at present. Watch it, listen to it, smell it, and sense it openly and proactively, in order to maximize the possible output and lessons learned from that particular opportunity. You'll be able to advance yourself a little bit on that particular domain or just the thing, thus turn your life better.
2) Reading (a lot)
Because there's no such luxury time allow for everyone to experiment everything they need or want. People might not have those resources, and also money required to support that crazy experiment, yet. In this case, reading is the best way to fill up the gap for making a quality picture. Reading, is not just on the book or any written document, reading people is always critical to build up the competency of knowing the world better, thus to craft a quality picture.
The DON'T
Don't read like a copy machine, which tries to remember and repeat exactly what's been written. We won't be able to outpace something by simply repeating (the negative impact of the traditional education system).
The DO
Know why you read, and try to build a tailored framework you need to learn and absorb this knowledge. During the reading, the purpose is to search the content in order to fill up the framework. That is to say, you'll need to collect those info required in order to build up the your own topic framework, then read, comment and conclude during the journey of reading.
Reading is a process to create a gained knowledge that's generated from our own knowledge building methodology, and is enjoyable.
Recommendation
How to read a book?
Interested in reading? Or if you want to advance your reading skill, the book How to read a book, a classic guide with a lot fun to read. You'll find a clear advice across types of article and also a different level of readership you're interested in.
Image Credit: slideshare
Posted by: Albert Weng
Collaboration is the key working model within a workplace where less to none of the authority is given. Follow the trend toward project management workplace, this will be the majority especially when work toward international arena.
How a collaboration works?
To collaborate, means that the members work will be working in a relatively loose form where the R&R is clear, however, the actual work will be done throughout a mixed performance without clear operation among those key members. Take an example in sports like basketball, each of the roles from point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center has their own responsibility, however, when the game start, they'll have to work in a form of so-called team, to do whatever is required to help the team win on every minute.
Insight:
The collaboration comes from a belief in, "I (will) cover you", even without the need to make an agreement or notice. The more the members who follow this attitude, the more likely the collaboration will be created.
"Collaboration is not made or asked, it's truly been created from the top down as lead by example, and another force from the bottom up on seamlessly mutual appreciations. Why appreciation is crucial to build collaboration? Easy, people won't help other selflessly if they don't feel comfortable with receiving appreciation afterwards."
As mentioned from the lesson on appreciation, the more the appreciation becomes a common pattern across the team, the more likely the collaboration will be able to be built up then. So, you'll feel safer to work with the team and to make a full speed learning and development toward a greater career. Start appreciate to make also your own collaboration work out right.
Take some examples:
To add a practical example of making a good appreciation (also add to the post itself):
Good example of making an appreciation
1) "I like this idea a lot, your design/ work make our launch to be competitive and like no other. Bravo!"
2) "Wow, I never see this in my 10 years experience, it's going to make a positive hit in the market!"
3) "The logic behind the story/ article is truly compelling and a lot easier to understand and follow by most people we targeted to."
So, you probably has discovered that, it's not just saying, "thank you", "appreciated/ gratitude (for your help)" and alike. Try to make it more meaningful to that person.
How do you make appreciation? Share with me your words.
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Posted by: Albert Weng
"When is the last time you express your sincere appreciation to others?" If the answer is more than a week, or even longer, you got to pay serious attention, because this could cause a huge disadvantage and even damage to your career and very likely to life, too.
The Problem of Making (Good) Appreciation
A glimpse from the backgrounder. In some of the traditions and cultures, showing appreciation also means there's one party (very often to be seen as the person-in-trouble or victim-like) who needs help (some think "rescue"), therefore, the other party extends their hand to fix or secure something for the first party. Deep inside the mindset who comes from the kind of background, think they can't express appreciation too often which might result in an impression that they're person-in-trouble or the most unwanted image of a victim / loser/ incapable ones and alike. Is this something similar to yours?
Why Making (Good) Appreciation is Critical at Present and Beyond
A deeper view of the backgrounder. In this high pace era where everything runs like a laser, multiple assignments which keep everyone a busy man at all time, and social entertainment at the fingertips will also distract every possible minute for just a stupid touch to have a good time/ break. These mean, to grab the attention and have their focus on whatever you're working with them, are getting harder and harder. Simply put, they can easily walk away without even a notice, and you won't get them back if the first impression was built on such short and meaningless interaction.
The insight here, people spend their time and attention to those they found useful, meaningful or if all failed to meet the above, the last chance is on those they received the appreciations. Therefore, to work better in a workplace where authority is no longer available most of the time (this is a trend toward project management working style emerged in recent years), showing immediate, sincere and meaningful appreciation is key to adapt into this work style. This also means, appreciation works best in collaboration.
The Key to Making (Good) Appreciation
1) Pay attention to other's work
The key step and starting point is to pay attention to the diversified angles/ aspects of other's work. When you're able to do the followings:
- Discover the many details from the idea (an original or copycat, but maybe a good one)
- The design of its structure;
- The way it was presented/ rolled out
- The strategy to get the result in both how it is delivered and communicated;
- The special/ new attempt(s) from this work by this author/ owner, etc.
To find the details such like the above, you might probably get into a level called "hey, I think I know what you're working on, my partner!" Then you're on the right track to go to next.
And, if you don't really know their work in detail from a particular/ professional angle, your feedback and appreciation is more likely to fall into a fake one as perceived.
Insight:
The more detail you can go into your own work, the more likely you'll be able to figure out a similar level of the detail from others.
1) Find the possible value/ special effort and feedback immediately
In many cases, if one points out a specific finding from one work which was a thoughtful endeavor by just mentioning the find out, the one who made that extra effort considered respectful and appreciated. Yes, that simple, no flirting words required.
2) Keep the feedback short, simple and meaningful on the work
Make a sincere appreciation is most helpful, instead of a well-crafted one, people tend to think that's over intentionally (and negatively, too). Create the (meaningful) link from the point/ value you discovered in their work or workplace (organization) will advance your feedback to a more pleasing level. Sometimes you might help to make the new benefit/ value for him/ her.
3) Link your feedback/ appreciation to enhance the future relationship
For any form or relationship you have with the other person/ party, if your appreciation is able to link to the enhancement of a future relationship, it's always a precious interaction in between.
Start making appreciation every day, then every task all around you, you'll then, received the same quality of momentum on appreciation to advance in the future.
Image Credit: virgin
Posted by: Albert Weng
Welcome to the Year of Snake Year (as 2013 in Chinese tradition).
I'd like to take the chance to introduce the Minimum Viable Product, the MVP a key concept that will help you a lot with similarity of snake!!!
What do you see Snake when you think of it? No matter whether your answer is positive or negative, keep it with you, because I'm not going to change any bit of it, that's yours. However, I'm willing to share mine with you and, you'll find it helpful and useful, guaranteed.
Snake, as I presumed, is:
1. Smart, take the necessary move when a clear path/ direction is identified.
2. Stay low profile, seems to be always waiting for something important calmly.
3. Sleek, yes, considering her skin (interface) and the way she moves.
Okay, now you probably get the points/ tricks that I made. Everything, it's really everything which you presume to "see (the picture/ interpretation/ imagination/ assumption of the thing)", will then, become as what it is. This is so-called "seeing is believing", then up a level to "seeing is becoming". So, what does my presumption of Snake to do with us? I'm about to introduce one of the most critical concepts of our everyday work and performance. The MVP way.
Intro of MVP
MVP, stands for Minimum Viable Product, which was created and developed by Eric Ries and now is very wide-spreading in startup circle globally on product development, and even also business development in general. Simply put, an MVP is a product that consists the very basic but fundamental 1) feature sets (to solve a customer problem) and; 2) look & feel (simply means the user experience on how this product will be used to solve those customer problems), so it'll be able to make a precise experiment for structured tweaking toward the final output/ product, throughout iteration of the refinement cycle.
Snake and MVP
1) Smart, yes, definitely, each MVP shall be smart to start from those that matters only. Then it will open for wide feedback to make sound judgement to next version of improvement.
2. Stay low profile, yes again, the MVP is not making home-run, instead, it's a humble start to get those key stakeholders/ collaborators/ customers involved seamlessly and silently (e.g., placement marketing).
3. Sleek, definitely, MVP doesn't mean to be looked cheap, rough or even ugly. Bear in mind, user experience (UX) starts from first impression down to the look & feel of its operation throughout the use of the products. Sleek is one of the top criteria to keep up with.
Reference:
Venture Hacks interview: "What is the minimum viable product?"
Image Credit: it101forbusiness
Posted by: Albert Weng
The key to maximize the output/ value from that chance, is the ability to make the correct and effective engagement. Engagement, in the business world, is something that you make people, the other party in a conversation or whatever joint force, feel that you have a 1) reasonable; 2) trustworthy, and 3) comfortable alignment with, so there will be a green light for the intended move to continue from the engagement built up.
Giving the understanding above, how to make a sound engagement is truly an art rather than science. Even though, I'd like to share my top secret (yes, classified) on this. Here you go.
Level of engagement:
1. Face to face
Make clear the role in between while meeting from each side, know the background and the demand of this present matter from each end, and able to picture the whole of the two or more.
Your role: "I'm myself."
2. Side by side
Knowing the whole picture, then sit side by side in one of the stakeholders to share the same concern, demand from them, and see if to take a similar approach to move to your side together. This is to create empathy, deliberately with gentle.
Your role: "Hey, I'm your friend. I know you from your side, and come to my side, this is me."
3. Hand in hand
One of the best ways to build trust for anything, is to show them by making things, as you pitch to be happening right in front. At this level, do it yourself first, to show there's no risk, no harm at all. Then to hold their hand to make their first experience ever, with your unique approach, story, or the stuff you try to sell. Did I say selling is just a sales pitch? Definitely not, in this ever changing (the world is flat), always on (Internet) era, if you can't make your product (whatever you try to sell, a story, a request, etc.) working for live demo, you're out. Or very likely will be out soon. Seriously.
Your role: "I'm the one to make things work as pitched, and able to guide you to try it yourself. I'm for real."
4. Heart to heart
In the end, or even also in the very beginning, people make a decision by trusting the other person who has a solid proposal/ pitch which they can understand, evaluate (with fair and transparent info and advice), and thus, to make the mind even before the decision, the trust. Keeping the level here is critical and difficult, too. However, no doubt this is the best way to make a solid business engagement, which could be then makes a long term development partnership.
Your role: "I'm your trustworthy advisor in this particular domain, and I've proved that you can count on me to get the best out of the result your expected."
Special note:
Apparently, it's not the higher the better, instead, to know the purpose, options of approach to communicate, and possible switch in between from the role and level of engagement are key to success. This lesson will require a lot more real practices.
This is one of my best shots (did I say it's also the top secret?) so far, simple, but extremely powerful when you can truly master it. Move on.
Image Credit: cnn
Posted by: Albert Weng
Getting credit at work is something that's utmost important to prove one's performance is beneficial to key stakeholders, thus advance the organization while getting a recognition from them.
Simply put as below:
"Credit = make your contribution counts."
In order to make sure the credit will be created from selected activities you aim to get it, making sure these points and considerations are addressed carefully and completely.
Credit sense:
1. Who is the judge?
Make a list of all of them, figure out their R&R on this specific task, their preference and interest (of conflict, if any). Your selection from who and their profile to make this judge picture, will determine how well you'll get it.
2. What are their criteria?
Apparently you won't get this info at ease, and very often you won't be able to even have any clue. So how? Well, your daily observation and continuous learning from those surroundings will help build this sense (hey, this is EMC, the Every Minute Counts). Moreover, it's also key on how you can confirm your findings is mutually understood.
3. Do you have to change their perspective (caution: for advanced only)?
Sometimes yes, and some no. This is most sensitive and critical. Make a lot case exercises before you try a real one.
4. How to deliver the output in a way to get those credits?
The format, the steps and also the choice of language to use for each target judge, shall be addressed, respectively.
Having said that, getting a serious and solid credit from others is not an easy task. People tend to avoid giving out a clear recognition to those who might impact them in any other way some day later. However, this is why getting a solid credit is so much precious and means a lot.
Those who are able to get credits continuously, are those who got a better chance to really advance his/ her future. Take credit scoring at work as a mirror to check your performance and potential. It does worth and help the effort. Do I have the credit for making this lesson?
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Posted by: Albert Weng
Choosing the right format in all kinds of activities are utmost important, to ensure not only the effectiveness, but also how the counterparts perceive you. Three types of formats that are generally used in our workplace. Take a closer look and keep that in mind, we'll work with this approach then.
1. Free Format
1) Purpose: Communication
2) Description: Express one's idea, with each in their own way by nature.
3) Insight: Know what kind of free formats to use in a particular case are critical. The format itself is free, which means there could be a range of options to choose, instead of sole options. However, choose the right format to use is crucial for every effective communication. The key here is, this is the most difficult format to make it right though.
4) Example: talk, email, sketch, drawing
2. Fixed Format
1) Purpose: Management
2) Description: Get all the required data and info in a clear and precise presentation, so could be checked and managed effectively.
3) Example: form, table, spreadsheet
3. Structured Format
1) Purpose: Development
2) Description: Considering the longer term of use with a purpose of possible development, there should be a modulized, flexible and consistent guideline in design, template, therefore a scalable effectiveness is demanding.
3) Example: connected spreadsheet, database which designed with reserved space for scaling.
Things you might familiar with, but should avoid.
1. Free format for management (ex., email for project control)
2. Fixed format for development (ex., fixed template for growing demand for complex input and analysis)
3. Structured format for communication (ex., complex spreadsheet for making a proposal pitch)
Call to action Starting from now on, choose the right format to use. You should be able to aware what is the right type of formats to use, even before you know how the format itself shall be designed. We shall be talking about the right type of format in our future collaboration. Question? Feel free to get me to elaborate. Enjoy.
Image Credit: paperlessproposal
Posted by: Albert Weng
The ability to make a (good/ great) proposal is key to create value to the organization, and of course to the one who made it, that means you, and also me.
The key criteria of making a good/ great proposal:
1. Pick a meaningful topic/ subject
Bring up an interesting/ relevant topic, or from an interesting angle that worth second thought.
2. It's YOU, not the document/ material
It's about "making a proposal (pitch), not report a proposal document". Definitely, the proposal is not a self-explained document, and should not be, neither. The rationale of the proposal is a convincing process to get approval on something that's not fully known or yet decided. Therefore, you got to be the master in your own proposal a lot greater than anyone in the world (hey, remember, it's "your" proposal). Make sure those points covered were carefully designed and put together with a compelling story (sound logic to understand, and enough supporting facts, data and numbers) to convince.
3. The AIDA mindset at all time
Follow the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action), tries to get the actions you want every time. You failed, you learned, then you're stronger to make the next trial.
Here's a quote from the post made by Steve (ex-Googler) on assuming the boss is the expert in the topic when making a proposal pitch, very good and useful points made.
"...assume he already knows everything about it. Assume he knows more than you do about it. Even if you have groundbreakingly original ideas in your material, just pretend it’s old hat for him. Write your prose in the succinct, direct, no-explanations way that you would write for a world-leading expert on the material."
There are a few formats of making a proposal, read on the Format for more sharing.
Reference:
對大老闆提案：假設他已經都懂了
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Posted by: Albert Weng
We all know the importance of communication in this information overloaded era where people have less and less time and patience for the stuff that's not interesting or worth a tiny attention to focus. So, how to communicate (very) well is certainly a key factor of success (KFS) for everyone and every organization.
There're tons of best criteria of making a quality communication, such like KISS, SMART, empathy, etc. Here at ABC, I summarize those I found and adopted myself which has proved to be very useful in most of the situations. Heads on.
Principle of communication in one single session
1. The picture
1) Prepare the picture of the case you try to communicate with the (several) counterparts.
2) Ensure the understanding of background and profile from each stakeholder is well researched and received. This is critical to add the key notes to the picture (with some untold).
3) The map, know the past, present and future of the particular case you're communicating and the direction you're persuading others. For sure, to always keep in mind the goal throughout the talk.
2. The role
1) Knows your role in this particular session.
2) Knows the other counterparts' role, too.
3) Bear in mind the other key stakeholders who's critical but not presenting in this talk.
4) Understand the possible change of the role for each key stakeholder during and after this communication, including yourself.
5) Manage the possible impact of the role change for every stakeholder.
3. The switch
1) Switch the role when the profile of counterparts/ stakeholder changed.
2) Switch the way of talking, asking when a critical signal appeared (i.e., refuse to talk about a particular person involved).
4. The sensor
Last but not least, keep a high sensitivity to those responses, tone, gesture, facial expression, even a pause of their talk from all key counterparts, then to change your way to respond to continue the communication to reach your goal.
Criteria of a quality communicator
1. Smooth
A quality communicator makes every talk/ communication a smooth experience, very much like dancing, a pas de deux, which makes the other party a pleasant experience who wish to continue.
2. Precise
There're more and more confusions from the global workplaces due to cultural difference and language barrier while we have to make even more communication than ever. Therefore, the more the precise could be made, the better the willingness and effectiveness could be created.
3. Continuous
Keep the ball rolling, is the key to make greater progress through/ among others. Making others accepted/ expected for continuous communication is a priceless value for every professional.
Follow me on Twitter for more ABC sessions!!!
Image Credit: ABC-2-Go
Posted by: Albert Weng
I first created the English blog of Bridging Circles back in '11, to share my own study and experience, mainly focus on education and career advancement. After two years of blogging, I decided to extend my blogging to a wider field, and named it cuter, the Albert's Bridging Circles to go, and then, here's the ABC-2-Go.
My expertise and also interest:
1. Sales & Marketing
2. Leadership & Management
3. New Business Development
4. Intrapreneurship & Entrapreneurship
5. Education and Learning
6. Project Management (as PMP credential holder and instructor)
Photo Credit: Blogpyramid
About Me
Albert Weng here, my career ranges from sales, marketing in the field of IT networking, and now on new business development for D-Link global HQ on several key business initiatives.
Travelling across more than 100 cities in 5 continents (and continue), enjoy the challenge and opportunity from cross cultural business engagement. The many great stories from those fantastic trips has always driven me to the next adventure.
I'm also a contributor to The News Lens, an independent media who covers those critical topics and issues from a more open and informed manner. My posts mainly cover the education and career.
In addition, reading and sporting keep me fresh and fit, and both create enormous energy for my mental and physical advancement.
My favorite about education:
TED Talk: Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud
TED Talk: Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity
Khan Academy
Coursera
Udacity
Edx
Feel free to leave your comment to my blog post, email me at albert.weng@gmail.com
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