Author: Dr. Dana

Bottleneck slowing you down? Using Kanban for continuous improvement

Bottleneck slowing you down? Using Kanban for continuous improvement

Posted by | Mar 19, 2018 | , |

The end of the fiscal year was upon us. With only a week left before the funds for the year were swept, we were in a mad dash to get those last few requisitions through the approval process. As each day came to a close, requisitions began to back up in the approval process. With each passing day the window for the fiscal year funds got smaller. Repeated requests and inquires just didn’t budge the flow of requisitions. In short – we had a bottleneck on our hands. What we discovered due to our use of a Kanban board...

Read More
Kanban board: Not your average to do list

Kanban board: Not your average to do list

Posted by | Mar 12, 2018 | , |

To do lists are a great way to keep yourself on track to get things done. In fact, there’s some that say getting that to-do list out of your head and onto paper (or electronic tool) makes you more effective. But, do you have a shared to do list for your team? A to do list that offers a clear picture of all the tasks the team needs to accomplish with transparent priorities? If not, I’d like to introduce you to the concept of a kanban board. Last week we introduced the best kept secret in IT for getting...

Read More
Best kept secret for getting stuff done: The Agile methodology

Best kept secret for getting stuff done: The Agile methodology

Posted by | Mar 5, 2018 | , |

Unless you are in IT, IT tends to be this mysterious department. There are lots of strange words and magic to get that glowy box on your desk to turn on every morning. However, they have a secret in IT that I think everyone outside of IT can benefit from. A secret that can help you get twice the work done in half the time. This secret methodology offers clear roles, processes, and tools that you can use not only at work – but at home.  It’s the agile methodology. What is the agile methodology? I could go into...

Read More
Need help managing up? Try appreciating up.

Need help managing up? Try appreciating up.

Posted by | Feb 19, 2018 | , , |

Did you know there was such a thing as Boss’ Day? I didn’t. It’s October 16th. It was a surprise to me because appreciation and recognition is discussed almost exclusively in regards to the average employee.  I frequently get asked about managing up. And, while there’s a number of suggestions I might offer, the one that’s most unexpected is to appreciate up. Let’s explore why bosses deserve some appreciation (although Boss’ Day might be a bit of a stretch) – and how to do it. Now, if you’re like me, you didn’t know there was a Boss’ Day. And,...

Read More
Are you an appreciation scrooge? Emotional stinginess isn’t a performance management tool

Are you an appreciation scrooge? Emotional stinginess isn’t a performance management tool

Posted by | Feb 12, 2018 | , |

You can’t have a discussion about employee engagement or retention without ending up in a conversation about rewards, recognition, and appreciation. Why? Because it works. But, really. Why? Because there seems to be a persistent belief that to give appreciation generously will somehow decrease performance. In a way, emotional stinginess has become a performance management tool. The biggest appreciation scrooges will say, “Why do I have to recognize someone just for doing their job?” And you know what? I get it. I’ve SAID it myself. Hi, my name is Dr Dana and I’m a recovering appreciation scrooge. There, it’s...

Read More

Pin It on Pinterest