Articles by Rich Anderson

1. Preparing For The Unexpected 6/24/2016

   Dear? Is that a deer?  Legacy Planning – Preparing for the Unexpected.  What to do now?

2. Leadership Lessons From My Mother-In-Law’s 80th Birthday 12/14/2015

   Rich Anderson shares a few leadership lessons he saw being lived out at that event. 

3. Leadership Lessons For IT Solutions Providers From The Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area 9/16/2015

   In the still, cool early morning air, two bald eagles soar over the slate-gray lake encircled by a dense, dark green pine forest. A blue-gray heron drops to the safety of the middle of the lake. A few moments after the eagles disappear into the distant trees, the heron flies toward the lake’s edge for its morning fishing.

4. Ask Coach: How To Give Up Control Of Tasks In My IT Solutions Provider Business 9/16/2015

   Q: How do I give up control of things I shouldn’t do anymore? Coach: It has been said the longest journey a man will ever take is the 18 inches from his head to his heart. I think this adage has some application to your question.

5. Ask Coach: How Can IT Solutions Providers make Quadrant II Time More Effective 6/25/2015

   What Should Solutions Providers Do During Quadrant II Time To Make IT More Effective? Time for a bit of wisdom from Nebraska. Vietnam veteran, retired U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel once said that America would be better off if more of her leaders would spend more time looking out the window thinking. Warren Buffet, Omaha’s favorite son and the world’s most successful investor, has said the most important meeting he has every week is the meeting he has with himself. Strategic leaders spend time alone … thinking. That is wisdom.

6. Knights, Kings/Queens, Presidents And You: How To Lead When Others In Leadership Roles Won’t 6/10/2015

   He bows before you, King/Queen of your Technical Realm. You raise the magical gleaming silver sword, Excalibur, high over your head. Lowering Excalibur, you touch each shoulder of that bowed special ally as empowering words fall from your lips, “I dub thee, Sir, Knight of the Royal Technology Table. Arise Sir Reginald and assume your leadership role.” With a hope-filled heart you watch Sir Reginald arise. He walks into your service team meeting glowing with pride and promptly falls on his face. Gasping for air, you awake from your dream wondering, “How can I lead when my leaders can’t … or won’t?”

7. Ask Coach: When Strategically Planning For Your IT Company Don’t Forget Planning For Your Personal Life 6/2/2015

   Some of you have worked hard to create a dashboard for certain metrics in your company. Why?  The truth about your company performance is reflected up-to-the-minute in the dashboard. You hope the dashboard will provide accountability and motivation for your team as they execute around certain priorities. 

8. Ask Coach: How To Connect Better With People (In Particular Your IT Solutions Provider Staff) 4/8/2015

   Q: How can I better connect with people (and in particular, my staff)? Coach: What do Maxwell Smart’s shoe phone and the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding have in common? Both teach valuable lessons on effectively connecting with others.

9. Ask Coach: What Sharing A Bathroom With 4 Women Taught Me About Family Strategic Planning 3/16/2015

   Q: How do I do strategic planning with my family? Coach: Have you ever shared one bathroom with four women? I have. It makes for an interesting study in human relations and tests communication and mutual respect like no other situation I know.

10. Ask Coach: Making Your Team Part of Strategic Planning, Part 3 2/26/2015

    This is the third part of a three-part series. This installment deals with documenting your plan and driving communication through your team.