Thanks 2009 … Welcome 2010
Posted by Craig | Filed under General
As one year comes to and end and a new year dawns, I’ve made time for one final post in 2009. All things considered, the past year was NOT bad. Sure, it presented it’s challenges – and while we do not always enjoy the tough times, it forces us to grow as individuals and, better still, to innovate in order to survive.
Mentoring our people, using technology as an enabler and skills development are the cornerstones of gyrationfive, so below are some thoughts on each as we prepare to launch into a new year.
People
Thank you for the relationships formed and strengthened, professionally and personally. You are the reason why this organisation exists and why gyrationfive will continue to evolve and grow from strength to strength.
Technology
Use technology wisely and responsibly to unlock value in your daily tasks. Remember that in business people pay for value (even in the tough times). Empower yourself.
Skill
Invest time in your craft. Have a goal, that is specific attainable and realistic, and be diligent to practice and improve your level of skill on a daily basis.
We wish everyone, especially the gyrationfive family, a Happy New Year! Continue to dream big while being diligent in the small things. May 2010 be filled with many moments of joy and success.
Tags: People, skills, Technology
Technology and Community
Posted by Craig | Filed under Technology
This week I had an opportunity to spend some time with a small group of people from the community that I grew up in. They are planning a 65 year anniversary event and my sister asked for help with a website for the event. In the minutes leading up to and during my presentation, I was moved by the combined wisdom and the wealth of life experience amongst the people in the room.
I felt proud that this is the community that I came from and I decided that it was time to give something back.
gyrationfive’s contribution to this event will be revealed over the coming weeks. We are excited to be a part of this project which celebrates the lives of the people who want to ensure that a legacy is left behind for future generations.
It is in cases such as these, that technology and people compliment each other and where collaboration and community can make a difference in the lives of ordinary people.
Tags: collaboration, gyrationfive, People, Technology
The Value Ladder
Posted by Craig | Filed under People
When you are in a position to show the value that you add to peoples lives they will respond.
This is why taking the time to do a value ladder exercise for your organisation can be invaluable. Richard Stutely covers this in detail in his book The Definitive Business Plan.
Showcasing the value that your people bring to your organisation internally will result in them continually aspiring to do their best work. Showcasing this value to your clients will result in them having no excuses to pay the appropriate price. This is the foundation of any strong business partnership: the relationship between value and price. As a bonus they will continue to partner with you. We ALL win when value is at the core of the partnership.
Some benefits of doing a value ladder exercise for your organisation or team:
- It serves as a check and balance – If you are leading a team toward a specific goal, this ensures that you have a handle on your processes.
- It helps with scoping out your prospective projects – Doing the exercise puts you in the position to, at a later stage, analyse and evaluate your cost against your customers value. This will minimise your risk on future projects and help you to make informed pricing decisions.
More importantly, in a challenging economy, clients need to clearly see the value that you add as their service provider of choice.
Tags: adding value, business, People
It’s Alive!
Posted by Craig | Filed under General
This post is long overdue but let me assure you that my silence was not because there has been nothing to write about!
gyrationfive is alive and the organisation is growing! It has been a triumphant evolution from dream to concept to plan and more recently has manifested into a reality. I am thrilled at how the process has unfolded and what excites me the most is that, despite tough economic times, my family, friends and even business acquaintances believe in the organisation and the values on which it is being built.
There is no turning back. We’ve made the commitment and now we need to deliver – and deliver we shall.
I would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution. Stakeholders, family and friends. Our strength is in our people and we are currently making huge investments in up skilling and mentoring every member of the gyrationfive team with the intention of building good relationships and partnerships internally and with our clients.
Watch out for some important announcements and additions to the gyrationfive family.
Leadership
Posted by Craig | Filed under People
Nations need leaders.
Businesses need leaders.
Good leadership has a positive effect on our surroundings. I can go on forever and write paragraphs on the topic of leadership, but I won’t.
I want to make one point: Leaders are not machines or algorithms, they are people. Human beings like you and me. While we may not all be leading countries or companies there are many other opportunities where we can shine as leaders.
Our communities need leaders.
Our homes need leaders.
This can be you (and me).
Tags: leadership, People
Navigating Tough Economic Times
Posted by Craig | Filed under General
It has been a few days since my last post. So much going on – thankfully all good.
Given the current economic situation, internationally as well as here in beautiful South Africa, these are testing times. It has been interesting to observe how business leaders are responding to these conditions.
Despite some of the negativity there are still some organisations that are flourishing.
Look beyond the numbers and I’m confident that the key contributor to their success is their investment in their people.
People that understand how they contribute to the success of the organisation will remain focused, watch for opportunities and in doing so they become the organisations most valuable asset.
Add to this smooth systems and processes and you have an organisation that is flexible to navigate through this period of economic uncertainty.
Times are tough for everyone and in my opinion relationships will be key to get us through this one.
Tags: business, People, recession
Business: The Balanced Approach
Posted by Craig | Filed under General
Passionate people, empowering tools and an ultimate goal (or dream) – In my opinion these are vital building blocks for success in business and/or personal lives.
As we grow our business , achieving balance between these building blocks is extremely important .
Without a goal, you can sell yourself or your business short .Without motivated and passionate people or with inferior “tools” you often faced with a job half done. Ideally we want our organisation to reach maximum potential.
To help create balance in your organisation, we recommend implementing systems and processes to help optimise how these elements need to integrate for the organisation to achieve the best results. Documenting the systems and processes in your organisation will be very beneficial in the long run. Don’t overcomplicate things. Start small – but do your best to have something in place!
Tags: business, People, systems and processes
People – Any Organisation’s Most Valuable Asset
Posted by Craig | Filed under People
People are important – in fact people are the reason that gyrationfive exists.
They come in all shapes and forms, some are quirky, some serious and others funny. While we are all different, we all have needs. For some, these needs are very basic while for others it is more complex. What I find amusing is that even when you put a group of really “smart” people together there is no guarantee that they will produce the “smartest” results.
There are many reasons for this. One reason is that no matter who we are or what position we hold, we need some kind of direction or leadership en route to our goal. To tap in to our full potential we need to be mentored and, when the time comes, be able to mentor. I recently a read an excellent article that speaks to this point.
It has taken a few months for me to crystalise why I started this organization and more importantly what the next steps are to be to realise the gyrationfive dream. Thanks to the input of some key individuals, I have managed to formulate a plan to get the ball rolling … and things are finally coming together.
My Point – I needed the tough questions (you know who you are), great recommendations and the support and encouragement to move to this level and to map out the next few steps on the journey. Equally important is finding the right people to run things by. In a way they have become an advisory board to me and the organization – and I am grateful for every bit of input. I hope these partnerships and friendships will keep growing and stand the test of time!
Tags: mentorship, People
