Sep, 2011

September 6, 2011

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Once again the economic news is turning negative. Some polls (do you put much faith in these polls?) now indicate that the general consensus is that we are still in, never really left, the depression/recession. Some highly visible economists are now saying the same thing, albeit with a caveat that "technically we came out and technically we aren't back in," but that practically we never left the recession.

Still, while that certainly seems true in sectors of the economy, there are still very positive signs in other sectors. Personally, I think things aren't nearly as bad overall as some are saying and not nearly as positive as others are saying. What I'm experiencing is the same thing as the 1970s without the inflation. It is my view that there has been a global shift and that jobless recovery is the "new" way going forward. Permanently. What do you think? Leave comments here.

In this newsletter, I have the honor of introducing David Gjestland, Ph.D. I met David at a local restaurant that my wife and I love to visit. It turns out that David was helping to manage things there where his wife is the owner and executive chef. We struck up a conversation and finally agreed that David, a long time educator in business and leadership, would "spruce up" some of his papers and thoughts on leadership for our use. We've begun with a wonderful, esoteric paper on Leadership. We will present it in two parts, the first this month and the second will be presented next month. So put on your thinking caps and delve into this scholarly piece. David does not question your intelligence, but does challenge you to use it. I hope you take the time and enjoy reading Part I of "Leadership, What an enigma!"

The second article is a bit of a summary of several books I've read recently concerning how our brains work (or don't), and how that can constrict how we view the world and how open we are to new views, new data and differing opinions. I hope you will find time to read some of this latest scientific work, it is definitely an "eye opener" and gives us some insight into how we function in the world.

Many of you know that I am a voracious reader. I also love to learn first hand, if possible, from the authors and professionals behind the academic theories and proofs that we use in the world these days. Such an opportunity appeared when Michael Spence was speaking at a recent Drucker Forum. (The next scheduled event promises to be just as informative. Click on the link to go to the website, perhaps register.) So the third article is a review of this excellent book by Spence - The Next Convergence. It's a must read.

Dave Kinnear

CEO, dbkAssociates, Inc.
Executive Leader Coach

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Leadership: What an Enigma!

Leadership has fascinated scholars and laymen for centuries.

Leadership: what an enigma! The phenomenon has fascinated scholars and laymen alike for centuries. Indeed, what is a leader? What distinguishes leaders from others? What if anything do all manner of leaders have in common? These are but a few of the queries that arise concerning the ominous often threatening and intimidating but sometimes inspiring power of leadership.

The importance of understanding leadership hardly needs reiteration, particularly in view of its extended range of impact and its frequent potential for long-term consequences. Although a vast body of work has been written about the subject most of that literature has been provided by business or management specialists, by sociologists, social psychologists and other scholars. However, almost without exception these works have been marred by at least one overriding failing: the tendency to assume leadership only occurs after someone has ascended to a formal position of power/authority. Read more . . .

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Show me an uncertain Neanderthal and . . . .

I'll show you a DEAD Neanderthal.

Our brains are evolving quickly and not quickly enough. We no longer have to worry about deciding quickly between saber-toothed tiger and hunger or choose between the “four F’s” (Flight, Fight, Food and, uh . . . Mate). But our brains are still more comfortable deciding quickly and with having certainty rather than uncertainty. And therein lies a challenge for all of us.

Once you decide, when on the savanna or in the city jungle, that there is danger and you take action, that certainty is very useful. In our personal lives and in our business lives, that certainty locks us in, closes our minds, and keeps us in a box. The thing that is important to understand here is that we reach this “certainty” prematurely, before all the facts are in and considered. Ted Cadsby, corporate director, principal of TRC Consulting, calls this a “speed-accuracy tradeoff” that is no longer necessary. He says that, “. . . there is an antidote to premature certainty: Adopting a mind set of ‘provisional truth.’ ” Read more . . .

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The Next Convergence by Michael Spence

The future of economic growth in a multispeed world.

One of the small joys I have in life is to attend seminars and lectures that not only inform but allow me to meet the people doing the research and forming the theories. Michael Spence, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, spoke at a Drucker Forum recently and I was able to attend. He definitely has his mind wrapped around the very complex issue of global economics and the roles played by the developed versus the developing economies. They are interdependent roles to be sure.

His presentation (a question and answer format where he was interviewed by James Flanigan, business columnist for the New York Times) was riveting and insightful. As he made clear at the presentation and again in his book, "The huge asymmetries between advanced and developing countries have not disappeared, but they are declining, and the pattern for the first time in 250 years is convergence rather than divergence." This of course has equally huge consequences for the developed countries. We will have to continue to adjust and find our way in the global economy. Read more . . .

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Dean Zerbe - Top 7 Ideas for Tax Incentives to Create Jobs

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 | REPRINTED FROM: FORBES.COM

Today's terrible job news only underscores the need for action on encouraging employment. However, the proposals being put forward by the White House of new spending or a continuation of the payroll holiday have little to zero chance of becoming law (unless significant concessions made to the Republican House). Lawmakers in Washington need to decide do they want an issue for the elections or do they want to do something now to help the unemployed. To the goal of doing something today this column puts forward proposals that actually have a realistic chance of passing and can have a good impact on jobs and the economy (while not breaking the bank).

Read more . . .

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