December 29, 2009

A Resolution to "Speak Up" in 2010

In a recent discussion about the problems of email communication, a friend cited the quote, “The written word in the hands of a master is a poor substitute for the spoken word.”  My initial reaction was suspect as misunderstandings arise with the spoken word as well -- but then my friend added that the source of this quote is Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest writers of all time.  From that self-effacing angle, I began to see Hemingway’s point. The written word – whether presented in a great literary work, a news article, an email, or a tweet – effectively conveys issues and ideas. But the spoken word still wields more power to move minds, motivate action, or drive home a strong point.

In fact, Hemingway’s observation seems to ring even truer today.  In business, the electronically “written word” has overtaken the use of the “proper” letter, the phone call and the in-person meeting.  Its ubiquity has, in some ways, diminished written language’s impact as a whole; more is actually less in that it is more shallowly processed, more fleeting, and perhaps, more likely forgotten. It’s also more commonly misused to convey critical or sensitive subject matter.

After pondering Hemingway’s reminder of the power of the spoken word, I find myself more frequently picking up the phone and stopping by for a personal visit to communicate and build stronger relationships. As we approach the setting of resolutions for the new year, perhaps we should “Speak Up” more in 2010.

December 9, 2009

Comcast and NBC U – A "Major Repositioning" Win?

Following “The Great Recession” of 2009, we expect 2010 to mark the entrance to the era of "The Great Repositioning" as management focuses on competitive environments, overall business strategy and operations in a world that is much different from 2008. In the next 12 months, we’ll see two playing levels of repositioning: “minor” initiatives in which businesses stay in the same game, but reposition key pieces on their chess board, and “major” initiatives in which businesses change their game altogether.

The recent announcement of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger is a major repositioning move that carries significantly more risk than minor-level maneuvering. Effective integration of the two company cultures – connectedness between Comcast and NBC personnel that ultimately delivers meaningful value to the consumer – is critical for success. Can Comcast and NBC smoothly unite their disparate worlds of content distribution and content creation when the former plays to a monopoly and the latter plays to competitive innovation?

Operational leadership will obviously be a key ingredient to success in this combination.