cover story
Diversity matters
The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument identifies five types of bargaining styles—competing, collaborative, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating—based on different personality types. Likewise, stakeholders could have different buying styles too; customize your communication strategy while negotiating with them.
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interview
Dealing with the unpredictable
Crisis—whether unknowingly self-inflicted or due to external factors—is an impending reality and it is only prudent that companies always have a plan ready for the worst. Ramya Ramamurthy, author, REBUILD, details what a good crisis management strategy comprises, gives anecdotes of how bad decision-making has led to the downfall of even giant corporations, and explores the role of PR in sustaining reputation in difficult times.
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presence in the present
In his book, One Second Ahead: Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness, Rasmus Hougaard says, “Mindfulness is about you. It’s about overcoming the multitasking trap, and entering the attention economy being one second ahead of your wandering mind and external distractions. It’s about being the best version of yourself every day. It’s about generating greater mental effectiveness so that you can reach your full potential, both on a professional and a personal level. Effectiveness in this context is the ability to achieve your goals, objectives, and wishes in life.” In an exclusive interview to The Smart Manager, he elucidates the need for presence at the workplace and how a functional mind aids focus.
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driving innovation
The US Patent and Trademark Office describes innovation as “…a word that touches every facet of our everyday culture from business to science and even the arts. Innovation is often associated with creating new things or ideas and includes improving upon old ones too. Businesses around the world have a great need to continuously innovate to stay competitive in the global marketplace and to bring consumers the latest and greatest products and services. But innovation is not defined by just a single event or even a single brilliant idea. Innovation is truly about a process, a series of steps that begins with human imagination and creativity and results in the creation of something of value for society to enjoy.”*
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