In 2015, Facebook released information showing that its users were far more engaged with video content than any other kind of media. This sent ripples through the entire media ecosystem. Suddenly every company was talking about "pivot to video." Companies like Vice and Buzzfeed laid off writers and started producing more videos. The problem? The Facebook data wasn't real. Facebook shared inflated data and avoided owning up to it for several years. I have some sympathy for the companies that...
3 months ago • 1 min read
I love breaking down interesting charts. One of my favorite resources to help you make sense of charts is McKinsey’s Chart of the Day. Each day, they share a chart on a newsworthy topic, providing the perfect opportunity to practice. Here's a recent one on the global women's health gap: In our workshops, we like to teach people to think about charts using the 10-second test. Look at the chart above. Time yourself, 10 seconds. Can you understand it? If not, maybe it could be better. Here's a...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Time management isn’t about frantically ticking tasks off a to-do list. It’s about maximizing your productivity and effectiveness while maintaining your well-being (although some of my former managers disagreed about this last part :-)) When I think about time management, I think about the three 3 Ps: Prioritize - figure out what matters Plan ahead - figured out when to do it and execute Productively - figure out how to efficiently and effectively do it Prioritization tactics: The Eisonhower...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Defining a problem clearly should always be the first step of a project or a problem-solving process. But if you've never experienced this like we experienced it in consulting, it's hard to know what this means. Enter our friend SMART: The "SMART" way to define problems: SMART is simple. It stands for: Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-bound If you've spent time in an organization, you've likely run across this acronym. But most people haven't sat down to use it. Here's how I'd use...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Here's a strong take: most professional services firms are terrible at knowledge management. I've worked at four firms and consulted for over twenty more. Most firms invest too little in knowledge management and too late, if ever. The reason is simple. In consulting, client work pays the bills. If a potential client sends an email saying they might want to work with you, you rally the troops. You get 3 to 4 people diverting all their attention to dig into everything you find out about the...
4 months ago • 4 min read
A lot of people associate editing and revising work as painful. This is because in many companies it happens at the last minute and is a reactive process. You spend time trying to fix all the mistakes and end up being frustrated with the final process. There's a better way. Here are three things that can help: #1 - Start with a solid storyline Before you even think about opening PowerPoint, start with a storyline or outline. This is the skeleton of your presentation, and getting it right can...
5 months ago • 2 min read
MECE is a powerful tool. Remember what it stands for? It's "Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive." While the idea is simple, applying MECE consistently and effectively is a skill that takes time to master. It's one of those tools that's deceptively simple yet incredibly powerful when used correctly. And it's not just a business concept; it's a framework for clear thinking that applies almost everywhere. You can use the Olympics to test your understanding of MECE: #1 Olympic medals: The...
6 months ago • 1 min read
I've been spending a lot of time in PowerPoint lately, updating workshop materials for corporate clients. It's got me thinking about how we use PowerPoint and the hacks that consultants rely on given the sheer volume of slides they create. I made a quick video detailing five "hacks" I like to default to when creating slides, most of which I stole from my time in consulting. #1 Naming conventions: This seems basic but is crucial. As you edit a deck, update the file name to reflect the date and...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hey! I wanted to share a video I created that details the three biggest Powerpoint mistakes I see with clients: #1 Pretty slide syndrome: You focus on the looks of a slide before you think about the message. While having nice slides can be helpful, it shouldn't come at the expense of your message. #2 Information soup: You default into trying to prove you did a lot of work rather than getting to the point. Everyone hates slides crammed with endless text and data points but we do them anyway....
7 months ago • 1 min read
