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Dealing with Change and Change Management
There is a lot of talk about "change" - how important it is, how
we should alter the way we do to things at work and in our
personal lives in order to be more effective. Sometimes we even
hear how it is essential to change even if just for...
How Coaches Find Clients Online
At a recent networking meeting Jana asked for a recommendation for a public speaking coach. She was starting to speak in front of audiences, and wanted to polish her presentation skills a bit. Before anyone else got a chance to reply, Elise jumped...
Planning Special Events - Part Two - The Master Plan
"The master plan is the plan you create to ensure you have covered your bases when planning your event. Doing so will increase your chances of having a wildly successful outcome, leading to more referrals, happy clients and more sales." Heidi...
Present Like A Pro! Ten Ways To Wow Your Audience
“I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking. But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make sure they are still going!”
Lord Birkett
OK. You have been working in the company for a few years now and, through...
Secrets and Benefits of Secured Loans
Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far easier to borrow money. The rising popularity of consumer finance has also been aided by the wide...
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More Than Money
More Than Money
Time changes things.
So, to understand a thing, it is often helpful to go back to see what the thing was originally supposed to be. Understanding economics is no exception.
The word economy can be traced back to the Greek word oikonomos, which means one who manages a household. From oikonomos was derived oikonomia, which had not only the sense of management of a household or family, but also senses such as thrift, direction, administration, arrangement, and public revenue.
The first recorded sense of our word economy, found in a work composed about 1440, is the management of economic affairs, in this case, of a monastery. Economy is later recorded in other senses shared by oikonomia in Greek, including thrift and administration. What is probably our most frequently used current sense, the economic system of a country or an area, seems not to have developed until the 19th Century and has played a much larger role in the 20th Century. The root word relates to household management, which of course includes money, but encompasses much more than simply money management.
While economic concerns tend to cluster around money, there is more to economics than accounting. In the same way that money has a way of touching every aspect of life, the roots of economy also reach into every aspect of life, as well. Consequently, an economy is about culture and morality as much as it is about money and business. In fact, it could be argued that the monetary aspects of economy are the outward manifestation of the more subtle and intricate aspects of culture and morality.
John Carver made a similar observation in the 1980s as he began to think about why business and non-profit organizations worked so hard, but tended to gain so little ground. Following many advances in modern management techniques, he began thinking about why it was so hard to put them into practice. His thinking centered on boards—the many non-profit and corporate board of directors whose job it is to guide their various organizations. He observed poor performance of board work everywhere he looked.
He began in his groundbreaking book, Boards That Make A Difference (Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, 1990), by pointing out the problem that exists in a typical board of directors. A correct prescription requires a correct diagnosis. Carver built on an insight from Peter Drucker in 1974, who said, "there is one thing all
boards have in common, regardless of their legal position. They do not function. The decline of the board is a universal phenomenon of this century," said Drucker. Agreeing, Sumek found in 1983 that the board of directors "governance process is not working well... New approaches need to be developed." Geneen of ITT complained in 1984, "Among the boards of directors of Fortune 500 companies, I estimate that 95 percent are not fully doing what they are legally, morally, and ethically supposed to do. And they couldn't, even if they wanted to."
What is the problem in the board room? What is so wrong that leading business experts have issued such broad condemnations of the way that boards function over several decades?
Carver says, "The problem is not that a group or an individual occasionally slips into poor practice, but that intelligent, caring individuals regularly exhibit procedures of governance that are so deeply flawed. On a regular basis, major program issues go unresolved while boards spend enormous amounts of time and energy on details that do not impact the central issues."
For instance, a national survey a decade or so ago found that almost half of America's school boards made the purchasing decisions for tape recorders, cameras, and television sets. Nothing against school boards in particular, but the point is that those who are charged with responsibility for the strategic position of an organization are ordinarily mired in administrative details, with no time or vision for strategic concerns. The strategic position and the decisions necessary to advance that position cannot even be seen from the field of such administrative minutia.
This series of articles will point to ordinary situations that suggest board or directors ineptitude, and the need to discuss Carver's insights and proposed solutions to many of the common problems that negatively impact the economic development of businesses, institutions and governments. Could it be that businesses, institutions and governments are crippled by their organizational structures? Carver believes that they are, and proposes a practical solution.
About the Author
Phillip A. Ross has more than twenty years of Christian ministry leadership, extensive experience in administration, conflict resolution, writing, design, marketing, public speaking, has been a business owner for several years, and is an author of several books. More: www.paross.com
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How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear |
A report that covers the common causes of public speaking fear and tips to overcome it. Book available. |
www.stresscure.com |
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Allyn and Bacon Public Speaking Website |
A five-step guide to preparing and delivering effective speeches. |
wps.ablongman.com |
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Public Speaking & Speech Writing |
A free guide to speech writing and delivery for every occasion. From best man speeches to eulogies. |
www.speechtips.com |
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Presentation Tips for Public Speaking |
Art of Public Speaking. Hints and tips on public speaking, ... On the Job: Public Speaking Tips - Twelve Steps to Great Presentations by Elise Bauer. ... |
www.aresearchguide.com |
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10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking - Toastmasters International |
10 Tips For Successful Public Speaking. Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. ... |
www.toastmasters.org |
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Welcome to Toastmasters International where we are"Making ... |
Non-profit organization developing public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs since 1924. Members learn how to lead ... |
www.toastmasters.org |
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Strategies to Succeed in Public Speaking - School for Champions |
Contents of online lessons to succeed in public speaking from the School for Champions. |
www.school-for-champions.com |
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Public Speaking Home Page |
Humor and quotes to help your speech - or just for your own enjoyment. History / Careers The history of public speaking and potential career options for you ... |
www.mhhe.com |
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Public speaking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Public speaking is speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to ... Public speaking is almost as ancient as speech itself. ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN COUNSELING AND CAREER SERVICES |
Public speaking anxiety is very common among both college students and the general ... The most common form of Social Phobia is public speaking anxiety. ... |
www.utm.edu |
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Painless Public Speaking |
At Painless Public Speaking we keep you up to date with what's new in the world of ... Painless Public Speaking is not about the theory but the "how-to" ... |
www.publicspeaking.com.au |
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Public Speaking from Uncommon Knowledge |
Public speaking couldn’t be further from your mind and your manager tells you have to do a presentation to fifty colleagues next week. What’s your response? ... |
www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk |
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Public Speaking Tips by Uncommon Knowledge |
It’s possible for public speaking to be fun and hugely satisfying. Once you’ve enjoyed a presentation, or even part of it, your self confidence will get a ... |
www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk |
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Public Speaking Skills from Mind Tools - Speaking Tips & Techniques |
Learn to speak and present clearly and effectively. Improve your speaking skills with this Mind Tools guide to speaking effectively in public. |
www.mindtools.com |
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Public Speaking Information |
Advanced Public Speaking Institute- -More than 120 mini articles on professional level ... Click here for additional articles on Public Speaking Information ... |
www.selfgrowth.com |
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Basic Public Speaking, 2nd Edition - The Teachers and Students ... |
New public speaking text for middle and high school Language Arts, ESL teachers and students. Written by a trained counselor and experienced teacher. |
www.capital.net |
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public speaking tips - presentation skills tips, public speaking tips |
presentation skills & public speaking monthly tips by Lenny Laskowski, Professional Speaker. |
www.ljlseminars.com |
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Public Speaking - The Art of Speech Making |
Public Speaking - Hints and tips on Public Speaking Skills, dealing with public speaking nerves and anxiety, public speaking skills and public speaking ... |
www.impactfactory.com |
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Advanced Public Speaking Institute |
Public speaking articles, seminars, and educational materials. |
www.public-speaking.org |
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Public Speaking Training-Presentation Skills & Public Speaking courses |
Public speaking training - Overcome your fear of public speaking with our presentation skills classes. We offer presentation skills training seminars, ... |
www.publicspeakingskills.com |
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