Advice Line | Bob Lewis

When project priorities change too often

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-31T14:42:48-08:00

The easy part: The solution -- don't stop projects in the middle. The hard part: Getting everyone to buy in. READ MORE

A manager who's a screamer

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-30T09:02:14-08:00

If so, they need to fix their own performance. Otherwise it will be harder to find a better job someplace else, working for a manager who doesn't scream.]]> READ MORE

Is the Motley Fool right about the cloud?

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-28T16:58:30-08:00

The Motley Fool's recent investment letter extolling the virtues of "The Cloud" is chock full of errors and shaky logic. Don't be ... fooled? READ MORE

Have I given up on treating employees well?

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-24T20:01:08-08:00

Treating employees well is a strategy that has proven successful in a wide variety of circumstances. That doesn't make it a principle. READ MORE

A project team that's concerned about continued employment

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-24T13:20:19-08:00

A project team is concerned about layoffs when the project is over. Even if the concern is valid, Worrying about it wastes energy, and everyone is best off with a successful conclusion, whatever happens next. READ MORE

You've been poached. What can you do?

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-20T15:48:21-08:00

If another rep poaches a sale from you and management doesn't seem to care, your options are limited at best. Be careful -- you're surrounded by landmines. READ MORE

Stuck in silos

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-17T20:10:07-08:00

Want managers to stop managing silos? Find the factors that motivate them to act this way and get rid of them, and add new factors to their environment that will motivate them to collaborate. READ MORE

How can a consultant find work right now?

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-15T10:57:53-08:00

Whether you're a pure consultant or more of a contractor, adapt your offerings to fit a cost-reduction consciousness, and work extra-hard to develop and maintain relationships. This isn't the year to make much money. It is the year to position yourself for the thaw when it happens. READ MORE

Does your domain matter in a job search?

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-12T12:55:04-08:00

As is usually the case, the answer is that it depends. In this case the answer also is that usually it doesn't matter very much. READ MORE

Another knowledge-loss challenge

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-10T13:30:40-08:00

Even if you've made sure everyone is cross-trained, a layoff can wreck your preparations. Regroup, both in the executive suite by setting expectations and internally, by re-starting the cross-training process. READ MORE

More thoughts on knowledge retention

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-09T06:32:25-08:00

If mandated layoffs leave too little time to transfer knowledge from departing staff, you'll have to be creative to find ways to buy more time. READ MORE

Laying off staff without losing too much knowledge

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-08T11:14:00-08:00

Nibble away at the problem ... a bit here and a bit there. Then work with business management to avoid being spread too thin from now on. READ MORE

Thoughts on self-publishing

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-03T20:43:38-08:00

Self-publishing has a lot of attractions. It's more work than it might seem, though. READ MORE

Preserving the architecture function

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-02T20:53:32-08:00

If faced with a reorganization, support it, even if it's at your short-term expense. Right now, protecting your turf is a bad career move. READ MORE

Choosing between a buyout and a salary cut

Bob Lewis — 2009-03-01T10:38:51-08:00

When faced with voluntary layoffs, compare the cash flows and your expectations of how hard you expect your job search to be. Then add some pessimism to your assumptions. READ MORE