Comments on: smarter conversations (cont.) http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/ "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:18:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Kinetic Energy http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-3516 Kinetic Energy Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:44:43 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1143#comment-3516 <strong>Smarter conversations</strong> Hugh Macleod's work at gapingvoid is excellent. For example, smarter conversations (cont.) where Hugh writes, Problem: Smarter Markets. Solution: Smarter Conversations. And do you know what ? Hugh follows his own advice - I've noticed hi... Smarter conversations

Hugh Macleod’s work at gapingvoid is excellent. For example, smarter conversations (cont.) where Hugh writes,
Problem: Smarter Markets.
Solution: Smarter Conversations.
And do you know what ? Hugh follows his own advice — I’ve noticed hi…

]]> By: brian moffatt http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-3513 brian moffatt Thu, 06 Jan 2005 05:28:25 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1143#comment-3513 A better solution is dumber markets. A better solution is dumber markets.

]]> By: Vy Blog http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-3515 Vy Blog Thu, 06 Jan 2005 04:16:40 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1143#comment-3515 <strong>How smart are you getting?</strong> I had a conversation with a colleague a couple of years ago who accused me of being smart. How smart are you getting?

I had a conversation with a colleague a couple of years ago who accused me of being smart.

]]> By: Johnnie Moore's Weblog http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Johnnie Moore's Weblog Wed, 05 Jan 2005 17:25:22 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1143#comment-3514 <strong>Smart conversation: speak for yourself</strong> Hugh's got me going with his Smarter Conversations riff. Another element of smart conversation is that people speak for themseleves. I have learnt to be wary of "second-hand" conversations, where person A tells me that person B thinks about me... Smart conversation: speak for yourself

Hugh’s got me going with his Smarter Conversations riff. Another element of smart conversation is that people speak for themseleves. I have learnt to be wary of “second-hand” conversations, where person A tells me that person B thinks about me…

]]> By: Anonymous http://gapingvoid.com/2005/01/05/smarter-conversations-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-3512 Anonymous Wed, 05 Jan 2005 10:35:08 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1143#comment-3512 "Practice what you preach" reminds me of a story: My wife works for a health insurance company. This company, of course, wants other companies to join (that is, buy into) one of their health care plans. The better the plan, the better for the health insurance company -- more money -- and the better for the other companies -- healthier workers and/or happier workers, in theory. So her company uses all their powers of persuasion to get other companies to sign up for the best, most comprehensive health care packages possible. Recently, her company "downgraded" the health care plans it offers to its own workers. Instead of shooting for the top 10% in the industry, they're shooting for the 50% mark. Why? Too expensive to offer really good benefits. (They also encouraged employees to drop out of their network and use a spouse's insurance plan -- again, saves them money.) None of the insurance company's employees were particularly happy about this. What's the first thing people say to someone when they find out they work for an insurance company? "Man, you must have awesome benefits." Seems kind of silly to inspire your employees to respond, "Not really. You'd be surprised." (I was going to publish this in my own blog, but I'd rather not risk word getting back to Corporate Masters.) “Practice what you preach” reminds me of a story:
My wife works for a health insurance company. This company, of course, wants other companies to join (that is, buy into) one of their health care plans. The better the plan, the better for the health insurance company — more money — and the better for the other companies — healthier workers and/or happier workers, in theory. So her company uses all their powers of persuasion to get other companies to sign up for the best, most comprehensive health care packages possible.
Recently, her company “downgraded” the health care plans it offers to its own workers. Instead of shooting for the top 10% in the industry, they’re shooting for the 50% mark. Why? Too expensive to offer really good benefits. (They also encouraged employees to drop out of their network and use a spouse’s insurance plan — again, saves them money.)
None of the insurance company’s employees were particularly happy about this.
What’s the first thing people say to someone when they find out they work for an insurance company? “Man, you must have awesome benefits.”
Seems kind of silly to inspire your employees to respond, “Not really. You’d be surprised.”
(I was going to publish this in my own blog, but I’d rather not risk word getting back to Corporate Masters.)

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