http://artpetty.com Leadership, Management and Professional Development Wed, 23 May 2012 22:31:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 copyright by Art Petty, 2011 art.petty@artpetty.com (Art Petty) art.petty@artpetty.com (Art Petty) 1440 http://artpetty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Lcpodcast144x144.png http://artpetty.com 144 144 http://artpetty.com/feed/podcast Leadership Caffeine Podcast Host Art Petty interviews leaders, leadership authors, management thinkers and other professionals about creating high performance teams and organizations and developing effective leaders at all levels, during this weekly program. The goal is to share practical, powerful ideas to help listeners improve their performance and the performance of their teams and organizations. Caffene, Ldrshp, Profesional, Dev, Ledership, Ldrshp, Caffeine, Proff'l, Dev Art Petty Art Petty art.petty@artpetty.com no no http://artpetty.com/2012/03/30/marketing-myopia-redux/ http://artpetty.com/2012/03/30/marketing-myopia-redux/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:31:07 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7322 It amazes and disappoints me all at the same time how many businesses have no clue what their customers really need from them. This problem is epidemic in the technology world (consumer electronics and business technology) in particular, where feature, function and price wars continue to dominate the landscape in spite of the reality that most of us buy for reasons other than feature, function or price.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/03/30/marketing-myopia-redux/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2012/03/03/systems-thinking-meets-platform-strategy-and-social-media-via-nike/ http://artpetty.com/2012/03/03/systems-thinking-meets-platform-strategy-and-social-media-via-nike/#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:09:25 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7248 While I admit to being one of those people who views the idea of running as much more attractive than the actual running part (thus far, I've been satisfied to pass runners on my Specialized Road Bike, thank you), I’m blown away by Nike’s strategy with their Digital Plus business and specifically, their Nike+ program for runners. If you are not a member of Nike+ or, if you are not familiar with it, put on your strategy and marketing glasses and take a close look at what they are doing to differentiate, build communities and increase the dialogue with their customers.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/03/03/systems-thinking-meets-platform-strategy-and-social-media-via-nike/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/18/guest-marketing-post-succeeding-with-video/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/18/guest-marketing-post-succeeding-with-video/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:51:08 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6658 Guest Marketing Post-Succeeding with Video: I'm not alone in my video-phobia, and in comparing notes with many of my colleagues, it seems we all struggle with the same issues. We also agree that the benefits of building a video presence strongly outweigh any of the personal reasons for avoiding this. To support our efforts, I encouraged Amber Wallor and Edgar Mourans, the two pros behind Left Hand Marketing and the drive to help small business owners and even hapless actors like me build a video presence, to offer us some guidance. Here's a free e-book and some encouragement from Amber and Edgar.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/18/guest-marketing-post-succeeding-with-video/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2011/09/28/midweek-marketing-delta-builds-customer-experience-one-detail-at-a-time/ http://artpetty.com/2011/09/28/midweek-marketing-delta-builds-customer-experience-one-detail-at-a-time/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:40:40 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6519 I’ve been an unapologetic critic of the money losing and seemingly customer hating airline industry for many years. Anyone who has flown a million miles or more has a good view to the workings of this flying bus business (with apologies to bus companies), and the view is mostly unpleasant. (Not always, just mostly.) Imagine my surprise when I deviated on my return trip from my normal dealings with United, and flew Delta, and I actually enjoyed the experience. I checked my calendar and it wasn’t April Fools Day or Halloween, so all of the truly good natured, helpful and smiling Delta employees might have actually meant it. Here are 7 observations and some lessons for all of us worth sharing:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/09/28/midweek-marketing-delta-builds-customer-experience-one-detail-at-a-time/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2010/12/20/smiles-sales-and-leadership/ http://artpetty.com/2010/12/20/smiles-sales-and-leadership/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:26:34 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=4718 I enjoy observing how the help in stores engage with their customers. What you see and hear speaks volumes about the leaders they work for. Want to know how people feel about their jobs and their bosses? It’s on their faces. Employees mirror the treatment they receive from their leaders.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/12/20/smiles-sales-and-leadership/feed/ 12 http://artpetty.com/2010/12/07/10-of-my-favorite-dumb-ass-management-mistakes/ http://artpetty.com/2010/12/07/10-of-my-favorite-dumb-ass-management-mistakes/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:00:35 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=4666 In the spirit of my post, “At Least 20 Things to Stop Doing as a Leader,” which has grown well north of 50 thanks to a deluge of reader comments, I’m back with a list of some insanely stupid and all-too-common management mistakes. These focus more on the decisions, actions or inactions that contribute to creating even bigger problems. While I’ve remained on the positive side of the law here (felons, you’ve had your day!), some of these mistakes are truly criminal. Please feel free to chime in with your additions.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/12/07/10-of-my-favorite-dumb-ass-management-mistakes/feed/ 9 http://artpetty.com/2010/10/26/marketers-4-ideas-to-avoid-falling-victim-to-the-felt-need/ http://artpetty.com/2010/10/26/marketers-4-ideas-to-avoid-falling-victim-to-the-felt-need/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:04:16 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=4450 The article, “The Felt Need” by Dan and Chip Heath in the November, 2010 issue of Fast Company is worth the price of the annual subscription for it’s reminder value alone. The Heaths tackle a topic that just about all of us involved in selling, marketing or strategy have succumbed to at some point in our careers: the felt need versus the burning need. Here are four ideas to avoid being victimized by "The Felt Need."

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/10/26/marketers-4-ideas-to-avoid-falling-victim-to-the-felt-need/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2010/10/20/in-pursuit-of-management-innovation-in-marketing/ http://artpetty.com/2010/10/20/in-pursuit-of-management-innovation-in-marketing/#comments Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:57:32 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=4429 The practice of management has evolved at a snail’s pace over the past 50 years, and one of the core tools of management and a key issue for any organization, marketing, has lagged just slightly behind.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/10/20/in-pursuit-of-management-innovation-in-marketing/feed/ 3 http://artpetty.com/2010/09/22/the-anachronistic-and-oxymoronic-tyranny-of-marketing-control/ http://artpetty.com/2010/09/22/the-anachronistic-and-oxymoronic-tyranny-of-marketing-control/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:10:04 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=4362 The new world of marketing frightens many experienced marketing professionals. For those accustomed to believing that they have some form of inalienable right to control everything that is said or published about their firm in the name of “managing the brand,” these are difficult times, indeed.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/09/22/the-anachronistic-and-oxymoronic-tyranny-of-marketing-control/feed/ 6 http://artpetty.com/2010/04/09/jumpstart-your-marketing-reading-to-retrain-your-brain/ http://artpetty.com/2010/04/09/jumpstart-your-marketing-reading-to-retrain-your-brain/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:22:40 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=3579 In my opinion, there’s never been a better time to get involved in the field of marketing. The advances in technology, the spread of social media and the incredible need that organizations everywhere have for individuals that get that marketing is a philosophy…a way of thinking and acting, and not a department, has never been greater.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/04/09/jumpstart-your-marketing-reading-to-retrain-your-brain/feed/ 8 http://artpetty.com/2010/01/06/leveraging-the-power-of-value-discipline-thinking/ http://artpetty.com/2010/01/06/leveraging-the-power-of-value-discipline-thinking/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:46:12 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=3150 From the list of, “Books that I truly wish had updated editions” comes one of my top 10 favorites, the 1997 book, “The Discipline of Market Leaders,” by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersma. I re-read this book…or at least parts of it every year and I still carry through the concepts in my academic and client strategy work. While the examples are brutally dated and some of the companies have moved from good to great to gone, I find the framework of Value Discipline thinking to be a powerful tool that is easy for students and clients to digest and one that is useful in guiding strategic choices.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2010/01/06/leveraging-the-power-of-value-discipline-thinking/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2009/07/25/art-rants-the-insane-and-confusing-battle-for-the-pipe-into-your-home/ http://artpetty.com/2009/07/25/art-rants-the-insane-and-confusing-battle-for-the-pipe-into-your-home/#comments Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:32:40 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=2196 All across America, legions of streetwalkers (not that kind!) have been dispatched to your home to help you deal with the serious issue of your television service. Or is that your Internet service? Or your phones? Or your wireless phones? Or your toaster? You'll soon realize that you’ve become involved in some form of new, maniacal game brought to you by people that have created rules that don’ benefit anyone but them. It’s your job to figure out the catches and traps and gotcha’s! I’m not certain that you as the consumer can win this game, but you can definitely lose. The issue is, how much?

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/07/25/art-rants-the-insane-and-confusing-battle-for-the-pipe-into-your-home/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2009/06/02/fresh-voices-in-management-excellence-greg-strouse-and-his-stories-advices-and-opinions-on-working-managing-and-surviving-the-corporate-world/ http://artpetty.com/2009/06/02/fresh-voices-in-management-excellence-greg-strouse-and-his-stories-advices-and-opinions-on-working-managing-and-surviving-the-corporate-world/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:55:44 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=1898 Searching through the sea of business and leadership blogs has become a bit like a treasure hunt. I enjoy searching for great voices that have not yet jumped out of the search engines and on to everyone’s screen. ne of those that deserves to be front and center is Greg Strouse’s Tales from an XOD, Stories, Advice and Opinions on Working, Managing and Surviving the Corporate World.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/06/02/fresh-voices-in-management-excellence-greg-strouse-and-his-stories-advices-and-opinions-on-working-managing-and-surviving-the-corporate-world/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2009/04/02/new-leaders-twitter-and-the-volunteer-management-conundrum/ http://artpetty.com/2009/04/02/new-leaders-twitter-and-the-volunteer-management-conundrum/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:20:57 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=1416 The Top Ten Challenges of the New Leader, an update on my experience with Twitter (and why all marketers should join), and the Volunteer Management conundrum in our communities that we are capable of solving. Oh, and three developmental suggestions for your professional "To Do" list.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/04/02/new-leaders-twitter-and-the-volunteer-management-conundrum/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2009/03/31/hey-tech-marketers-how-about-helping-your-customers-solve-problems/ http://artpetty.com/2009/03/31/hey-tech-marketers-how-about-helping-your-customers-solve-problems/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:04:32 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=1400 "Nobody Cares About Your Products (Except You)," is one of the core rules that author and marketing thought-leader David Meerman Scott espouses in his latest book, World Wide Rave, and throughout his other works and blogs. The most zealous anti-smokers that I know are former smokers. The fact that in hindsight, I can see that I was guilty of being a bit too proud of the features and functions of my own products as a technology marketer makes me just a bit maniacal about David's product rule as a user and consumer of tech products today. Unfortunately, it seems like there are still quite a few technology marketers out there that did not get the memo. What I thought would be a simple search for a solution to a straight-forward business issue has turned into a quest worthy of Homer.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/03/31/hey-tech-marketers-how-about-helping-your-customers-solve-problems/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2009/02/20/the-right-stuff-sprinting-towards-the-future/ http://artpetty.com/2009/02/20/the-right-stuff-sprinting-towards-the-future/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:23:10 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=1199 It’s easy to focus on the bad news. Everyone’s talking about it. We’re bombarded with news flashes and human disaster stories as the layoffs mount and the foreclosures climb. And make no doubt about it, these are tough times, but let’s start giving some coverage to the firms, leaders and entrepreneurs that have turned off the news channels and are too busy building or rebuilding to worry about the dire forecasts. For a good dose of “can do” spirit, get out of your office and go talk with some smart people working to strengthen, build or start businesses. I’m doing just that, and here's why I continue to be optimistic:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/02/20/the-right-stuff-sprinting-towards-the-future/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2009/01/07/trade-shows-if-you-must-use-them-set-yourself-up-for-success/ http://artpetty.com/2009/01/07/trade-shows-if-you-must-use-them-set-yourself-up-for-success/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:38:44 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=861 In prior posts…one in particular entitled, “Marketers, Are Trade Shows Extinct Yet,” I raised the ire of a fair number of marketers for expressing my belief in the demise of this ancient marketing tactic. My erstwhile colleague encouraged me to quit complaining and offers some tools to help marketers begin building improved execution practices into their event and trade show programs. I took the challenge and crafted "The Management Excellence Guide to Trade Show Marketing in a Recession," and am offering this as a free download in this post and on the main page at http://artpetty.com. If you absolutely, positively believe you need trade shows as part of your marketing program, it’s time to improve your execution, your efficiency and your effectiveness.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2009/01/07/trade-shows-if-you-must-use-them-set-yourself-up-for-success/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/12/30/so-what-are-we-going-to-call-this-mess/ http://artpetty.com/2008/12/30/so-what-are-we-going-to-call-this-mess/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:21:07 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=813 Every great disaster needs a name and it’s high time that we got on with naming this one. The sooner we name it, the sooner we can begin to put it in the rear view mirrors of our Toyota Hybrids.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/12/30/so-what-are-we-going-to-call-this-mess/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/12/01/management-excellence-tips-for-tough-times-rethinking-customer-segmentation/ http://artpetty.com/2008/12/01/management-excellence-tips-for-tough-times-rethinking-customer-segmentation/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:54:27 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=474 Rethinking your customer segmentation model is a potentially powerful approach for differentiating versus key competitors and for finding new needs that you can fulfill with your core capabilities. Experiment with the various ideas and strengthen your team's execution skills in the process. In additional to the potential tremendous upside from solving customer problems, the energy and excitement generated during this process will convert the organization's "sense of fear" into a "sense of urgency."

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/12/01/management-excellence-tips-for-tough-times-rethinking-customer-segmentation/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2008/10/02/%e2%80%9cif-i-had-asked-customers-what-they-wanted-they-would-have-said-faster-horses%e2%80%9d/ http://artpetty.com/2008/10/02/%e2%80%9cif-i-had-asked-customers-what-they-wanted-they-would-have-said-faster-horses%e2%80%9d/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:53:25 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/10/02/%e2%80%9cif-i-had-asked-customers-what-they-wanted-they-would-have-said-faster-horses%e2%80%9d/ The notion of not asking customers what they want and responding directly to their needs may seem like heresy to those individuals and organizations consumed with improving customer satisfaction and creating customer loyalty. In fact, you should always listen and importantly, observe. The real art in this process is understanding what customers really need, what problems they really would like to solve and what approaches and experiences that you can create that can surprise and delight them.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/10/02/%e2%80%9cif-i-had-asked-customers-what-they-wanted-they-would-have-said-faster-horses%e2%80%9d/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/06/16/yeah-why-dont-managers-think-deeply/ http://artpetty.com/2008/06/16/yeah-why-dont-managers-think-deeply/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:17:57 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/06/16/yeah-why-dont-managers-think-deeply/ Professor James Heskett highlights GE CEO Geoffrey Immelt's recent pronouncements that he is: looking for managers to think deeply about innovations that will ensure GE's longer-term success. He has vowed that he will protect those working on the breakthroughs from the "budget slashers" focused on short-term success. (Professor Heskett also reviews the book Marketing Metaphoria and the perspectives of the authors: Gerald and Lindsay Zaltman on why managers don't think deeply.) As I leader, I've wrestled with this topic for years, and have worked around and with many individuals perfectly content to let their days unfold in a transactional nature, with no time to think deeply or even strategically. Days pass into months and months to years, and still these individuals prefer conquering the issue of the moment versus wondering whether they are even working on the right issues.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/06/16/yeah-why-dont-managers-think-deeply/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2008/05/26/seven-suggestions-to-consider-when-creating-a-new-market/ http://artpetty.com/2008/05/26/seven-suggestions-to-consider-when-creating-a-new-market/#comments Mon, 26 May 2008 15:32:09 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/05/26/seven-suggestions-to-consider-when-creating-a-new-market/ If you've ever worked in an organization or on a team that got caught up in the quest to create a new market you know that the experience is all consuming and exhilarating. I offer a number of leadership and management suggestions that might prove helpful on your own journey of market creation.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/05/26/seven-suggestions-to-consider-when-creating-a-new-market/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2008/05/06/marketers-are-trade-shows-extinct-yet/ http://artpetty.com/2008/05/06/marketers-are-trade-shows-extinct-yet/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 14:12:37 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/05/06/marketers-are-trade-shows-extinct-yet/ This post is certain to generate some controversy about a long-standing, big investment marketing tactic that I believe is increasingly irrelevant. At the worst, if you read this and at least think about scrutinizing your investment in this marketing approach, I've done my job. The thoughts were prompted by a recent article in BtoB magazine entitled: "Exhibition industry sees growth slowing." What a shocker. And while the economy is identified as the primary culprit for this slowdown, I submit that this tactic is a carryover from another era when people gathered information and insights about prospective suppliers or service providers in a very different way, and when lead generation was more about trolling and interrupting than pinpointing.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/05/06/marketers-are-trade-shows-extinct-yet/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/ http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:47:49 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/ A passionate employee is like rocket fuel for your organization. These rare and valuable people build your brand, strengthen client loyalty, stimulate repeat business and energize your workplace just by their daily participation in your business.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/03/27/how-do-ideas-turn-into-actions-in-your-firm-hint-check-your-leadership-culture/ http://artpetty.com/2008/03/27/how-do-ideas-turn-into-actions-in-your-firm-hint-check-your-leadership-culture/#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:33:15 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/03/27/how-do-ideas-turn-into-actions-in-your-firm-hint-check-your-leadership-culture/ As a leader, you should be critically concerned about where ideas come from and how they go from insights to actions. This process of value creation is fundamental to a firm's growth and at its core it is a very organic process.

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