четверг, 19 февраля 2026 г.

What Color Communicate

 


Your brain decides in 13 milliseconds if it trusts a brand.

Color drives 85% of that split-second judgment.

Why does color matter this much?

Because your brain judges before conscious thought kicks in.

👉 Humans form trust judgments in 100 milliseconds
👉 Consistent color increases brand recognition by 80%

Here are some of the things that influence how we perceive color:

🎨 SATURATION & TONE
⇢ Brighter, saturated hues = younger, energetic people
⇢ Deeper, richer tones = affluent, serious, premium
⇢ Pastel/muted = soft, approachable, accessible

🇨🇳 CULTURAL CONTEXT
⇢ Red: luck in Chinese culture vs. danger in Western
⇢ White: purity in Western vs. mourning in East Asia
⇢ Yellow: happiness in Western vs. sacred in Asia
⇢ Blue: mourning in Iran vs. trust in Western corporate

🧠 BIOLOGY
⇢ Disharmonious color combos activate the amygdala (threat detection)
⇢ Harmonious colors activate pleasure & reward centers
⇢ Color improves memory by 5-10% vs black & white

WHAT COLORS MEAN TO OUR PSYCHE:

🔴 Red: Energy, urgency, passion
↳ Perfect for bold transformations, breaking barriers
↳ Boosts perceived attractiveness

🔵 Blue: Trust, stability, professionalism
↳ Ideal for expertise-based, security-focused services
↳ Universally associated with high quality

🟢 Green: Growth, harmony, wealth
↳ Great for health, finance, sustainability
↳ Associated with balance and natural renewal

🟡 Yellow: Optimism, creativity, attention
↳ Perfect for creative services, innovation, breakthrough
↳ Grabs attention faster than any other color

🟠 Orange: Enthusiasm, warmth, adventure
↳ Ideal for lifestyle changes, bold pivots, energy shifts
↳ Combines red's energy with yellow's friendliness

🟣 Purple: Luxury, wisdom, creativity
↳ Perfect for premium services, spiritual growth, artists
↳ Strongest gender divergence: 23% women vs 0% men

⚫ Black: Sophistication, authority, elegance
↳ Ideal for high-end services, executive transformations
↳ Signals exclusivity and timeless quality

⚪ White: Purity, simplicity, new beginnings
↳ Perfect for fresh starts, clarity-focused services
↳ Creates breathing room and reduces cognitive load

Don't just choose colors you like for your brand.
Choose colors based on your ideal client.

Your audience is the sun of your brand solar system.

You orbit around them, not the other way around.

Ask yourself:
✓ What does my ideal client need to feel?
✓ What colors resonate with my target demographic?
✓ What transformation am I helping them achieve?
✓ What emotional state supports their journey?

Your color choices should engineer attraction, not just look pretty.

What's one color that always catches your eye in branding?

🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for content strategy insights

Sources: Princeton, Singh, Hynes, Loyola University, Hurlbert & Ling, Leonard, Ikeda et al., Wichmann et al.


https://tinyurl.com/2zevmkmw

A simple way to keep projects on track

 


I thought our team had a time problem.
We had a clarity problem.
Here's what fixed it:

Busy is not the same as moving forward.

You can fill every hour
and still go nowhere.

That gap between motion and progress
is where projects quietly fail.

Chaos is expensive.

✔️Missed deadlines.
✔️Shifting priorities.
✔️Hours lost to rework.

Most teams feel busy
while progress quietly stalls.

Here’s what actually works:

🧠 Why plans break down:
• Meetings drag without direction
• Scope changes derail momentum
• Unclear goals cause missed deadlines
• Managers lose hours to misaligned work

Simple plans save time
before problems show up.

📋 What makes plans work:
• Plain language, not jargon
• Clear goals and deadlines
• One owner per step
• Fewer than 7 steps

Simple plans move faster.

Ownership keeps them moving.

🧩 A plan that fits on one page:
• Project name that’s specific
• Dates tied to each step
• One owner per task
• One-line objective
• 5–7 clear actions

That’s enough to create focus.

⚙️ Habits that keep work moving:
• Check progress weekly
• Keep ownership obvious
• Adjust without over-editing
• Reuse templates that work
• Start small and build speed

🌟Try this this week:
• Write a one-page plan
• Cut steps until only the essentials remain
• Assign one owner per task
• Share it before the meeting

Good project management
isn’t more tools.

It's clear thinking shared
before the work begins.


https://tinyurl.com/345zj4va

Selling to Inbound vs Outbound Leads

 










Stop pitching to outbound leads like they begged for your demo. That’s exactly how you kill trust before it even has a chance to form.

Many sales reps still think that outbound fails because leads are cold.

They blame:

• Targeting
• Copy
• Reps

But the problem is not WHO you talk to.

The problem is HOW you talk to them.

Let's be clear, inbound and outbound are not the same types of leads.

Inbound lead → they already did 70% of the journey.
They compare vendors.
They expect a pitch.

Outbound lead → they did not wake up wanting your solution.
You likely sparked their curiosity.
They still decide if the problem you solve even matters.

When you run that outbound call like an inbound demo, you create instant friction.

Your leads feel sold to.
They pull back.
And your deal dies before trust even exists.

Here is the simple rule we follow in our team:

🧲 Inbound Meeting → Guide to Decision
• Help them compare
• De-risk the choice
• Validate you as the right option

📣 Outbound Meeting → Guide to Clarity
• Help them diagnose
• Reframe their current state
• Show them their challenge in a new light

TL;DR:

Inbound sells certainty.
Outbound sells understanding.

I have been selling to outbounds leads for around 5 years.
And it consistently works because my process matches the lead source.


https://tinyurl.com/bdhwz35y

среда, 18 февраля 2026 г.

Технологии менеджмента. Уроки 74 - 75.

 


Урок 74. ЧТО ТАКОЕ ВНЕДОЛЖНОСТНАЯ КАРЬЕРА?

В предыдущем уроке мы рассмотрели классификацию моральных вознаграждений. К ним, в частности, относятся статусные поощрения, подчеркивающие роль и социальный статус сотрудников в организации. Но особое место среди статусных вознаграждений занимает технология внедолжностной карьеры.

Что это такое? Это разнообразные возможности роста статуса и влияния сотрудника независимо от его должности в организации. Если все эти возможности мы объединяем в систему и предоставляем нашим сотрудникам по определенным правилам, то получаем не разовые и одномоментные вознаграждения, а хорошо продуманную технологию мотивирования персонала.

Какие же возможности целесообразно включить в технологию внедолжностной карьеры? Их можно перечислить от самых простых и доступных до самых сложных и для многих труднореализуемых. Впервые такую классификацию факторов внедолжностной карьеры я увидел в книгах моего учителя проф. А.И.Пригожина. И это не теория, а практические инструменты.

Самое простое – дать всем возможность самовыдвижения на престижные вакансииПочему бы и нет? Сам факт участия сотрудника в конкурсе на замещение важной должности, причем по собственной инициативе, уже повышает его статус в глазах коллег и руководителей компании.

Также вы можете использовать «портновский» подход к определению служебных функций для наиболее ценных сотрудников. Его суть в том, что служебные функции в продуктном виде определяется не только с учетом требований к должности, но и с учетом потенциала личности сотрудника. Другими словами, человек наделяется персональными функциями, учитывающими его личные возможности и значимость для организации.

Кроме того, можно проводить конкурсы по профессиям внутри компании (и даже с приглашением внешних специалистов). Участие и, тем более, победа в таких конкурсах резко повышает статус сотрудников и создает благоприятные возможности и для официальной, вертикальной карьеры в организации.

Вы можете включать наиболее профессиональных и креативных руководителей и специалистов во временные целевые группы (ВЦГ) для выполнения сложных проектов или решения технологических/ организационных проблем. Включение их в состав ВЦГ – это факт признания профессионализма и значимости сотрудников.

Кроме того, ваши сотрудники должны иметь возможность инициировать собственные проекты по развитию компании, обосновывать из целесообразность, эффективность и защищать свои идеи перед руководителями.

Очень хорошо работают на рост статуса и влияния рейтинговые системы оценки персонала, когда сотрудники ранжируются в масштабах компании или своего подразделения в соответствии с их результатами и вкладом в общее дело. В этом случае запускается мощный мотивационный механизм – возможность взаимного сравнения. Однако для его реализации важно определить четкие критерии и методику ранжирования. В частности, это можно делать по персональному коэффициенту полезности, который рассчитывается на основе KPI сотрудника. Это довольно жесткий и «беспощадный» инструмент. Недовольные, конечно, будут, но равнодушных не будет!! И это уже хорошо.

Вместе с тем, сильным механизмом внедолжностной карьеры является категорирование персонала, когда по итогам отчетного периода (обычно года) сотрудникам присваивается неформальное почетное или антипочетное звание, отражающее их вклад в общие результаты работы компании. Каждому званию соответствует определенная категория (всего обычно от 3 до 7 категорий). Однако для реализации данного механизма также требуется четкая методика, исключающая субъективизм и произвол в оценке персонала. Да, не всем это нравится, не для каждой компании это подойдет, но это работает.

Один из наиболее сложных и мощных инструментов внедолжностной карьеры – персональное ролевое развитие самых ценных и компетентных сотрудников, когда обучение и развитие заточено не на профессиональные знания и навыки, а на индивидуальные способности и таланты людей, имеющие критическое значение для успеха компании.

И, наконец, высшим достижением внедолжностной карьеры можно считать включение сотрудников в состав управленческой команды, причем независимо от их должности, а только благодаря их личным способностям и профессиональным качествам. В этом случае уникальный сотрудник может войти в состав команды руководителей даже, если он сам руководителем не является, но при этом он обладает важными экспертными знаниями или ключевыми компетенциями, которые необходимы для принятия важнейших управленческих решений, например, креативностью, аналитическими способностями и др.

Попробуйте разработать такую систему и вы сохраните своих самых ценных сотрудников. Возможности вертикальной карьеры всегда ограничены. Внедолжностная, или горизонтальная, карьера бесконечна. Попробуйте.



Урок 75. ДВА ПОЛЮСА МОТИВАЦИИ

В предыдущем уроке мы рассмотрели методы управления внедолжностной карьерой, которые можно отнести к моральным, в частности, статусным вознаграждениям персонала. Кроме того, мы знаем, что наряду с моральными, существуют разнообразные материальные и нематериальные факторы, влияющие на мотивацию сотрудников. Их довольно много. Какие же из них подойдут именно для нашей компании? Ведь все люди разные и по-разному реагируют на те или иные условия или возможности. Банально, но факт.

Чтобы ответить на этот вопрос, важно понимать структуру внутренней мотивации персонала. И для этого обратимся вначале к одному из наиболее замечательных открытий в области мотивации, совершенному в XX веке, которое утверждает, что всех людей, живущих на Земле, можно разделить на два типа: 1) с мотивацией достижения и 2) с мотивацией избегания. Эта типология означает, что людей первого типа в большей степени мотивируют возможности достижения в том или ином смысле: деньги, карьера, власть, успех, признание, репутация, отношения, полезность, творчество, развитие и др. А людей второго типа – возможности избегания в условиях каких-либо рисков или угроз потерять что-то важное для себя, например, те же деньги, власть, отношения, привычный образ жизни и т.д. В этом случае мотиваторами являются не сами угрозы потерь чего-либо, а именно возможности избежать этих потерь. Ведь, если есть угроза, но нет возможности ее избежать, то не будет и мотивации.

Другими словами, люди с мотивацией достижения стремятся к росту и развитию, т.е. к чему-то новому, а люди с мотивацией избегания стремятся сохранить то, что у них уже есть. Конечно, это упрощение, как и любая модель, особенно, если это касается человека. Ведь у каждого своя, уникальная мотивация. Но то, что она находится где-то между этими двумя полюсами, не только подтверждается результатами исследований, но и нашим жизненным опытом, интуицией и здравым смыслом.


https://tinyurl.com/yc6y4jpp

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® - Kouzes and Posner

 


Based on research by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner and their best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge, we’ve found that when leaders are at their best, they exhibit five key Practices.
It's simple: The more often you display these behaviors, the better leader you’ll be.


Do what you say you will do.

What does it mean to Model the Way?

Modeling the way is about the kind of example you set for others as a leader. To effectively Model the Way, you first need to get in touch with who you are: what you believe in, how you communicate, and how your values inform your behaviors.

Leaders who Model the Way:

It’s easy to look to established leaders as a guide, but it’s important to take the time to explore your own communication style. People are drawn to authenticity, and when your people know that you are speaking and acting from your heart, they are more likely to see you as a leader.

When you Model the Way, You:

However, leadership isn’t only about your values. Organizations thrive when all people are committed and engaged, and it’s important to remember that your people’s values are their driving force. When you create space for everyone to explore their own belief systems, you will model commitment to the common cause. Be an example in your organization for the kind of behaviors you want to nurture. People look to leaders to see if they are, in fact, walking the walk.

How do you know it's working?

As you work to Model the Way more frequently, keep an eye out for some of these signs that your efforts are paying off:



See and share exciting possibilities for the future.

What does it mean to Inspire a Shared Vision?

Being a leader means charting a course into an unknown future and inspiring others to come with you. When you Inspire a Shared Vision, you know where you want to end up, and you’re prepared to paint a vivid picture for the people in your life. By starting conversations about the future, you make it possible for others to do the same.

Leaders who Inspire a Shared Vision:


Learning how to Inspire a Shared Vision might sound intimidating, but it starts with simple actions: describing what you want out of the future, asking others what they want, and talking about the similarities and differences.

When you Inspire a Shared Vision, You:



To create a vision for the future, start by reflecting on your past and present experiences. Identify the patterns, trends, and themes that have shaped your life and consider what inspires you. Strategize your future goals and share your vision with your team. By listening to their unique perspectives, you may gain fresh insights that can propel your vision forward. Remember, the most inspiring leaders are those who are passionate about the future and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

How do you know it's working?

Talking openly about the possibilities of the future may be new territory for you and your teammates, but as you get used to it, you’ll begin to appreciate the benefits:




Empower others to take initiative and experiment.

What does it mean to Challenge the Process?

Learning how to Challenge the Process means stepping back, questioning the status quo, and seeking out ways to improve the way you work. Think about what it means to take initiative, push for change, and learn from your struggles. Considering new ways to approach your work can benefit not only your organization but also your own path to exemplary leadership.

Leaders who Challenge the Process:


Regardless of your status or title, you have the power to assess the kind of work you do and the systems you typically work within to challenge yourself to think outside the box. Feeling nervous as you start to Challenge the Process is normal. Reframe your hesitation by considering why it's valuable and why you're the right person to push for change.

When you Challenge the Process, You:

Pursuing opportunities that challenge yourself while creating an environment where the people around you are encouraged to do the same can help you on your path toward exemplary leadership. Exploring new ways of doing things outside your experience can help you innovate right from where you are.

How do you know it's working?

Once you’ve started to Challenge the Process, you’ll probably begin to experience ripple effects in your workplace. Here are some signs that you’re making a difference:


Foster collaboration and build up others.


What does it mean to Enable Others to Act?

When you Enable Others to Act, it means strengthening your relationships with teammates and reflecting on what they need to do great work. This practice asks you to put effort into empowering others to create a work environment where people trust and respect each other. Think about how you can help the people you work with gain the confidence to excel, making your whole team stronger.

Leaders who Enable Others to Act:


As workplaces continue to evolve and teams are more diverse and globally dispersed, leaders must put in the work to get to know and understand the people they are working with.

When you Enable Others to Act, You:


Another important thing to consider as you gain the skills to Enable Others to Act is to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to grow. These can be tangible, like equipment, programs, and technology, or interpersonal, such as more frequent project check-ins, leadership opportunities, or access to educational programs. Arming your people with the resources they need to succeed will contribute to a climate of trust and empowerment.

How do you know it's working?

As you put more time and energy towards building the skills to Enable Others to Act, the more signs of trust and collaboration you’ll see in your workplace:

Celebrate others by showing gratitude.


What does it mean to Encourage the Heart?

When you Encourage the Heart, it means telling your teammates how much you value and respect them—and by doing so, creating a workplace that people are genuinely excited to be a part of. This practice asks you to let people know you appreciate their hard work and are glad to have them on your team.

Leaders who Encourage the Heart:


Many organizations overlook the importance of social connection. Creating a sense of camaraderie among coworkers can lead to better workplace well-being, accountability, and commitment to the organization. Celebrating the wins of high performers gives everyone something to work towards, but encouraging people along the way is just as important.

When you Encourage the Heart, You:

When you are involved with every level of your organization and seek to know and understand the people you work with, these celebrations and recognition events will be inherently more meaningful as you will have been there every step of the way.

How do you know it's working?

When you take the time to Encourage the Heart and go out of your way to acknowledge and uplift the people you work with, you’ll soon begin to experience the effects:


https://tinyurl.com/bjsuj6nh

What are the Five Practices of the Exemplary Leadership Model?

James Kouzes and Barry Posner offered a notable version of a functional leadership model in their book, The Leadership Challenge (1987). It is more prescriptive than Adair's model and aimed more at high-level leaders like CEOs, but it's a significant contribution to the thinking on effective leadership.

Kouzes and Posner's earlier Trait-Theory leadership model, which led them to develop their Five Leadership Practices model, is explained earlier in the Trait-Theory sub-section of leadership models.

Like some other leadership theorists, they developed a modular theory into a proprietary product, in this case, a program for leadership development.

  • This model is also known as Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Challenge Model.

Kouzes and Posner summarise their program about what leadership is, and what they believe leadership means to people.


The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®

  1. Model the Way
  2. Inspire a Shared Vision
  3. Challenge the Process
  4. Enabling Others to Act
  5. Encourage the Heart

Kouzes and Posner created their Five Leadership Practices model after researching people's personal experiences of excellent leadership. From this, they claimed that "...good leadership is an understandable and universal process..." involving five practices and, within each of those, two key behaviours.

Here is an outline of the Kouzes and Posner model.


Five Leadership Practices - Summary


Key Behaviours

Detail

Model the Way

  • Set the example by behaving in ways that reflect the shared values.
  • Achieve small wins that build confidence, commitment and consistent progress.

The leader sets an example. Define the shared behavioural standards and then exemplify them. Kouzes and Posner also believe it is essential to achieve some small wins to build momentum.

Inspiring a Shared Vision

  • Envision an uplifting, exciting, meaningful future.
  • Enlist others in a shared vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes and dreams.

Leaders should begin work on their vision before enlisting others to refine it and make it theirs. Emphasis on visualisation and using powerful evocative language to capture the vision to inspire others.

Challenge the Process

  • Search out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve.
  • Experiment, take risks and learn from any mistakes.

The leader is an agent for change - questioning, challenging and seeking new ideas. Taking risks, experimenting, learning from and allowing for mistakes. Importantly, encourages new ideas to flourish.

Enabling Others to Act

  • Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
  • Strengthen people's ability by delegating power, developing their competence and offering visible support.

Building a spirit of trust and collaboration. Encouraging people to share information. Kouzes and Posner believe that leaders must disclose what they believe and care about and, when necessary, show some vulnerability. This also entails delegating power, believing in others, and investing in followers' training and education.

Encourage  the Heart

  • Recognise individual contributions to the success of the project.
  • Celebrate team accomplishments regularly.

Praise and celebration.

Kouzes and Posner's model is well researched and much work by the pair continues to extend the theory, and also the suggested means of adoption and implementation across large organisations.

Kouzes and Posner's theory is in the 'leader-as-hero' tradition. 

  • It therefore largely ignores more recent ideas about sharing leadership. 
  • It is also fair to say that a more naturally low-profile, a contemplative leader would probably find it harder to adopt these behavioural practices than a gregarious visionary leader, so the model may not work for everyone.



https://tinyurl.com/5xk45s7e