Leadership & Culture
-
Read more: Seeing Business Structure Through a Lean Lens: Why Corporate Management is the “Fat” of the Organization
Seeing Business Structure Through a Lean Lens: Why Corporate Management is the “Fat” of the Organization
Title: The Lean Business Body: Why Management is the "Fat" of the Organization
Excerpt:
Viewing a business as a human body, the core functions—like product creation, sales, and shareholder strategy—are the essential “muscles,” “heart,” and “brain” that drive value. Management, on the other hand, often acts as the “fat,” there to cushion and support, but not directly creating value. While some management roles serve as helpful ligaments or connective tissue, excessive layers of management can weigh down an organization, much like unnecessary body fat. In a lean business, every role needs to directly support value creation or facilitation, keeping the business agile and effective. Managers who don’t add true support to core functions become excess weight - better burned off to maintain efficiency and agility.Read more -
Read more: The Pitfall of Misrepresentation: Lessons from My Unexpected Interview Setback
The Pitfall of Misrepresentation: Lessons from My Unexpected Interview Setback
After a recent interview setback for an internal management role, I gained valuable insights into the importance of clear self-representation. My former manager, who reached out for support, noted that my usual collaborative nature hadn’t come through in the interview, despite knowing me well. A mentor also suggested that my skills and strengths might not have been fully conveyed. Reflecting on this, I identified key reasons for the misrepresentation: assuming the interviewers knew my work style, nerves affecting my clarity, taking what comes naturally for granted, and overlooking the importance of balanced questions.
This experience reinforced a critical lesson: never assume others will fill in the gaps. Clear, intentional communication is essential to prevent misrepresentation and ensure we’re seen for who we truly are. For anyone experiencing their own “Waterloo” moment, reflecting and recalibrating can be the first step toward future success.
Read more
Leadership & Culture
-
Read more: Seeing Business Structure Through a Lean Lens: Why Corporate Management is the “Fat” of the Organization
Seeing Business Structure Through a Lean Lens: Why Corporate Management is the “Fat” of the Organization
by Coffee Analytica Team
Title: The Lean Business Body: Why Management is the "Fat" of the Organization
Excerpt:
Viewing a business as a human body, the core functions—like product creation, sales, and shareholder strategy—are the essential “muscles,” “heart,” and “brain” that drive value. Management, on the other hand, often acts as the “fat,” there to cushion and support, but not directly creating value. While some management roles serve as helpful ligaments or connective tissue, excessive layers of management can weigh down an organization, much like unnecessary body fat. In a lean business, every role needs to directly support value creation or facilitation, keeping the business agile and effective. Managers who don’t add true support to core functions become excess weight - better burned off to maintain efficiency and agility.Read more -
Read more: The Pitfall of Misrepresentation: Lessons from My Unexpected Interview Setback
The Pitfall of Misrepresentation: Lessons from My Unexpected Interview Setback
by Coffee Analytica Team
After a recent interview setback for an internal management role, I gained valuable insights into the importance of clear self-representation. My former manager, who reached out for support, noted that my usual collaborative nature hadn’t come through in the interview, despite knowing me well. A mentor also suggested that my skills and strengths might not have been fully conveyed. Reflecting on this, I identified key reasons for the misrepresentation: assuming the interviewers knew my work style, nerves affecting my clarity, taking what comes naturally for granted, and overlooking the importance of balanced questions.
This experience reinforced a critical lesson: never assume others will fill in the gaps. Clear, intentional communication is essential to prevent misrepresentation and ensure we’re seen for who we truly are. For anyone experiencing their own “Waterloo” moment, reflecting and recalibrating can be the first step toward future success.
Read more