The Little BIG Things Video series
Our friends at Enterprise Media captured Tom’s thoughts during an early draft stage of his book, The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence. This collection of 80 videos covers his distinctive wisdom in seven categories.
Excellence
Cross-Functional Communication
Cross-functional communication is often listed as issue #1 within organizations, and, Tom says, it boils down to one main variable that’s extraordinarily simple.
2 minutes, 56 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
It Can Happen Anywhere
Tom finds an answer to the question, “But how can what you describe work in my little shop?”
2 minutes 19 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Don’t Fear Failure
Tom tells a story about a man who was unafraid to fail, and why that makes him an Excellent role model.
2 minutes
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Courtesy Matters
Tom reminds us that grand gestures aren’t always necessary, it’s the little things that matter.
1 minute, 16 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Language Matters
Tom says pay attention to the language you use. “If you want an energetic place, use energetic language.” Are you measuring whether things are “Insanely Great”?
2 minutes, 45 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
MBWA
Tom recounts how he discovered the term MBWA, Managing By Wandering Around, in the late seventies, and urges you to practice it.
2 minutes, 23 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Thoughts on Tom Watson
Tom shares the secret of Excellence according to the founder of IBM, Tom Watson.
1 minute, 49 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Tuck in the Shower Curtain
Tom’s lesson from Conrad Hilton, master hotelier, is to be sure the little things get done. In Hilton’s view, you should tuck in the shower curtain.
Time: 2 minutes 34 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
On Enterprise
Tom defines the aspiration of organizations. After all, “organizations exist for one and only one reason, and that is to be of service.”
2 minutes, 26 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Organizations as Cathedrals
Tom gives his definition of excellent organizations. He says that they should be “no less than cathedrals.”
2 minutes, 17 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Innovation
Angry People Make Change
Tom tells us the single source of innovation is angry people. Their anger allows them to penetrate the resistance they encounter.
2 minutes, 57 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Leadership
Listening
Tom uses an example from the healthcare industry to highlight the importance of listening, “the single most significant strategic strength that an organization can have.”
3 minutes, 37 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
The 4 Most Important Words
Tom says that if you’re really interested in engaging your workforce, you’ll use four simple words.
1 minute, 51 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Building Success
Tom shares the philosophy of Dave Liniger of RE/MAX: your goal should be to make the people who work for you successful to increase the odds of your own success.
2 minutes, 2 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Don’t Use Standardized Forms
Tom compares your business to an NFL franchise or a Symphony Orchestra. Can you imagine either of these groups using a standard HR assessment to choose their talent?
3 minutes, 14 seconds
watch the video | PDF transcript
Hire the Last One Percenters
Tom explains that, when hiring, you should look for a special class of people who can’t rest until the job is finished—through that last one percent.
2 minutes 48 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Key Question
Tom says, “When you become a senior leader, you’re not supposed to be the number one strategist, you’re supposed to hire the number one strategist.”
3 minutes, 37 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Lead by Example
Quoting David D’Alessandro, Tom says “It’s always show time.” If you’re in a leadership position, you lead by example whether trying to or not.
2 minutes 30 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Listening and … Four Words
Tom describes his “essence of leadership” formula in two compelling ideas.
2 minutes 28 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Love Politics
Tom Peters suggests that you should love office politics, but don’t lose sight of the big questions, like “Why am I here?”
2 minutes 4 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Managing By Wandering Around
Tom uses Starbucks’ Howard Schultz as an example to expound his favorite basic from In Search of Excellence: Managing by Wandering Around.
2 minutes 12 seconds
Watch the video | Get a PDF transcript
Milestones Matter
Tom describes his drive from Tinmouth VT to Boston MA with milestones (short-term goals) along the way. Do you have a milestone/goal for the next 24, 48, or 72 hours?
3 minutes, 40 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
The Power of Apology
Tom encourages us to become students of apology, saying “Learning how to apologize effectively is the real essence of strategic strength.”
3 minutes, 2 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
Servant Leadership
“What have you done in the past 24 hours to be of service to your organization?” is the question Tom asks in this manifesto.
2 minutes, 32 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
The Squint Test
Tom explains that you don’t have to be exact, but your project team should resemble the market it serves or something is very wrong.
2 minutes, 21 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
The Problem Isn’t the Problem
Tom argues that the reaction to the problem often becomes more of a problem than the original misstep would have been if dealt with honestly.
2 minutes, 10 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
The 3 H’s
Howard (Schultz), Herb (Kelleher), and (Conrad) Hilton. Tom says, “If you understand the 3 H’s, you don’t need to understand anything else about business success.”
1 minute, 24 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript
American vs Southwest
Tom gives a powerful example of what happens when you treat your employees like customers.
2 minutes, 33 seconds
Watch the video | PDF transcript