German sociologist Max Weber was the first person to formally study bureaucracy. In his 1921 book “Economy and Society,” Weber conveys that a well-built bureaucracy is a highly capable form of organization. But he also described the dangers of uncontrolled bureaucracies as they can remove individual freedoms and leave people in what he described as … Continue reading The Birth of Bureaucracies
Author: Eddie Killian
Dangerous Habits
After reading Charles Duhigg’s 2012 book The Power of Habit I began mentioning some of the research Duhigg references when teaching/speaking. Specifically, the research studies the basal ganglia which are in the deep central portion of our brains. Researchers found that when we enter a habit mode, the rest of our brain “goes to sleep”. … Continue reading Dangerous Habits
Jury Selection Techniques
I was recently receiving a jury summons. Upon arrival to the courtroom, some 80 people were evenly spaced throughout the courtroom. By the time all was said and done, it was 2:30pm before the jury had been selected and I was released. During my little anticipatory stint, I started to become aware that the systematic … Continue reading Jury Selection Techniques
What is a New Order of Things, You Ask?
Well, maybe you didn't ask. But here is the answer anyway. A New Order of Things “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” - Niccolò Machiavelli By noon on … Continue reading What is a New Order of Things, You Ask?
Some Things that Got Me Thinking Differently.
10x: If you can’t be a monopoly, Peter Thiel believes you must be 10x better than your competition. This holds true for organizations and individuals alike. Is there a person that has the same title, or performs the same job you do at your competing organization? Then you have a pretty good idea, after some … Continue reading Some Things that Got Me Thinking Differently.