https://rickbaker.ca/category/master-rules/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/written-goals-dont-just-help-you-set-your-work-priorities-they-help-you-define-your-personal-values/https://rickbaker.ca/post/written-goals-dont-just-help-you-set-your-work-priorities-they-help-you-define-your-personal-values/Wed, 14 Apr 2021 07:14:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Values , Purpose, Vision , Rules , & Goals are not discreet, stand-alone concepts. They are intertwined. For most People, they… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-structureshouldnt-your-people-see-your-business-at-least-as-solid-as-the-building-you-work-in/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-structureshouldnt-your-people-see-your-business-at-least-as-solid-as-the-building-you-work-in/Tue, 13 Apr 2021 07:13:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Overall, small and mid-sized businesses lack the structure they need to be sustainable, let alone be excellent. Business is… https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-its-about-teaching-learning-accepting-correct-ways-of-doing-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-its-about-teaching-learning-accepting-correct-ways-of-doing-things/Wed, 17 Feb 2021 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Discipline is about embracing rules & accountability . Discipline is about directing actions toward goals . https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-delegate-any-task-you-cannot-do-yourselfexcept-software-engineering/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-delegate-any-task-you-cannot-do-yourselfexcept-software-engineering/Mon, 18 Jan 2021 07:37:00 -0500Clint Eastwood taught those villains, "A man must know his limitations." Similarly, a man must understand he is at risk when he delegates beyond his… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Some think Leaders should provide followers latitude to do their work as they choose. Some think that’s the way to breed… https://rickbaker.ca/post/one-thing-ive-learned-about-drawing-lines-in-the-sand-before-you-draw-them-set-your-master-rules/https://rickbaker.ca/post/one-thing-ive-learned-about-drawing-lines-in-the-sand-before-you-draw-them-set-your-master-rules/Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:12:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Note to self... Know the rules you want to live by....your Master Rules Anticipate possible situations & predict a set of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-have-their-secrets-and-certain-questions-defy-honest-answers/https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-have-their-secrets-and-certain-questions-defy-honest-answers/Tue, 05 Jan 2021 07:03:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When people slip up - when people who matter to you clearly illustrate they have broken their own values - rules - Fight the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/to-lead-use-light-fingers-at-the-controls-heavy-finger-governance-and-control-just-sends-things-off-kilter/https://rickbaker.ca/post/to-lead-use-light-fingers-at-the-controls-heavy-finger-governance-and-control-just-sends-things-off-kilter/Tue, 22 Dec 2020 07:42:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet From Wikipedia... In 1868, James Clerk Maxwell wrote a famous paper "On governors” that is widely considered a classic in… https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-do-best-when-it-is-clear-they-have-sacred-rules-which-we-call-the-master-rules/https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-do-best-when-it-is-clear-they-have-sacred-rules-which-we-call-the-master-rules/Fri, 11 Dec 2020 07:29:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Master Rules : these are rules set by the Leader and well-communicated by the Leader to all followers. The Master Rules must… https://rickbaker.ca/post/while-leaders-must-set-rules-they-must-also-empower-managers-to-be-innovative-as-they-pursue-goals-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/while-leaders-must-set-rules-they-must-also-empower-managers-to-be-innovative-as-they-pursue-goals-2020/Sat, 21 Nov 2020 07:39:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Few companies have that sort of culture ...so - they must change if they wish to survive and thrive. https://rickbaker.ca/post/your-brand-starts-with-your-character-and-the-culture-you-breed-your-brand-stalls-or-flourishes-there/https://rickbaker.ca/post/your-brand-starts-with-your-character-and-the-culture-you-breed-your-brand-stalls-or-flourishes-there/Tue, 12 May 2020 07:55:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet A brand isn't a cute visual. A brand isn't a catchy logo or a slick tag line. A brand cannot pretty up a flawed character or a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/optimists-pave-the-paths-so-pessimists-can-rule-the-world/https://rickbaker.ca/post/optimists-pave-the-paths-so-pessimists-can-rule-the-world/Tue, 16 May 2017 07:31:00 -0500Now isn't that a fine piece of ‘ mob thinking ’...debatable, yet mostly true, and too often rather disappointing. Optimists stand out. Their curiosity leads… https://rickbaker.ca/post/conflict-at-our-offices-is-it-a-foe-or-a-friend/https://rickbaker.ca/post/conflict-at-our-offices-is-it-a-foe-or-a-friend/Mon, 08 May 2017 08:08:00 -0500Some people complain about the interpersonal damages done by office conflict while others applaud the value office conflicts have injected into innovative… https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-unto-yourself-before-you-do-unto-others/https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-unto-yourself-before-you-do-unto-others/Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:11:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Do unto others as you would have them do to unto you [The Golden Rule...the foundation of major religions] *** Don't do unto… https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-question-their-bosses-decisions-the-point/https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-question-their-bosses-decisions-the-point/Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:22:00 -0500I won’t be surprised in the slightest way if you figure The Point is a rather trite point. My argument is – it isn’t a trite point. The Point is a point… https://rickbaker.ca/post/character-reigns-supreme/https://rickbaker.ca/post/character-reigns-supreme/Tue, 21 Mar 2017 06:58:00 -0500I heard today that assessments aimed at finding high-calibre personnel are no longer considering intelligence and talent but are now concentrating all… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/Mon, 13 Mar 2017 08:00:00 -0500When alpha dogs collide you see raising of hackles and you hear snarls & barks...then comes the gnashing of teeth and to-and-fro attacks...much noise, much… https://rickbaker.ca/post/simplicity-generates-efficiency/https://rickbaker.ca/post/simplicity-generates-efficiency/Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:54:00 -0500The 80/20 Rule: implies simplicity. implies reduction. implies compromise. https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-it-aint-broken-but-its-broken/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-it-aint-broken-but-its-broken/Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:06:00 -0500Sometimes... Every action, taken on it's own, seems right and feels right. Yet, when you add them altogether you do not get the desired result and things no… https://rickbaker.ca/post/favouring-a-realistic-approach-to-values-virtues-rules/https://rickbaker.ca/post/favouring-a-realistic-approach-to-values-virtues-rules/Wed, 04 Jan 2017 08:50:00 -0500Values are concepts covering things important and admirable to us (our minds). Values are our perceptions of intrinsically valuable or desirable ways of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-on-the-talent-track/https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-on-the-talent-track/Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:26:00 -0500When we thoroughly understand our Talents we improve our ability to: clarify and express our personal Values & the Rules that are most sacred to us, ability… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-habits-people-a-bit-about-bosses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-habits-people-a-bit-about-bosses/Thu, 24 Nov 2016 08:16:00 -0500Most people do not think about how personal things including their values and goals are intertwined with everything they experience during their workdays. As… https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-thoughts-on-firing-good-people/https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-thoughts-on-firing-good-people/Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:37:00 -0500Fire when the cost of presence exceeds its value: that's on the self-serving end of things [...and that is one of the ends] Fire when bad habits violate… https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-thoughts-on-hiring/https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-thoughts-on-hiring/Mon, 14 Nov 2016 07:10:00 -0500Know how to communicate the essence of the role, seek simple descriptions; avoid lengthy series of tasks and responsibilities Magnetic job postings - show… https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-accurate-thinking-part-1/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-accurate-thinking-part-1/Thu, 23 Jun 2016 13:57:00 -0500Some people believe I get too bogged down or is it tied up in words. Writing too much. Going into too much detail. Being too nitpicky about definitions. No… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-golden-circle-of-criticism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-golden-circle-of-criticism/Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:33:00 -0500Why do you deliver criticism? How do you deliver criticism? What criticism do you deliver? I'm borrowing Simon Sinek's ‘Golden Circle' thinking here… https://rickbaker.ca/post/how-do-you-really-hold-someone-accountable-part-2/https://rickbaker.ca/post/how-do-you-really-hold-someone-accountable-part-2/Thu, 03 Sep 2015 07:00:00 -0500Link to Part 1 Recently, my friend asked me, " How do you really hold someone accountable? " While I have written about Accountability on a number of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-do-you-think-about-the-profanity-of-our-times/https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-do-you-think-about-the-profanity-of-our-times/Mon, 20 Jul 2015 07:27:00 -0500First, let’s make sure we are on the same wavelength. By ‘profanity’, I mean offensive language. While ‘offensive’ is [of course] subjective and potentially… https://rickbaker.ca/post/yes-we-cry-out-for-help/https://rickbaker.ca/post/yes-we-cry-out-for-help/Wed, 06 May 2015 07:26:00 -0500When Emotional work gets too heavy, we cry out for help. Using the Transactional Analysis “Parent- Adult -Child Model”…and some facts-of-life thinking: when… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-the-going-gets-toughyou-must-tell-the-tough-people-how-to-get-going/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-the-going-gets-toughyou-must-tell-the-tough-people-how-to-get-going/Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:47:00 -0500There are many strategies and systems for dealing with tough People and tough Situations [involving, of course, People]. Most of these strategies and systems… https://rickbaker.ca/post/bosses-like-solutions-a-lot-more-than-problems/https://rickbaker.ca/post/bosses-like-solutions-a-lot-more-than-problems/Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:53:00 -0500P=2S+O A Spirited Business Philosophy https://rickbaker.ca/post/rules-are-made-to-be-broken-master-rules-are-not/https://rickbaker.ca/post/rules-are-made-to-be-broken-master-rules-are-not/Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:50:00 -0500In general, success is not defined in terms of a person's ability to follow rules. Similarly, mistakes should not be defined as a person's inability to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/take-steps-toward-change-leadership/https://rickbaker.ca/post/take-steps-toward-change-leadership/Fri, 15 Nov 2013 08:20:00 -0500If you want to lead change and influence others to help you achieve the success you desire, consider these things: Your Intelligence - This is a tough one… https://rickbaker.ca/post/8020-rule/https://rickbaker.ca/post/8020-rule/Sat, 24 Aug 2013 10:46:00 -0500Roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-801/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-801/Mon, 12 Aug 2013 08:59:00 -0500Thought Tweet #801 Discipline : It's about teaching, learning, & accepting correct ways of doing things. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Discipline is about… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-794/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-794/Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:37:00 -0500Thought Tweet #794 Leaders do best when it is clear they have sacred Rules, which we call “ The Master Rules ”. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Master Rules… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-709/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-709/Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:10:00 -0500Thought Tweet #709 To lead, use light fingers at the controls. Heavy-finger governance and control just sends things off kilter . The Thinking Behind The… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-639/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-639/Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #639 One thing I've learned about drawing lines in the sand: before you draw them, set your Master Rules . The Thinking Behind The Tweet Note… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-531/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-531/Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:15:00 -0500Thought Tweet #531 While leaders must set Rules , they must also empower managers to be innovative as they pursue goals. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Few… https://rickbaker.ca/post/geordie-raine-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/https://rickbaker.ca/post/geordie-raine-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/Wed, 23 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500Geordie Raine serves as Montana Consulting Group's Director, Corporate Learning. He traveled from Montreal to speak at CFFB's breakfast event on April 27 th… https://rickbaker.ca/post/having-values-delivering-value-recruiting/https://rickbaker.ca/post/having-values-delivering-value-recruiting/Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500Everyone knows personal values influence people's behaviour. Most people know the interplay between people's personal values create culture, including the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-master-rules-part-2/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-master-rules-part-2/Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500Part 1 of The Master Rules can be summed up just the way my 2nd boss taught it to me: He who carries the gold makes the rules . Part 2 of The Master Rules is… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-master-rules-part-1/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-master-rules-part-1/Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500My second boss taught me `The Golden Rule`. He explained it this way: He who carries the gold makes the rules . Some people might have been annoyed… https://rickbaker.ca/post/constructive-criticism-that-s-definitely-an-oxymoron/https://rickbaker.ca/post/constructive-criticism-that-s-definitely-an-oxymoron/Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:30:00 -0500Most people would agree, it makes sense to have ‘thick skin’ so when people say and do things that are negative toward you those things do not cause injury… https://rickbaker.ca/post/not-key-success-factors-key-success-rules/https://rickbaker.ca/post/not-key-success-factors-key-success-rules/Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:30:00 -0500Spirited Leaders conducts a series of 6 workshops, designed to share our key thoughts about 6 areas where Leadership skill results in ‘big ROI’. The 6 areas… https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-values-your-little-panel-of-judges/https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-values-your-little-panel-of-judges/Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:30:00 -0500Your personal values act like a little panel of judges. This little panel of judges renders judgements with lightning speed. This little panel of judges can… https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-rules-for-building-a-great-organization/https://rickbaker.ca/post/10-rules-for-building-a-great-organization/Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:30:00 -0500My friend, Ben Bach, thoughtfully loaned me his copy of the book ‘Enough. True Measures of Money, Business, and Life ’, written by John C. Bogle, the founder…