Why Microsoft will win the tablet war

Microsoft looks dead in the water with regards to the tablet war. Windows 7, though a stellar OS for PCs, is far too cumbersome for tablets, and Win7 tablets have been non-starters. Windows 8 will run on ARM processors, and has been optimised for tablets - but it is not due to late this year, possibly next year. This gives Apple a massive lead, and even more time to consolidate their market dominance. The only serious competition at this point is Android, which is just starting to get serious in the tablet space.

Given this, it seems outrageous to suggest that Microsoft will one day dominate the tablet space. Still, I think it will. Firstly, history has shown that it is very foolish to write Microsoft off. I remember very clearly in the late 90s that people thought Netscape (and the internet) would destroy Microsoft. Seems laughable now, with Netscape just a distant memory, but people honestly thought that. Microsoft was very slow out of the gates with the internet, and instead messed around trying to build a proprietary public network. But once they realised what way the wind was blowing, they quickly made up ground and continued to dominate the OS scene throughout the noughties. In technology, it is very common for an early market leader to lose what seems an indominatable market position. Hello, Blackberry?

Next, you need to consider the Steve Jobs factor. Jim Collins in "Good to Great" found that rockstar CEOs tend to leave behind companies that struggle without them. With Jobs, you have the typical rockstar CEO with the volume turned up to 11. Apple customers weren't just buying into a product line, they were kinda joining a cult. Can the cult survive the death of it's guru? I'm doubtful in this case.

Lastly, we need to consider the advantages a well designed Windows tablet would have. The same cost dynamics that drove down the price of the original Wintel PCs would be at play, and so we can expect tablets at much cheaper prices than are currently available (my guess is that the magic number is about $250 for an entry level tablet). Business would jump on such a tablet in a way that they haven't with the iPad. The 90% of home users currently running Windows will be more tempted by a compatable machine. And there will be a heap of software (good and bad) flooding the market pretty quickly, free from Apples tightly regulated content regime.

All up, even if the first Windows tablet doesn't get here until 2013, and even if it is not that good, I would lay odds that MS will eventually win the tablet war.

Leadership Without Excuses (Grimshaw and Baron)

I've been reading a few management books lately, but this one is the best so far - Leadership Without Excuses. Not only is it well written, it is intensely practical, and it's obvious that they guys have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. The chapter headings alone show you they know their stuff -  

1. Equip your people for moments of truth and tradeoff
2. Invest excruciating minutes to ensure role clarity
3. Use commanders intent to promote ownership. Stretch your people. Align them with your business strategy
4. Compete for attention
5. Boost the credibility of your high expectations
6. Reward what you want to see more of... and stop tolerating what you don't
7. Use the other F-word to tap hidden sources of motivation
8. Wield your biggest stick: the power to take things away
9. When you have no authority - use increased confidence and reduced anxiety as your consequence currency
10. Whet the appetite for truth
11. Prevent excuses before they happen
12. Banish the fantasies and fetishes that lead to fingerpointing
13. Treat mistakes as intellectual capital and give negative feedback that doesn't freak people out

What makes a great workplace?

Some time ago, Gallup initiated a multi-year workplace satisfaction survey, covering hundreds of thousands of people. They came up with a list of 12 core dimensions that are consistently present in great workplaces. As a manager, get these right, and there is a good chance your people will be very satisfied -

1. I know what is expected of me at work.
2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.
3. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
4. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.
5. My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.
6. There is someone at work who encourages my development.
7. At work, my opinions seem to count.
8. The mission or purpose of my organization makes me feel my job is important.
9. My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work.
10. I have a best friend at work.
11. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.
12. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow.

8 Habits of Highly Effective Managers

These were put together by Google. Some good advice...

1. Be a good coach

• Provide specific, constructive feedback, balancing negative and positive
• Have regular one-on-ones, presenting solutions to problems tailored to the employee's strengths

2. Empower your team and don't micro-manage

• Balance giving freedom to your employees while still being available for advice
• Make "stretch" assignments to help them tackle big problems 

3. Express interest in employees' success and well-being

• Get to know your employees as people, with lives outside of work
• Make new folks feel welcome, help ease the transition 

4. Be productive and results-oriented

• Focus on what you want the team to achieve and how employees can help achieve it
• Help the team prioritize work, and make decisions to remove roadblocks

5. Be a good communicator and listen to your team

• Communication is two-way: Both listen and share
• Hold all-hands meetings and be specific about the team's goals
• Encourage open dialogue and listen to the questions and concerns of your employees

6. Help your employees with career development

7. Have a clear vision and strategy for the team 

• Even amid turmoil, keep the team focused on goals and strategy
• Involve the team in setting and evolving the team's vision, goals, and progress 

8. Have key technical skills, so you can help advise the team

• Roll up sleeves and work side-by-side with team, when needed
• Understand the specific challenges of the work