Inside Quality Digest Live for Jan. 4, 2019

Starting the year off on a philosophical foot

Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - 13:00

Happy New Year one and all! For our first QDL of 2019, we were pleased to present some thought-provoking content on the benefits of compromise, the dangers of rhetorical trickery, and the meaning of Chekhov’s gun. Let’s take a closer look:

Ripped from the headlines

Can’t anyone here get along? The new year is starting out just like the old one, with plenty of dysfunction and finger-pointing in Washington. In this segment looking at news headlines, it’s clear that an inability to compromise is affecting not only governance but global trade, too. So what can we all do to get along with each other just a little bit better?

“Protect Yourself From Verbal Sleight of Hand”

Whether it’s cherry-picking, straw men, or red herrings, there are lots of rhetorical tricks that can convince you that the truth is a lie (or vice-versa). With this piece from columnist Robert Wilson, we explore how to avoid being manipulated by those who seek to lead you astray.

“Chekhov’s Gun at the Gemba”

Russian playwright Anton Chekhov believed that an author should never show a gun in the first act that didn’t go off in the second. In this piece, lean practitioner and frequent QD contributor Harish Jose demonstrates how this concept applies to continuous improvement.

Off-Script: The personal implications of technology

In this freewheeling discussion, Dirk asked about the personal affects of technology. In my opinion, cutting-edge gadgets and software are often equal parts hassle and boon for those of us who aren’t technologically adept.

Our next episode of Quality Digest Live comes to you next Friday. You can watch either via our home page or our special player page. See you then!

About The Author

Mike Richman

Mike Richman is the principal at Richman Business Media Consulting.