In times of rapid change, organizational learning and development support must look different. In such dynamic environments, static training, “best-practice” interventions, and “expert” advising are not moving the needle - neither individually nor organizationally.
Read More“They” can’t be all wrong. “We” can’t be all right. If history tells us anything, it is that humans are terrible prognosticators and deciders. Thus, it is highly likely that the beliefs we hold dear; the strategies we cling to; the futures we see, etc., are at least 50% wrong - on a good day.What if you are part of the problem? What if those you are battling are part of the solution?
Read MoreWhile financials are an integral component of managing an organization, they only tell part of the story. The good and bad debt visible on financial statements enable organizations to better allocate and manage their financial resources. Here’s the rub: the most important resources organizations have cannot be adequately understood, allocated or addressed by viewing financial statements.
Read MoreModeling behavior is one of the most powerful forces for change, not pontificating. If we want the world to bend to our values, we would all be wise to let our values inform our actions and our processes, not our talking points.
Read MoreMany of our systems reward short-term wins at the expense of long-term solutions. To solve our challenges, we need to take the time to think deeply, critically and honestly about the systems we hope to change.
Read MoreLike English textile merchants, pharmaceutical executives and elected officials, the path of self-interest can provide short-term success, but the externalities of this self-focused perspective is not a recipe for sustained success. To achieve long-term sustainable transactions, be it financial, legislative, relational, or other, they must be friction free, not friction full. The fewer barriers we have between points A and B and C, the more A-Z benefit.
Read MoreAs the third largest economy in the world, Japan seems to have beat the odds. Japan is a country with next to zero natural resources. It is devoid of oil fields, diamond mines, coal and other natural energy sources. And, it is immediately apparent from the ubiquitous shopping malls, high end fashion and pristine…everything, that Japan’s economy fairly strong. It is not immediately apparent why Japan, a nation that is so poor in natural resources is so rich, but after months of experiencing Japan, it hit me; Japan is rich in a resource that most other nations lack: Trust.
Read MoreRight now, the ICO and blockchain space, in general, is filled with visionaries that have deep understandings of technical systems. Many of these visionaries and innovators are cryptographic and software engineering geniuses. That being said, knowing how to envision the outcome and draw the blueprints is only half the equation. Implementing the vision is a whole other ballgame.
Read MoreAfter each workshop, intervention, and training I lead, I have participants fill out an evaluation. This is important to me since I work in a myriad of industries, with various sized groups, and with different problems to solve. Evaluating my performance and the impact of my work on my clients is vital. The more feedback I receive on what went well or what could use improvement supports me in enhancing my work with every client interaction. That being said, as I review my latest batch of evaluations and reflect on the many other sources of feedback from previous workshops, I have a clearer understanding of the many ways I can evaluate my impact.
Read MoreWe are at a time when we face many challenges and stakeholders are increasingly polarized in their thoughts on how to solve the issues at hand. This makes engaging certain stakeholders even more difficult. This is why we need become more creative in how we engage each other - our colleagues and our peers across “the aisle.”
Read MoreGenerational stereotypes abound, leading us to believe Millennials are entitled, boomers are tech-phobic, and so on. Yet, these stereotypes, just like generalities about race or religion, limit our thinking. Whether conscious or unconscious, the biases that stereotypes perpetuate lie somewhere between inaccurate to extremely harmful
Read MoreAmerican culture supports & rewards the analytical left-brain thinking; yet it is in the right brain where the magic happens. We can logically think through problems with our left-brain, but how often do we become blocked or stuck on an issue? Or, how often do our solutions actually solve the problem as we intended without creating new problems?
Read MoreJust as vital as clear goals are for teams to perform, are quality relationships between team members. People working together well need to respect one another, trust each other and feel seen by their colleagues. Recent studies have shown that the most effective teams exhibit the following behaviors:
Read MoreThe importance of clear processes cannot be overstated. By making explicit aspects of your work and your practice, habits are built, standards are met, and performance becomes consistent.
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Who is responsible for what? If a team member doesn’t perform, what happens? How do our distinct roles play together in pursuit of our shared goal? Who holds the authority here? If the Warriors didn’t know who to look to when calling the plays, why certain skilled players sat on the bench while others got to start and how they could leverage their individual skills, collectively, this season would have looked a a lot different.
Read MoreShared Identity is arguably the most important aspect of building a team; transforming a group of individuals into a cohesive, focused team. The concept of “Shared Identity” can be divided into four subcategories: Vision/Values/Mission, strategic priorities, goals and measures of success.
Read MoreSports are a rich source of metaphors and this year, the Warriors proved to be the epitome of what a high performing team looks like, acts like can accomplish: incredible feats, record smashing results and marketplace dominance, all the while having a great time.
Read MoreLike death and taxes, planning meetings in business are unavoidable. But do they have to be so frustrating?
Read MoreEngagement is the hot new buzzword and organizational riddle. How do we engage our employees as well as other stakeholders? Frequently, we see the engagement conundrum in the context of Millennials. With much of my consulting work focused on helping organizations engage constituents and stakeholders, I find that the nexus between engagement and 21st Century organizations overwhelmingly overlap.
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