When Change Hits “Upside the Head”

Change.  It’s a topic that provides much fodder for discussion among leaders.  We anticipate it; study it; plan for it; and, if we are smart (or lucky), we make it happen or respond to it with strength, a sense of purpose and a clear head.  Sounds pretty simple.
But of course, it’s not.  Sometimes change hits [...]

Workplace Democracy – A Genie in A Bottle

Okay so I’m going where Boomers fear to tread here today. I’m going take a look at workplace democracy.  It is a hard place for me to go because I grew up with, and came to understand and accept, a workplace that is best described as a benevolent dictatorship.  So the notion of people voting [...]

Ambiguity in Leadership is a Certainty

Anyone who has ever been in a leadership role for longer than, oh, five minutes, knows that leadership is not a prescriptive thing.  As simple as we try to make it with lists of the ten top things to do here or the best five things to do there, it remains complex and full of [...]

In Praise of Peacocks, Nerds, Dorks & Dweebs

Some time ago, I read a book called “A Peacock in the land of Penguins”.  The book was written by B.J. Gallagher Hateley and Warren H. Schmidt and it tells the story of an organization of Penguins who seek to differentiate themselves from the competition by hiring birds of a different feather.
As the story goes, [...]

Taking Charge: When Not to Delegate

In leadership, one of the things we are always being reminded of is the importance of delegation, and with good reason.  It not only ensures an even distribution of work and responsibility, it also provides important opportunities for individual exploration and growth. I expect we all agree on that.
But when is it important not to [...]

Change & The Credibility Factor

I’ve been thinking about change lately, mostly about what it is that separates a person who seems to be able to influence change in a positive direction, from a person who might have the authority and the technical skill to do the work, but seems unable to pull it off.
The word credibility comes to mind.  [...]

Making Change Happen When You’re Not The Boss

Some time ago I noticed that someone had googled this: “How to make change happen when you’re not the boss”
I imagine this is something that rates very high on the frustration scale in a lot of organizations because hierarchy is so often allowed to get in the way of good ideas. And, while there are [...]

The Power of Diversity

I wanted to write a piece on diversity because there is such an opportunity for leaders to create something wonderful simply by understanding the uniqueness that each person brings to the workplace and what can be created because of it.
Instead of writing a lot of prose on the subject I offer you a poem by [...]

Three Key Elements for Making Change Happen

Looking for a way of effecting change and getting people into action?  Here are three things that must be in place for it to happen…Focus, Commitment and Capability.  I learned this from Hubert Saint-Onge, a brilliant human being who presented it in such a simple way that I have never forgotten it.  Here it is:
Focus [...]