“Thank you.” It’s the nice thing to say. It’s what our parents taught us. Even when it’s no more than a polite reflex, it’s still a real expression of gratitude or appreciation. And when you’re in a casual situation with someone you don’t know or with whom you don’t have an ongoing, meaningful relationship – such as the clerk at the grocery …
I must be getting somewhere…
At a planning and strategy meeting the other day, a client gloomily confessed that she’s going to have to do something about one of her employees. “She’s always very busy, but she’s not getting anywhere,” she said. “She’s great at writing reports …” “That say nothing,” I finished for her when she trailed off. We’ve all been there: the challenge …
“Work is Love made visible”
I encountered this Kahlil Gibran quote years ago on my first visit to the Esalen retreat center. I’d ventured into the kitchen to ask a question, and when I turned to leave, I saw the quote posted above the door out to the dining room. Work is Love made visible The impact was remarkable. I could easily imagine – and even feel – …
The peril of fabricated meaning
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of shared meaning for an organization’s success. This post is about shared meaning’s opposite, the flip side of the coin: fabricated meaning. Fabricated meaning is when someone takes a particular event or situation and, quite simply, creates a story around it. This is perilous is because it’s almost always a negative, destructive story that …
Watch your language!
The language you use every day, including your word choice, the sequence you put them in, and the tone you create, plays a more critical role in how you’re perceived than you may imagine. Your response to a question, a compliment, even a comment on the weather, affects what people think about you, your abilities, and your work in very subtle yet very …
Desire isn’t enough: the three essentials for organizational change
There’s an old joke that goes, How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: One, but the lightbulb has to want to change. And it’s true that change of any sort – personal or organizational – starts with desire. But that’s not enough, as anyone who’s watched New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside, or corporate change initiatives …
How NOT to pick a mediator
You’ve faced an unhappy fact: your team needs help. The conflict you face isn’t resolving itself, and each attempt at discussion just escalates the issue. The situation is getting increasingly tense, with finger-pointing accusations and name-calling becoming more and more frequent. The only thing you seem to agree on is that something needs to be done. Perhaps it’s time to hire a mediator. But how …
What’s the most important thing in business?
Before you read further – what do you think the most important thing is in your business? Some might say it’s your product or service. After all, without something to sell, you’ve got no business at all. Others might say it’s the people – your employees. Or your mission, vision, and values. Or your organizational culture, and how you establish shared …
The missing link for real success
You’ve made sure everyone understands your organization’s mission, vision, and objectives. They know their individual goals and they understand their job descriptions and responsibilities. That’s great. And it’s not enough to inspire individuals and teams to their best performance. If it were enough, there would be no lack of follow-through on decisions, no actions out of alignment with the vision, no misinterpretation of …
Leadership … with love
A couple of Saturdays ago, my sweetheart Arthur and I were talking business. (One of our many points of compatability is a shared passion for business geekery!) Having attended a leadership conference the day before, I asked him for his definition of leadership. (I believe leadership skills can be taught, and I also believe that, just like anything, certain people have a special …