Power to the People - It's Not A Generational Gap “To Give Anything Less Than Your Best is to Sacrifice the Gift.” – Steve Prefontaine Last month we talked about Millennials in the workplace and debunked a few myths.  I also promised to continue the theme and focus on the other workplace generations this month. Since then, I realized that it's less about generational gaps and more about making ALL employees a central focus because most people want the same thing from work: to be … [Read more...]

“Hey, do you have a minute? I want to run something by you.  But, it’s really important that you keep this confidential.” “Can I talk to you about something? I’ve got this situation going on but this has got to stay between you and me.” People tell me things. All the time.  Despite the double dog dare secrecy, most of the things people tell me aren’t gossip or trade secrets. It’s way worse than that because they share their grisly details of conflict, miscommunication, … [Read more...]

Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”  Reading a quote like that takes me to a mythical place,  somewhere lofty,  and expansive, where I wonder what it would be like to make a  BIG difference to an entire  company, country or all of humanity. And then my email dings, and I snap back into the present and I start to think about a different kind of heroics.  The kind I hear about with certain types of clients … [Read more...]

10 Brief Minutes in the coffee shop. There is a man with giant mushroom caps spread out on the table in front of him. Moments later, a baby with blond, curly hair reaches out to his Dad who pulls a small toy from his work jacket.  The baby grins and grabs for it.  I speak briefly to the man with the mushrooms because I’m curious and he seems sane enough. I don’t speak to the baby and yet I have a vivid image of him smiling in my mind. These are ordinary moments, and yet they stay with … [Read more...]

What comes to mind when you think about leadership and creativity?  Both topics have been on my mind a lot lately as I prepare for an upcoming workshop I am conducting. While leadership and creativity are very common attributes, I used to think of them as having very separate identities – like good steak and polka dot sprinkles, they are both good, they just don't go together.  Or do they? Can you be a good leader and not very creative? Probably not.  What about very creative and a poor … [Read more...]

It's early in another new year.  The holidays are behind us and many of are trying to get back in the groove, wondering what's up. Why am I here?  What did I leave undone?  How can I make this year different, better, less stressful, more fun than last year?  The answer: write your own manifesto, your rules to live by for this year and possibly the rest of your life. You can do it solo as a personal expression of who you want to be or as part of a partnership, family, work, community or other … [Read more...]

TRAINING AND CONSULTING Insights DiscoveryTM - more info… Transition and Change Management Strategic Planning Communications and Leadership Custom Retreats and Consensus Model Workshop Facilitation … [Read more...]