The Thoughtful Leaders Blog
Posted by Lisa Kohn on September 1, 2011
Years ago I was leading a group through our Increasing Performance through Strategic Thinking seminar and things were going great…until the end. The participants were all fired up about their new ideas. They were excited to make things happen for themselves and their organization with the innovative problem solving they’d engaged in and the strong solutions they’d developed, except for one little problem. “How will we convince all of ‘them’ to go along with our idea?” they asked. “How can we sell this to our team, or senior management?” they posed. “How can we really, actually, make this happen?”
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Robyn McLeod on June 30, 2011
 Performance feedback is a subject that generates a great deal of debate, angst, and even anger. Those receiving feedback quite often feel it is inadequate, vague, overly critical, or overly solicitous. Those giving feedback often feel they don’t have time for meaningful discussion, they did not deliver the message they had hoped to, or the reaction they received was not what they expected.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Robyn McLeod on June 2, 2011
Creating, revamping or tweaking an organization’s vision and mission statements is something that we are often asked to help with. Leaders know that – although they are simply words – the right words can bring to life a clear and compelling direction for their organizations and their people. Take what is often referenced as Apple’s vision: “Making tools for the minds that advance humankind.” That’s huge! Or Coca-Cola’s mission to: “Refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism and happiness, create value and, make a difference.” I could easily get behind that!
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on May 30, 2011
“This above all: to thine own self be true.” William Shakespeare
What I love about effective leadership, both in business and in life, is that there almost always is more than one way to successfully do something and more than one answer to any question or problem. Too often we may look at someone as the “expert” or the “best” at a certain skill, and we convince ourselves that in order to be successful we have to do it exactly like them. To say what they say. To act how they act. To do what they do.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Robyn McLeod on May 5, 2011
Show me a happy employee and I’ll show you someone who is most likely using their existing talents and strengths in their work and also is probably developing additional skills and strengths in the process. Unfortunately, that is not the experience of many, many people working in organizations today. A few weeks ago I spoke to a room of HR professionals about what they are seeing in their workplaces. We talked about how the economic climate had created the need to cut back on benefits, eliminate training, and in some cases, layoff staff.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on May 2, 2011
“Listen to everyone. Ideas come from everywhere.” Tom Peters
I have a client whom I challenge to listen more fully to people – even people, and especially people, in whom he has no interest. “Go ahead,” I urge, “See what you can learn from them, especially since you expect to learn nothing.”
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Robyn McLeod on April 22, 2011
This morning I enjoyed my first cup of coffee outdoors in many months. I’m so glad Spring has finally arrived. As I sat soaking up the sun and enjoying the quiet of the morning, a flock of geese flew overhead in V formation. Watching geese fly together is one of those moments of wonder and awe for me that connects me to the bigger world. Looking up at the geese, I remembered a video that was shown at a conference many years ago about the science and art of these flying formations – and what they can teach us about teamwork.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on April 18, 2011
“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” Mother Teresa
Whenever we teach feedback skills – to new managers, experienced managers, or even senior leaders – we always reinforce the need for more positive feedback in the world. Not just empty accolades, but real, specific, and actionable positive feedback.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Robyn McLeod on April 8, 2011
It’s a simple concept: Water is hot at 211 degrees – One degree more and it boils. That extra degree makes a world of difference, changing the water’s composition and generating steam. We see the same in life and leadership. That one extra degree of effort, commitment, stick-to-itiveness, or confidence can make a huge difference in finally reaching a goal, achieving success, or solving the problem.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
Posted by Lisa Kohn on April 1, 2011
I am the main laundry-doer in my household, and sometimes it simply feels like I’m a scullery maid. Like the laundry simply multiplies when left alone, and as soon as I’ve finished, there’s somehow another load to be washed, dried, folded, and put away. There’s always more, and I seem to endlessly head up and down stairs with clothes in various stages of cleanliness.
(Continue reading…)
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply
« Newer Posts — Older Posts »
|
|
View Robyn McLeod's profile
