Lead Change Blog

APRIL 26, 2021

Recently, I was engaged to lead a strategic planning exercise for a company navigating challenges resulting from the Covid pandemic. The first meeting was with a board member and the CEO to discuss details about the company’s situation. Armed with these insights, I developed a service proposal that described how we would work together in creating a strategic plan and implementing a strategic management process.

Process 214

Process Power Strategic Planning Proposal 214

Lead Change Blog

APRIL 9, 2021

“Honey, you really need to start dusting every day. If the neighbors drop-in, they’ll think you’re a bad housekeeper.”. Mom had moved in about a month earlier, and this wasn’t the first time she’d commented on my inferior housekeeping skills. Growing up, we lived in the cleanest and best-maintained home on the street. Mom’s daily chore list included dusting, vacuuming, and doing laundry.

Self-aware 150

Self-aware Comparison Media Banking 150

Lead Change Blog

MARCH 29, 2021

Igniting anything takes heat, oxygen, and fuel — the three components of the fire triangle. The idea of the fire triangle can apply to human motivation, too. When Jane Beckett took over the dance program at The McDonald College , a prestigious performing arts school in Atlanta, she saw talent from the beginning. She brought a personal history of dance excellence with her.

Class 252

Class Motivation Definition Training 252

Lead Change Blog

MARCH 26, 2021

Change is a permanent feature of organizations; resistance is an expected part of the journey. Due to neuroscience research, we understand that change often triggers a threat response in the brain. Change means uncertainty, which is an uncomfortable state for many. Reasons for resistance vary, and may include: Loss of status from the change. Job insecurity.

Resistance 274

Resistance Restructuring Survey Agility 274

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Are you a High-Creative leader, capable of rapidly growing your organization while simultaneously transforming it into a more agile, innovative, adaptive, and engaging workplace? Or are you a High-Reactive leader, who practices leadership that cancels itself out and seriously limits scale? Bob Anderson and Bill Adams’ book, Scaling Leadership , provides a proven framework for magnifying agile and scalable leadership in your organization.

Organization 221

Organization Agility Leadership Learning-by-Doing 221

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

COVID has been deadly and disruptive. One of the reasons we’re having so much trouble with it is that we’re not used to dealing with diseases we don’t know much about. Medical science has made such great strides that we believe that there’s a pill, potion, or procedure for any physical ailment. That wasn’t true in 1952 when I was six years old. Kids I knew died from the measles.

Learning-by-Doing 199

Learning-by-Doing Class Books Stress 199

Lead Change Blog

JANUARY 25, 2021

Unlike Mission, Vision is “seeing” language. But sometimes we cannot…or will not see. Something blurs or blocks our vision. More than ever in recent history we need leaders with a clear vision. Leaders to guide us forward. What stands in the way of having a clear, compelling vision? 1) INSECURITY “I am not a good vision caster – it is just not my area of expertise!”.

Brainstorming 210

Brainstorming Energy Follow-up Video 210

Lead Change Blog

JANUARY 26, 2021

No-one doubts that the current pandemic has created all kinds of challenges for leaders and the businesses they lead. Some have fallen by the wayside, including some big-name brands, but in the main many businesses have so far survived – many just by the edge of their teeth. And whilst some might be thinking of celebrating this success, I would caution that because there are still some challenges looming on the horizon, which if not addressed could cause your business to fall at the final hurdl

Resistance 387

Resistance Crisis Team Diversity 387

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 16, 2020

Everyone needs a positive influence in their lives. If you think about the various types of leaders you’ve encountered—parents, teachers, coaches, bosses—you can probably pinpoint one leader, perhaps more than one, who provided the support, the skills, or the inspiration that helped you become your best self. According to Michael and Glenn Parker, authors of The Positive Influence Leader , there are four types of positive influence leaders, and we can all leverage the strengths of each to become

Webinar 268

Webinar Influence Positioning Survey 268

Lead Change Blog

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

America is still the Land of Opportunity, and from his stories of humble beginnings, hard work, and success, John Hope Bryant revives the idea of the American Dream. But how do we change our mindset from survivor to thriver to winner? How do we move beyond just getting by or being financially independent, to becoming wildly successful? By ensuring that every stakeholder in America has access to the Five Pillars of Success—massive education, financial literacy, strong family structure, self-estee

Wilde 247

Wilde Class Politics Education 247

Lead Change Blog

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

“We’re going to need to let that hem out again.”. This is something my mom would say when she realized my pants were getting too short. She was a gifted seamstress (a talent I surely did not appreciate at the time). I realize, in retrospect, that her talent also helped the family bottom line, because it enabled her to stretch the life of my clothes out as I grew. .

Short-term 280

Short-term Bottom-up Long-term Newsletter 280

Lead Change Blog

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

Regardless of your responsibilities, you will inevitably face an individual or a team who appear unmotivated. Susan Fowler, author, trainer, and professor, explores the lessons from her book Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does. Susan’s expert teaching is based on motivational best practices derived from solid science communicated through compelling storytelling, case studies, and real-life examples.

Motivation 286

Motivation Webinar Storytelling Case Study 286

Lead Change Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

For the second time in six years, my heart had gone on the fritz. This time was different in that the medical reason for the malfunction wasn’t immediately clear. Several possibilities existed, so my cardiologist laid out a series of diagnostic tests and medication trials. What played with my head was that this science experiment would take a month.

Uncertainty 221

Uncertainty Self-aware Reference Objective 221

Lead Change Blog

AUGUST 14, 2020

We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Throw in the massive disruption caused by the current pandemic, and change aplenty abounds! So, responding in an agile and flexible fashion to that world requires clarity, more than ever before, is vital. However, how do you get better at that in the face of increasing complexity? Because it is how good you are going to be, that matters.

Agility 249

Agility Fashion Entrepreneur Training 249

Lead Change Blog

MAY 5, 2020

Welcome to the May 2020 Leadership Development Carnival! We’re excited to share posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, motivation, productivity, team building, and more. Communication. Laura Schroeder of Working Girl provided Online Fatigue: The Pain is Real. Laura shares: “These days, even extroverts may feel what I call ‘online fatigue’ in the wake of extra online meetings to align and ‘connect’

Leadership Development 266

Leadership Development Development Leadership IAS 266

Lead Change Blog

MAY 4, 2020

Rebecca and Jason met in grad school. They went on to work at different firms, but eventually landed in the same company. They’re outstanding leaders in their own right, but both can be hit-or-miss when it comes to successfully managing teams. No one noticed, though, until their employees began chatting in the lunchroom about what working for their boss was really like.

Tips 237

Tips Management Learning-by-Doing Tactics 237

Lead Change Blog

APRIL 14, 2020

Throughout my career, I have spent a lot of time studying and teaching leadership. It’s a fascinating subject! The coronavirus has given me a chance to observe many leaders dealing with this invisible enemy. I’ve found the very best leaders are good at four things: They understand the current situation. The coronavirus has disrupted every part of our lives!

Crisis 295

Crisis Open-book Influence Reference 295

Lead Change Blog

APRIL 15, 2020

How can you become a more effective leader? By discovering the resources you already have! As a coach or leader, it is integral to understand your internal landscape in order to strengthen and extend your capacities. In order to do great work as coaches, we need to be in tune with our internal landscape at all times. Pamela McLean, CEO and cofounder of the Hudson Institute for Coaching, has been at the forefront of the field for the past three decades, using clinical and organizational psycholog

Webinar 245

Webinar Crisis Video Career 245

Lead Change Blog

MARCH 12, 2020

“Do you think civil discourse will ever return?” asked one businessman of another. “No, I don’t,” he replied. To hear this businessman—someone whose experience and opinion I respected—be so blunt and matter of fact about his belief about the end of decency was discouraging. I’d expected him to champion a more positive outlook. To be fair, there are days when I despair for the apparent loss of civility and respect for the opinions of others, but I can’t accept that civil discourse has permanently

Budgeting 201

Budgeting Proposal Power Positioning 201

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

The context. I am currently working collaboratively with a colleague on the co-creation of a People Strategy for a local authority in England. That strategy will support the delivery of the corporate plan; but at its heart lies a desire to entrench critical behaviours, attitudes, and practices that will transform the organisation—a stern test in times of austerity.

Learning-by-Doing 214

Learning-by-Doing Proposal Uncertainty Strategy 214

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Tom made a major career decision 3 months ago: he decided to leave his position as chief information officer at a large manufacturing firm to become an entrepreneur and start a company to provide software that helps manufacturers improve the quality of their manufacturing process. He made his choice after talking to his friend Dave, who left his chief technology officer position in a high-profile manufacturing company to become an entrepreneur six months ago.

Career 251

Career Chief Technology Officer Chief Information Officer How To 251

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 12, 2020

Servant leaders are at the helm of some of the world’s largest companies. Rather than be served, servant leaders put the needs of their people and organizations first, helping them reach new heights. As this happens, measurable improvements in employee engagement and customer satisfaction occur, leading to greater productivity and profitability. One of the books that helped shaped this movement is The Serving Leader by John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings.

Servant Leader 277

Servant Leader Webinar Blanchard Mentor 277

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

Welcome to the February 2020 Leadership Development Carnival! We’re excited to share posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, team building, and more. Communication. Jeff Evans of Designed Learning shared Influencing Without Direct Control. Jeff writes: “As I think about all of the relationships of my life, power seems to have a major role.

Leadership Development 268

Leadership Development Development Leadership Simon 268

Lead Change Blog

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

When faced with the prospect of getting older, you can be optimistic, pessimistic, or realistic. But just because you add a few extra candles to a cake doesn’t mean your life is over! No matter what viewpoint you have, Ken Blanchard and Morton Shaevitz want to help you make a positive transition from where you are to where you’re going by showing you how to infuse passion and zest into every area of your life.

Webinar 247

Webinar Blanchard Mentor Self-aware 247

Lead Change Blog

JANUARY 7, 2020

Welcome to the January Leadership Development Carnival! We’re excited to share posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, team building, and more. Communication. Mary Schaefer of BizCatalyst 360 shared Employee Feedback: It’s More Than Words – Part 2. Mary summarizes: “As leaders, when we are connected to our noble intentions to support what employees are capable of, even their capacity for trying, we elevate the often-avo

Leadership Development 248

Leadership Development Development Leadership Team Building 248

Lead Change Blog

JANUARY 8, 2020

You’re operating your business in a time when something is happening that is so momentous it has never happened before. Jim Blasingame identifies it as an epochal marketplace shift that’s causing the 10,000-year-old Age of the Seller to be replaced by the Age of the Customer. Jim is one of the world’s leading experts on small business and entrepreneurship.

Webinar 225

Webinar Globalization Video Learning-by-Doing 225

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 23, 2019

I’m sure you’ve heard of the terms Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Intelligence Quotient (IQ); but few people have heard of Adaptability Quotient (AQ), especially as it relates to leadership. AQ is defined as “the ability to adjust course, product, service, and strategy in response to unanticipated changes in the market”— and indeed, the Harvard Business Review characterised it as “the new competitive advantage.

Leadership 154

Leadership Leadership Styles Hotels Core Competence 154

Lead Change Blog

NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Welcome to the November Leadership Development Carnival. We’re excited to share posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, motivation, productivity, and more. Communication. Jim Taggart of Changing Winds shared Leadership Mumbo Jumbo: Are You Communicating Clearly to Your Followers? Jim explains: “Don’t engage in leadership mumbo jumbo.

Leadership Development 237

Leadership Development Development IAS Leadership 237

Lead Change Blog

OCTOBER 22, 2019

I think we can all agree that business is changing and, as a result, the role of leaders is changing. No longer are leaders just expected to direct the business, sometimes at all costs, to achieve results. Today, leaders need to be able to combine operational business expertise with high levels of emotional intelligence. Leaders need to be compassionate and empathetic if they are to create high performance teams that thrive in today’s VUCA world.

Emotional Intelligence 173

Emotional Intelligence Bond Teamwork Human Capital 173

Lead Change Blog

OCTOBER 2, 2019

Culture drives everything that happens in an organization day to day, including focus, priorities, and the treatment of employees and customers. A great culture drives great performance, and can help attract and retain great talent. But a great culture isn’t something that evolves naturally—it is not an amorphous thing. It comes down from the top, inspired and exemplified by the leadership.

Engineering 30

Engineering Webinar Politics Document 30

Lead Change Blog

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

Top-down, one-dimensional leadership models are hopelessly outmoded in today’s rapidly changing world, and they waste the leadership ability that is present throughout an organization. After all, if leaders are those who are responsible for their world — then everyone is a leader. Karen and Henry Kimsey-House, co-founders of Co-Active Training Institute and authors of Co-Active Leadership , have developed a revolutionary five-dimensional approach to leading, based on their years of research and

Leadership 172

Leadership Webinar Diversity Training 172

Lead Change Blog

AUGUST 16, 2019

My first lesson in the quest for excellence came in the 3rd grade. At the end of 2nd grade, we all found out who our teachers would be for the next year. I drew Mrs. McKinley. She was the tough one. I fretted about that all summer long. My mother said that she was sure Mrs. McKinley would be nice. But “everybody” at school knew that Mrs. McKinley was the tough one.

Class 245

Class Learning-by-Doing Positioning Training 245

Lead Change Blog

JULY 31, 2019

Be it in a professional or personal setting, our ability to communicate either creates respect, builds relationships, and achieves results — or it does not. John R. Stoker, founder and president of DialogueWORKS, LLC, has more than 20 years of experience helping organizations and individual leaders learn how to use clear, direct communication that will convey the message without creating resistance or tension.

Webinar 202

Webinar Politics Resistance Video 202

Lead Change Blog

JULY 11, 2019

“If the recognition program doesn’t reward people with money, Scott, it’s worthless.”. “You couldn’t be more wrong, Bill. Making money isn’t the only reason people work.”. “I can’t believe how naïve you are, Scott. You do-gooders are all alike. None of you understand business.”. Could you imagine hearing a similar exchange where you work? Two people all wrapped up in their views and openly scornful of each other’s opinions?

Short-term 278

Short-term Learning-by-Doing Long-term Follow-up 278

Lead Change Blog

MAY 21, 2019

One thing I’ve learned about rescue dogs—they come with a lot of baggage. Not unlike every single one of us reading this blog. Since I’ve adopted Louie over five years ago, one thing remains constant: fear is his one of his top issues. While I continue to learn many valuable lessons as I work with Louie, one in particular will forever make an impact.

Comparison 249

Comparison Learning-by-Doing Operations Influence 249

Lead Change Blog

APRIL 16, 2019

You’ve probably heard the story of the person who visits a guru, seeking wisdom. As the visitor chatters on, the guru pours tea in a cup. The visitor keeps talking and the guru keeps pouring until the tea is running over the sides of the cup. “Stop!” cries the visitor. “There’s no more room in the cup!”. The guru tells the visitor that the cup is like the visitor’s mind.

Bottom-up 283

Bottom-up Productivity Products Consultative 283

Lead Change Blog

MARCH 27, 2019

A typical top-down, power-based leader, Art Barter began using servant leadership to transform his organization and people from the inside out. As he showed others he was serious about becoming a different type of leader—one who could be trusted to act the same way he talked—dramatic improvements were achieved. Leaders across the company freed employees to operate at their fullest potential and discover significance in their work.

Webinar 245

Webinar Servant Leader Leadership Video 245