Back in 2009, Dr. Tony Karrer predicted that Workplace Learning Professionals would morph into “management consultants”. At the time, my reaction was “I dunno – that term seems so charged.” I think of the overpriced “consultants” that have invaded more than one of my corporate environments because decision-makers won’t listen to people from within the […]
Fast Zebras
Almost 10 years ago, Harvard Business Review introduced the idea of “Fast Zebras.” A fast zebra is someone who is singularly focused on achieving performance results, knows how the organization can both hinder and help, and charts their course accordingly. In particular, they are wise about when to use the formal and rational elements of […]
How Our Attention Gets Hijacked
We are easily manipulated into compliance with someone else’s demands. Robert Cialdini, Regents’ Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, identified six principles that, when used deftly, can cause an individual to say “yes” to a request: Reciprocation Consistency Social Proof Liking Authority Scarcity Think about the number of people taking up residence in your […]
What Are You Amplifying?
What are you amplifying? All that is “wrong” with the world? All that is “right”? All that you want? All that you don’t? Oneness or separation? Love or hatred? Joy or sorrow? It’s become clear, to me at least, that it’s time to become mindful and careful about what we are amplifying. We have been […]
What is Your Relationship to Your Environment?
I find that there are 4 dominant approaches: Appease the Environment – The assumption here is that the environment is hostile and unpredictable. The best way to cope is to appease whatever “God” controls your environment. (ie: your boss and/or other people in a position of power; any higher power – gods, goddesses, spirits, etc) […]
We are ALWAYS Learning
The discussion of “Learning Organizations” and their various consultant-defined flavors is starting to get to me. We are ALWAYS learning. Each time I talk to a person, I am learning something. Each time I step into a meeting, I am learning something. Each time I enter an environment, I am learning something. But am I […]
The Myth of “Fearing Change”
I hear so much noise about how “people fear change” and “people don’t want to change.” I don’t think that’s true. They just don’t want to be herded through YOUR change. They don’t want you inflicting your change onto them. The people you are trying to lead aren’t stupid. When I hear resistance, I hear […]
The Role of Identity in The Change Curve
It dawned on me, as I read Atomic Habits (Amazon, non-affiliate link) and Fisher’s 2012 version of the change curve, that the dip in Fisher’s change curve is driven by identity. How does the change challenge your identity? Fisher speaks to this in his 2012 paper, but I think we underplay the emotions and the […]
The Importance of Environment
When I sent the previous essay for Mary’s feedback, she sent me the following: I will say that at least half of my problem solving involved environment. In this day and age, people can work just about anywhere but my project required a workable environment. It’s one thing to sew up a few things from […]
A Neglected Type of Power
Much of the popular leadership literature focuses on two types of power: Positional power – You are given respect because you are the President of Whatever, the VP of Things, or the Director of This-n-That and people want to keep their jobs and/or reputation. Personal power – You are given respect because others see you […]
