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 […]
Looking at the Development Dimension
Some of the most exciting research over the past 20 years has been in the field of adult development. What we’ve learned: When we graduate high school/college/grad school that we don’t quit learning or growing. Shocking, right? Adults have their own developmental path. Most adults stop growing voluntarily – often in reaction to their environment. […]
Looking at the Altitude Dimension
I see altitude as scale and scope. I > my immediate environment > my family and/or department > the organization > the neighborhood and/or market > the nation > the earth > the universe > ? We only have control of the I (and some days, for some of us, even THAT is dodgy). We […]
Relating Your Life to Your Environment
One of the many distinctions between the celebrity and the hero … is that one lives only for self while the other acts to redeem society Bill Moyer, paraphrasing Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth How does your life influence your environment? How does your life influence you? How we view and engage the world […]
Presence
Definitions of presence (noun) – according to Google The state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing. Synonym: existence. A person or thing that exists or is present in a place, but is not seen. Synonym: spirit, specter, ghost A group of people, especially soldiers or police, stationed in […]
Listening
Listening deeply to another is the best gift I can think to give this year. Being able to hold space for another. Listening with no agenda. Listening without aiming to respond, or be clever, or win the conversation. Many of us aren’t taught to do this. Our educational system seems to reinforce “listening to win.” […]
Where to Find Data Scientists
Name a discipline where people are trained to ask questions about cause and effect, make sense of a ridiculous amount of information to help answer those questions, and leverage that information to determine likely scenarios. History. Yes – that class that you took because you had to, or you wouldn’t get your degree. The American […]
How to Mitigate the Dance of Blind Reflex
Barry Oshry started running the Power Lab back in the 1970s. Using anthropological observation techniques, he identified the system that we find ourselves operating within – and how it becomes dysfunctional. Tops (End) – Burdened by overwhelming complexity and responsibility. They feel unsupported, isolated and out of touch. Conflicts in this area become personalized and […]
