I recently got reminded of this book again.
I was part of an inspiring conversation with a group of senior leaders discussing talent growth inside their organization.
We talked about the mindset to disrupt yourself, ask yourself and others the hard questions, leaving your comfort zone frequently to learn and expect the same from others.… Read the rest
To light a fire, you need a spark.
To let a fire go out, you need to kill the oxygen. Or just stop feeding the fire with more supplies of wood. It will eventually dim and then die.
Some people are sparks. Some people suck oxygen. Some people are passive and do nothing.… Read the rest
Joyce, my brilliant Organizational Development mentor, often used the following quote when we talked about Organization Design:
“Every organization is perfectly designed for the results it gets.
Joyce Wilson Sanford
In other words, if your results are below expectations, there’s a big chance your design is flawed.
And vice versa, when you’re doing great, your organization works for you.… Read the rest
It’s been a few weeks since I read “More Time to Think.”
More Time to Think is the sequel to Time to Think. The first book addresses the theory behind creating a thinking environment culture. The second book is more of a practical how-to guide.
Both books are created on a scientifically justified premise that when companies can create a culture where each individual feels safe and encouraged to access, use and share their thinking, all performance indicators point in the right direction.… Read the rest
I listened recently to a podcast where high-net-worth individuals and tax-avoiding companies were the subjects of the discussion.
Or perhaps the subject of their rage is a better expression of the dynamics of the conversation.
Then a politician, known for progressive and more left of the political spectrum beliefs, joined the conversation.… Read the rest
I’m not a finance guy.
But I’ve done enough finance in my life to understand the principles when I put my mind to it. My brain can build many connections fast, but when it comes to finance, I need to think.
That’s why I’ve always admired people who can make complex stuff easy to understand. … Read the rest
Did you play as a kid in a sandbox?
Was it your sandbox, the sandbox of a neighborhood kid, or perhaps a public sandbox?
What do you remember about your sandbox adventures?
Was there ever a territorial fight about the best part of the sandbox? Or perhaps some kid entered your sandbox, and you were not pleased with the uninvited intruder.… Read the rest
You’re number one responsibility as a leader is to make people around you better.
Much of your time at work should be dedicated to dialogue with people who will benefit and grow from your leadership.
There are companies where this is the case. One of the largest beer brewers in the world swears by the principle that leaders need to help their people develop.… Read the rest
Over the past weeks, I’ve had three conversations where my conversation partner mentioned the phrase:
“We’ve set this person up for failure.”
Hiring manager
Otherwise said, we’ve failed ourselves to set this person up for success.
But that sentence you won’t hear very often. Both sentences imply the same, but only one puts the blame directly on the people responsible for this person’s success.… Read the rest
I’m not a big believer in a sense of urgency as a driver of culture.
Every time I hear that sentence, the hairs on my neck raise, and a shiver runs through my spine.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in speed. Just not in urgency.
Almost always, when managers (not leaders) utter these words, there’s more to it than just urgency. … Read the rest
“I don’t pay you to think; I pay you to execute.” — Old School CEO.
Earlier in my career, I spent four years in a company where that was the culture early on.
I was on an expat assignment abroad, and part of my responsibilities was helping design en deliver interventions that would change the culture. … Read the rest
What do you do with milk that has expired?
What do you do with clothes that are no longer in fashion?
Recently I heard the term ‘old school’ again from two different sources within two days.
It had been a while since I heard the term, so it triggered a reaction. … Read the rest
Sometimes you must create deliberate pain to get something you want to do in motion.
I remember vividly a conversation with my mentor Joyce who often talked about CEOs having to create organizational pain once in a while to shake things up.
When things are becoming complacent, and they often do, you need to create pain.… Read the rest
The world deserves better leaders.
That’s why I do what I do.
Doing what I do will help improve our collective human experience, one leader, one conversation at a time.
Ambitious.… Read the rest
“A fish stinks from the head.”
Rumi
Rumi, a Turkish poet who lived towards the end of the 13th century, wrote “The Third Book of Masnavi,” where the phrase appears as follows: “Fish begins to stink at the head, not the tail.”
We often hear this quote in a business environment.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, and it basically means that when problems arise in a business, it makes sense to look at the top of the company first.… Read the rest
For visionary leaders, one size fits all is over.
These leaders understand that people are different, with different needs, different contexts, and different aspirations for the future.
You can’t lead these people as if they’re all the same.
Erikjan Lantink
Last Tuesday, I wrote to you about my regret for not pursuing opportunities to exploit this model.… Read the rest
My biggest regret is something I did not do nearly fifteen years ago.
I was working in food retail and was part of a group of talents asked to define the organization’s future work strategy.
I had that feeling then, but now fifteen years later, I’m sure.… Read the rest
By the time you read this story, the topic of my story is probably old news.
For most of the news outlets, that is. I hope.
I write my stories approximately a week ahead.… Read the rest
I’ve said ‘Yes’ way too many times in my life.
For the record, I’m not talking here about getting married multiple times.
I mean saying Yes to projects, jobs, activities, fun suggestions, and things others thought I should be doing.
Initiatives that sounded good, were proposed by well-intended people and would undoubtedly create some good experiences and learning.… Read the rest
Last week I conducted my training called “Growing Leaders and Culture.”
Its principles are based on effective dialogue.
Why?
You’ve done half the work if you understand that running a successful business is an accumulation of constructive, forward-looking, and growth-focused dialogues.… Read the rest
