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Alignment Execution Leadership Purpose Trust

Three reasons why ‘Sense of Urgency’ is the wrong solution

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

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Alignment Clarity Communication Team effectiveness Trust

What the best teams do better than any team

What’s the best team you’ve ever been part of?

You can think about this question in the broadest meaning. Not just business teams, sports teams, and perhaps a team of friends or family at home.

I classify people ‘working’ together as teamwork.

I often ask this question as an introduction to teamwork. … Read the rest

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Alignment Clarity Communication Purpose Team effectiveness

Team play

Imagine.

You’re the star of the company or team.

Thanks to your contribution, the company makes significant profits, is recognized as a leading brand, is admired by everyone in the industry, and is a heavily sought-after employer.

You know the results of the company (or team) would dive if you decided to leave or something would happen to you.… Read the rest

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Alignment Growth Mindset Team effectiveness

Grow in concert

Imagine.

You’re attending a concert of your favorite band, and suddenly you discover that some of the band members do not know how to play their instrument.

Or they are not clear which song they’re going to play.

If concerts are not your thing, then replace the band with the people in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant, the players on your favorite sports team, or the pit crew of your formula one racing team.… Read the rest

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Alignment Culture Performance Values

Start with values NOW!

Happy New Year!

A new year full of opportunity. I hope that you’ll be able to see the possibilities for you, and more importantly, you will be able to capitalize on them.

We, human beings, like the nature of (hard) transitions, such as the start of a new year.

It allows us to start all over again with a clean slate.… Read the rest

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Alignment Culture Mindset Self awareness

Are you fit for culture?

Last week I wrote about my resignation.

Apparently, I touched a little bit of a nerve.

I received some nice reactions on LinkedIn, but the most interesting responses I received were through direct messaging.

Many people considered me courageous, which is not the word I would have used for my move.… Read the rest

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Alignment Leadership Performance Team effectiveness Trust

The best teams don’t always win. Aligned teams do.

Yesterday the health minister in the Czech Republic got fired.

The official message was that he resigned, but everyone knows he was not aligned with the prime minister on the Covid vaccination strategy.

Up to the next health minister. Number four in one year’s time.

Number one ‘resigned’ because he didn’t handle the first wave well (lowest numbers in the EU).… Read the rest

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Alignment Execution

Bird Politics

Yesterday when I drove my daughter Anna to her school, we witnessed a massive flock of birds. Thousands of them gliding through the air with no apparent sense of direction, urgency, or planning.

As we (or predominantly Anna, because I was driving) were admiring the formations and the graciousness of their moves, we started wondering out loud.… Read the rest