“We don’t have time for that stuff.”
I’m not a data freak. I’m not a research expert. I’m not a number cruncher. I’m not an analyst.
I’m blessed and gifted with a brilliant set of brains and common sense that I’m trying to use appropriately without overusing them.
Twenty percent of my brain capacity creates 80 percent of the results.… 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
We all have a story.
A story that shows who we are, where we come from, what we value, what gives us energy, and what stops us from being ourselves.
A story that we bring with us every day.
In every conversation we have.
With family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
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
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
I wonder what percentage of companies have some version of teamwork in their values.
All the companies I was employed by had some form of teamwork in their values.
That last part of the sentence was intentional — ‘the posting on the walls’ part.… Read the rest
That was the argument from a traveler last Friday morning at 5.18 am when I was in a massive security line at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
The lady was talking to a security assistant and making her case that she was about to miss her flight with her group if she would not be allowed to get to the front of the line.… Read the rest
I thought I would never write this insight.
Frankly, I still can’t believe that I do.
If there’s one thing I would expect that any team leader knows how to do well, it’s to run a meeting.
Recently I spent a few hours in one room with a highly visionary entrepreneur.
Frequently, I seek the company of visionary leaders because they’re a breath of fresh air in a world where target-driven managers dominate.
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
It’s Easter Monday and a travel day for me. In the morning, a four-hour drive from my in-law’s home and a two-leg flight to Ljubljana in the evening.
A lot of time to reflect on some past events. One of them was the cup final my team lost yesterday evening.
I miss my Greek friends.
I thought about this when I was deliberating the content for my story about alignment, growth cue #6 in my playbook.
From 2011 until 2014, I worked in Bulgaria and was part of an international leadership team, including a few Greek colleagues.
Did you ever wake up after you had a bit too much to drink and promised yourself that you would never drink a drop of alcohol again?
Only to find yourself zipping from a glass of wine ten hours later.
Or you promised yourself never to be speeding again after a hefty speeding ticket, only to find yourself doing it again the next time you were in a rush.… Read the rest
Men don’t like rejection. Women aim to be perfect.
Did I catch your attention?
Here’s another one…
When men have to decide to apply for a job, they are more likely to do so when they meet six out of ten requirements for the role.
When women have to decide to apply for a job, they are more likely to do so when they meet at least nine out of ten requirements, but ideally all.… Read the rest
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
Did you ever walk into a meeting with people you never met before, and you felt immediately something was off?
Nobody had said a word yet, and still, you knew what you were experiencing wasn’t right.
Then, well into the meeting, you suddenly realize what’s going on.
People are afraid to say what they’re thinking.… Read the rest
I love strategy. I studied strategy. I read and learn daily about strategy. I try to understand companies’ strategies and why they succeed or fail. Without a good strategy, you will never be successful. But a good strategy is not a guarantee for success.
Strategy is like playing chess. You’ll need to think a few steps ahead; otherwise, you’ll never win.… Read the rest
Yesterday evening Bayern Munich won the Champions League edition 2020. No worries, I’m not going to talk about football (soccer) in my blog. I’m just starting the blog of this week with a simple statement: the team that plays most like a TEAM wins.
You can build a team of stars, hoping that their quality, in the end, will prevail for the win, but more often than not, it’s the best team and not the group of best players going home with the trophy.… Read the rest
In my last two blog posts, I wrote about conditions that needed to be present for teams to maximize the potential for robust, sustainable, high performance.
First, a team needs to invest time to get to know each other well. Leaders need to build a foundation where team members trust each other.… Read the rest
