Image via Wikipedia “Scratch the surface in a typical boardroom and we’re all just cavemen with briefcases, hungry for a wise person to tell us stories.” — Alan Kay (VP Walt Disney Company) Storytelling defines people as ... well, people. Before the written word there were stories to pull people together within a common understanding. ... Continue Reading →
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Is this from the latest management guru? It is a wonderful statement - dream, learn, do, become. Nope - this quote is 200 years old from our sixth President, John Quincy Adams. A focus on the... Continue Reading →
Mark of a Good Meeting
Image via Wikipedia I look down at my hand and see several colors; the remains of a great meeting with my fellow leaders at work. We gathered to discuss our leadership approach to our challenging work environment. We brainstormed. We made a list of focus points for us as leaders. I was proud of the... Continue Reading →
Vote off the Island
Image via Wikipedia I enjoy watching Survivor on television. I have watched it from the beginning. Beyond the general entertainment and fun, I focus on the organizational psychology at play. It is too much fun to see these groups so quickly form small group alliances based on minimal information and then break down over time. Yep, must watch TV.... Continue Reading →
Sit Still and Observe
At the core of my view on leadership is movement and I speak to it in other posts. Today though I ask you to sit still and observe. In your organization what is happening around you at any given moment? Where is the staff - quiet in their workspace, grouped together in the hallway, or... Continue Reading →
The Half Court Set and Leadership
The half court set is a reference to basketball and my attempt to write a cool headline. For today's news we have a new in-depth article in Sport's illustrated. The article is on UCLA basketball and the fall from national prominence over the past several years. As a Cal Berkeley guy, I am fine with... Continue Reading →