Change is a healthy part of any enterprise intent on thriving long-term. Failure to adapt eventually means irrelevance, regardless of the organization. Here are two definitions to start. Mistakes in technique – With any change management effort, plan on mistakes in technique. This is the ‘how’ of change, the specific methods and experiments to move » Read More
I was sitting in a coffee shop writing a post and there was interview going on at the next table. What struck me, as I tried to write, was the amount of time the interviewer spent talking to versus listening to the interviewee. He would ask a question and as soon as she started to » Read More
The Lead Change Group is a global, virtual community dedicated to instigating a Character-Based Leadership Revolution. This summer Lead Change Tulsa hosted a panel discussion about Defining Moments in Leadership. As we engaged with the panelists and the audience, we heard stories about individual choices and workplaces challenges, stories that tested integrity, stories about tough » Read More
I’m working with a client right now who is leading his organization through a massive restructuring. He engaged me to help with the inevitable human reactions to monumental change. My favorite line I heard from him on enabling his employees to accomplish the transition successfully is: “I can’t just hand them a business card with » Read More
Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships. —Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1945 Your emotions and actions impact those you lead. Research indicates that a ten percent increase in a perception of a leader who creates a positive emotional work climate results » Read More
Character-based leadership is leading from who you are, not your position or power. Your character creates true influence, especially when your character also includes being competent. Your rank in the company or your title doesn’t create real leadership influence, but a substitute influence that manipulates others to do what you want done. Your true influence » Read More
“Despite the economic recession, more employees are looking for opportunities outside of their organization than in 2008, suggesting that 2011 will be a challenging year for retention (and a hot market for firms to attract top talent).” Blessing White, 2011 Employee Engagement Report What is happening? While salaries are an important component to work and » Read More
Popular views of leaders focus primarily on positional leadership. Those of us in the Lead Change community prefer to focus on character-based leadership, which enables anyone to become a leader, regardless of their station in life, simply by the actions they take and the effect they have on the people around them. Many of my » Read More
I was having dinner with my family last weekend, and we got to talking about the tragic events at Penn State. My 14-year-old son firmly expressed his opinion. He essentially explained that Joe Paterno should have been allowed to coach through the rest of the season. During the conversation he mentioned things like, “greatest coach » Read More
“An experience I will have for the rest of my life. The workshop took me to places mentally and physically that I never thought I could reach, but they never broke me…just made be stronger.” “You will do things you never did before with people you never met. But it’s an experience you will never » Read More
