Tag Archives: leadership skills

Need A Productivity Breakthrough? Try a Lean Conversation

For the last 4 years or so we have developed a set of ideas we call Lean Conversations. The fundamental notion is that academicians, consultants, leaders, and managers in our culture have focused on and accomplished tremendous gains in productivity through process improvement, supply chain management, IT, and a host of manufacturing concepts… Read more

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Leadership: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

In a recent conference call with a group of our affiliated facilitators, I was struck by the high level of interest in becoming experts in conflict resolution.  From divorce counseling to working on international negotiations, their attention was focused on what I call the “seen” portion of communication and relationship.  It’s the part… Read more

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Leadership Lesson From the Middle East

Witnessing the recent events in the Middle East has provoked feelings and reactions on many levels. Since this blog focuses on leadership, we want to point out a leadership lesson that we see. (Note: Because this is a leadership blog we are NOT making any comments about the political, economic or larger social implications of what is happening. We… Read more

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Yonder Star: Dare to Dream The Impossible Dream

During a conversation with one of our CEO clients this morning, we saw more deeply into something that I’ve been puzzling about for a long time that was both helpful and a bit entertaining for him.  My puzzle has been ‘what makes it so hard for most of us to fully articulate and then share our real dreams with those around us? ‘ What… Read more

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Don’t Tread On Me! The Powerful Desire for Personal Freedom in Business

In our last post we examined several important conflicts between the traditional “command and control” management paradigm and the new, collaborative leadership thinking.  Demand for more creative freedom, self-expression, greater distribution of power, and a strong say in how things are done, (which is being driven by younger workers in… Read more

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Leadership Lessons from Volunteers

There are some highly valuable qualities that are universal with volunteers which are key for leaders to understand. If these qualities can be developed in “paid teams,” the potential for a new level of results and for a new level of satisfaction and fulfillment in work is greatly increased. I first began to wake up to the valuable lessons… Read more

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Leadership and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

What I have been seeing in the past six weeks or so among my clients is what I would call, “The Paradox of the Double Dip.” Let me explain. As you all know the economy and financial markets crashed badly. In March we saw “the low” and the economy was supposed to be on the road to recovery. Now we are seeing another down trend and the… Read more

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Is There A Common Global Language For Leadership?

Have you ever wondered whether there is any common language that exists for all humans and, if so, how knowing about that language might help you be a more effective as a leader? Well, there is and researchers have called it “deep metaphors.” In the November/December 2008 issue of Spirituality & Health magazine, Managing Editor Betsy… Read more

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Are You Available?

In a rather reflective one-to-one the other day, one of our clients said, “Your availability in a world where nobody is ever available, (mentally, emotionally and physically), is greatly appreciated.”  This comment has unleashed a whole inquiry in which I have been examining the implications for my life and work. What does it mean “to be… Read more

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The Pitfall of Self-Referencing Leadership

In the process of growing up and becoming a successful leader, you most likely put together a set of well-developed values, beliefs, experiences, and capacities. You have probably done well at suppressing your emotions and demonstrating your rational thinking. Being successful means your mix has served you well; you have been rewarded, “bonused,”… Read more

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