Some people just naturally wear a smile. For the most part, I’m one of those. Even in high school, other students would comment on my smile. I don’t think I was really aware of smiling. I certainly did not understand the impact of seeing the world through the lens [...]
Facing change efforts—large or small—can be overwhelming. Individuals, companies, schools—we all need a little inspiration and encouragement to press on. Here are a few thoughts to consider if you are leading a change effort. How to be present . . . Tiffany Delmore suggests actions leaders should take on [...]
Every one of us interacts with and works within processes each day. Processes develop by design or by default. An organization is only as good as its processes. Geary A. Rummler and Alan P. Brache Many times, our processes work because of sheer luck—without any clear intent other than [...]
"I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then." Alice in Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) Holding on to the way things are or have always been just feeds the status quo. Striving for better inherently implies that something must change. We struggle to dislocate [...]
Gratitude. The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Perhaps, the more important remembrance in the world we face today is that we are all part of one humanity. How willing are we to be thankful? How often do we make the effort to [...]
We often forget about the role of leadership teams in building culture. Organizations, even small ones, rarely have only one leader. The CEO, president, chancellor, superintendent depend on a team of leaders to facilitate and guide people in the organization. The Role of Leadership Teams Leadership teams have a [...]
Everyone is a leader. You can start leading today. No matter where you sit in the organization, you have an influence on others. Some of us are leaders because we hold the top position in the organization. Others are leaders because they have the capacity to draw people to [...]
My view of leaders and leadership has evolved over time. I have soaked in the philosophies and perspectives of many people. They include but are certainly not limited to Peter Drucker, W. Edwards Deming, John Maxwell, Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, Stephen Covey, Jon Kotter, Jim Collins, Dr. Seuss. And, [...]
What should you do first? Reflect on what you need/want to do? Or should you just begin and see how things work out? I’ve always believed we do not learn from our experiences. The actual learning comes from reflecting on those experiences. Insight . . . So, when Chip [...]
What if? What if we built workplaces, one process at a time, that allowed us to do many excellent things? How could instilling respect and kindness make a difference in what we do each day? I often try to imagine that workplace. Fortunately, I have worked in some of those [...]
