You know those meetings that begin with the meeting leader rattling off a list of norms they want people to agree to without much discussion, which no one ends up following? Sure you do, and so do I, because I have facilitated some of those meetings. That is, until I realized that people weren’t buying […]
“Every Voice Matters” (And Other Questionable Norms) Read More »
You’ve been looking forward to this conversation with your colleagues to share ideas about a topic of great mutual interest. Naturally, you’re expecting a little give and take. Instead, someone hijacks the conversation, clearly in love with the sound of their own voice to the exclusion of all others. By the end of the “conversation,”
Reclaiming Your Time: Tips for Handling a Conversation Hogger Read More »
Some people never learn. Or maybe they just forget everything they’ve learned soon after they’ve learned it. Or maybe they just don’t have an opportunity to practice new skills. Or it could be they have no encouragement, support or resources when it comes to applying these skills in real-life situations. Maybe it’s all of these
To Change Behavior, Talk to the Elephant Read More »
People lurch toward the door as another pointless planning meeting finally, mercifully, comes to an end. The meeting leader calls out: “Wait! Before everyone leaves, let’s recap what we’ve decided.” The room goes quiet as people shrug, looking to each other in confusion. One person from the back of the room shouts out what everyone
Smart People Alone Can’t Fix a Broken Process Read More »
It’s bad enough to be on a team whose members constantly struggle when it comes to making tough decisions and handling disagreements. But imagine if you were legally prohibited from addressing these and other communications issues as a team? That’s the case with a local five-person municipal governing board I recently worked with. The only
Why Most Team Norms Don’t Change Behavior Read More »
I just returned from Norway and Iceland, two destinations I’ve always dreamt about. Apart from stunning scenery, warm and generous people, a deep regard for our planet and the sky-high prices and lower temperatures, I noticed something else: People seem genuinely happy, healthy, energetic and vibrant. And this sense of apparent well-being cut across all
Everything is “Totally Fine,” Yet Something Feels Very Off Read More »
Picture this: You’ve just wrapped a Zoom meeting with team members across four time zones where everyone has agreed to the team’s operating norms, judging from the head nods. Or so you think. Three weeks in, you notice that team members are back to their usual behavior, ignoring the norms you’d assumed everyone had agreed with.
When Silence Isn’t Agreement: What Your Global Team Isn’t Telling You Read More »
The five-member executive leadership team had come prepared to this meeting to make their case to the CEO and board chair as to where the company should invest in AI over the next 6 -18 months. Each one had turned to their own favorite AI tool to generate what they believed would make an irrefutable
What Happens When We Outsource Our Judgment? Read More »
Jane, a marketing manager for a fast-growing software engineering firm, estimates that she saves about 8-10 hours a week synthesizing and summarizing survey data, thanks to her AI assistant. The results almost always have to be tweaked, she admits, and sometimes they’ve been all wrong, requiring rework. But still, she’s pretty happy with her newfound
Nobody Saw It Coming: Why Everyone’s More Stressed Since They Got AI Read More »
Ready or not, more big changes are coming for the workplace in 2026. How will managers respond? Of course, we can choose not to respond, for now. We can ignore the changes or pretend they don’t apply to us. Or we can simply hope that things go back to how they always were. But if
The End of the World (of Work) As We Know It: Are You Ready? Read More »
Dozens of leaders were flown in from around the world to converge in a beautifully appointed conference center to take part in the organization’s annual planning session. No expenses were spared on food, amenities and the high-priced management consulting firm called in to design and facilitate the two-day workshop. Participants spent the first day exploring
Strategic Planning: Moving From All Talk to Decisive Action Read More »
Becky, a long-time friend, was frustrated by a heated conversation with a relative about the state of our nation’s economy. She declared that she’s “done” with him. For good. “We’ll never change each other’s minds, so why bother?” Steve, a colleague of mine, vented his anger about a prospective client who ghosted him after he
So why should you bother??? Read More »
“If I eat a watermelon seed, will it grow inside my tummy?” “What makes the leaves change colors?” “If I grow tall enough, can I touch the stars?” Let’s hear it for the curious minds of young kids, who invite us into their magical view of the world with their thought-provoking questions. That is, until
Leading with Questions, Not Answers Read More »
Here’s how one leader’s attempt to set boundaries for her team backfired. Carol was prone to sending emails to her team members whenever an idea popped into her head, but she didn’t want her staff to think they had to do the same, so she sent this email to her team. She even added a
When Boundary-Setting Backfires Bigtime Read More »
The return-to-office debate has worn thin. People on one side or the other will find data that supports their perspectives and refutes others. These arguments might drag on for another few years, leaving some companies feeling vindicated they made the right decision, while others will regret the choices they made, or didn’t make. I’ve been
With the Right Leadership Skills, Work Location May Be a Moot Point Read More »
“I’d rather meet with my team member than meet a deadline.” That’s what the senior leader of a Boston-based consulting firm told me when I asked her how she manages to deal with so many competing priorities on any given day. Not all managers can easily make that choice, given the headwinds they’re constantly facing.
Managers Aren’t Obsolete – They’re Underestimated Read More »
In his biting satire A Modest Proposal, author Jonathan Swift suggested that poor people in Ireland could ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food to the elite. His satirical hyperbole was meant to mock hostile attitudes towards the poor at the time. Not all were amused by his shocking essay back in 1729, least of all the upper class. In response
Unfair Workplace? Time to Flip the Script Read More »
Grace was so over remote work. Sure, her former commute was a pain, but she missed the laughs, the lunches, the light interruptions that made her feel part of something. Post-pandemic isolation left her craving connection and a real sense of community. So when she landed a role at a hybrid company promising a “vibrant
When “Together” Feels Lonely: Rethinking Community at Work Read More »
Jane, the Executive Director of a national pediatric cancer research nonprofit, had been losing sleep for weeks over looming funding cuts. She clung to hope that the rumors were wrong and that her team could continue its groundbreaking work, saving thousands of lives. Then, in the middle of a national clinical trial, the unthinkable happened.
Bridging the Divide: Building Win-Win Solutions in Tough Times Read More »
Despite historically proclaiming “unwavering support” for the LGBTQ community, companies are scrubbing all references to DEI, transgender, women, equity and inclusion from their websites. Despite lavishing praise in performance reviews, organizations are unceremoniously terminating employees for “poor performance.” Despite touting how much they respect their employees, employers are forcing employees back to the office full
When Values and Behaviors Collide, Time for a Culture Reset Read More »
“Whoa! What the %^&$ is happening here? Let’s knock it off right now!” Clearly, this is not the best way to call a time out when a meeting spirals out of control, especially when higher-ups are around the table. But remaining silent won’t stop a dysfunctional meeting in its tracks, either. Whether you’re the meeting
Tips for Naming the Elephant in the Room, Safely Read More »
Just because someone has strong principles, they may not have scruples. And someone with scruples may not have principles. It happens more often than you think. Case in point: Marta is a senior ops manager for a Fortune 50 conglomerate. She believes the key to profitability is an unwavering focus on efficiency and shows no
What’s Worse: Principles Without Scruples, or Scruples Without Principles? Read More »
Have you ever been a passenger on a plane that’s sitting on the tarmac, impatiently waiting to join the line of planes ready for take-off, when the pilot announces you have to return to the gate so your plane can be de-iced? On one hand, you’re grateful the pilot is taking precautions to ensure a
Converting the Best Intentions to Meaningful Actions Read More »
We all know leaders who run away when it comes to handling conflicting viewpoints across their teams. When the stakes are high and the conflict is intense, they can’t get away fast enough. When there’s no escaping, they attempt to circumvent needed discussions with platitudes like these: Can’t we just agree to disagree? (Um, no.
Facilitating Safe Conversations When Viewpoints Collide Read More »
Competing return to office (RTO) policies have been making the headlines. Amazon’s CEO has notified employees that as of January 5, it’s everyone back to the office for everyone every day. Meanwhile, across town, Starbucks’ new CEO just alerted employees that they needn’t come into the office more than three days a week. 79% of
Should They Stay (Remote) or Should They Go (Back to the Office)? Read More »
If senior leaders decide that a change must be made, how important is it, really, that employees buy into it? If it’s mandatory, why pretend that employees have a say in it? If the change is truly urgent, why slow things down to gain consensus? If it’s a done deal, why bother offering a rationale? Leading successful change
Costly Missteps that Destroy Trust During Times of Change Read More »
We were halfway through a two-day project kick-off meeting for a global IT team about to roll out a new mail and messaging system for the company’s 100K+ employees around the world. The execution had to be flawless. The pressure on this team was intense. Huddled around the conference room table were a dozen
Confronting Dysfunctional Behavior Without Completely Losing It Read More »
True story: Ted, a mid-level HR professional for a fast-growing biopharma in my area, assumed the worst when he was ushered into a conference room, the door closing softly behind him. “I’m being laid off, aren’t I?” he asked as he scanned at the grim faces around the table. “No Ted, you’re not. But dozens of people
Tips for Earning Trust During Times of Change Read More »
Great teamwork wasn’t all that easy to come by even when everyone worked together in one place. When the pandemic hit, with people scattering to work from wherever, it took a while for teams to regain their stride, and some never really did. Some teams grew closer as they commiserated from the relative safety and
You call that a team??? Read More »
The dust had finally settled on the company’s latest Return to Office policy. Although it took a lot of cajoling, after a six-month grace period, most employees were back in the office the mandated three days a week. People seemed mostly happy being back together in the same place, making meaningful connections with those they’d
Tips for Conquering the Whiplash of Change Read More »
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