Removing Barriers to Collaboration
It’s inspiring to see the free exchange of ideas among employees; no idea is put down, and no one feels intimidated. It takes years to create and sustain this type of organizational environment. This is the burden of leadership, to help sustain the creative and innovative organizational environment. Creativity is a key part of a [...]
I was giving a seminar on coaching and communication skills when the subject of emotional expression as a professional came up. This group of women who work with parents of children with special needs, are often touched emotionally by their client’s stories. They questioned the appropriateness of expressing their feelings in the work setting. I [...]
Before we discuss the illegitimate reasons people meet, let’s start with a quick review of useful reasons to meet. To manage(one-way communication…the leader seeks action) To build and inspire action and commitment. To gain support for an idea or project. To enhance internal alignment(build team spirit…who) Team Building—to create identity, collaborative spirit, and clarify responsibilities [...]
Perhaps the shortest correspondence in history occurred in 1862 when author Victor Hugo left on vacation after submitting his manuscript Les Miserables to his publisher. After some time away and wondering how his book was doing, he sent the following letter to his publisher: “?” His publisher replied in kind with: “!” The context I [...]
We hear a lot today about the importance of innovation in our enterprises. We’re called to distinguish ourselves from the background noise of the status quo. Once the majority catch on to the current trend and begin to replicate it, change is required once again. This is the process of evolution at work in the [...]
I enjoy airplane metaphors, perhaps because I’m a private pilot and fly them occasionally. While reflecting the other day on what I believe to be core acts of facilitation, a series of airplane metaphors came to me. One thing I most value about metaphors is that once they are felt and understood they tend to [...]
The current Presidential election is doing it’s best to capitalize on potential differences between the candidates, even where they don’t exist. There are so many issues upon which people take strong positions believing they are right and others are wrong. How important is it to hold on to positions and beliefs that disconnect us? And [...]
You can’t manage knowledge workers. ~Peter Drucker As Peter Drucker’s quote implies, managing knowledge workers only holds them back. As we move deeper into the information age, it’s likely that many of those whom you facilitate, train, and lead will be knowledge workers to some degree. There has to be a more empowering way to [...]
As a trainer and facilitator, and someone who often trains trainers and facilitators, I often ask myself this question, What constitutes success in a group? Whether the group is seeking to learn something new, or to carry out a plan of action in response to a problem or opportunity, success usually equates to participants getting [...]
The deeper we delve into any subject, the more complex and intricate it can become. I think it’s common to think that to become an advanced practitioner of facilitation, or any art for that matter, requires a move in the direction of increasing complexity. While a deeper and/or broader scope of knowledge and experience is [...]
Recent Comments