Articles
The Four Horsemen of Culture Collapse
It’s not a mystery: the success of any organization exists in the hands of its people, and best laid plans always fall victim to implementation.
Deliberate cultivation of culture is key. Culture is developed, in part, through routine interactions of people within the organization. Every interaction under an organization’s roof contributes to a shared norm. The way we talk to each other today will influence the way we talk to each other tomorrow. Every behavior – and the response it elicits – normalizes future behavior. It is an organic concept, one that requires regular attention.
Anti-Perfectionism for Performance Enhancement
We don’t often hear about the drawbacks of perfectionism. Instead, we celebrate obsession embodied by elite performers. That can be misleading. Stories of the obsessive work ethic shared by world class achievers like Kobe Bryant and Steve Jobs are everywhere; there are far more stories of people in pursuit of elite achievement who strain to prove their personal value through high accomplishment. Those stories end poorly. Far more often than not, perfectionism leads to decreased productivity, strained relationships, heavy anxiety, and an overall lower quality of life.
"The Best Way to Spot an Idiot"
For all JB Pritzker has done during his time as Illinois' Governor, his most viral and memetically impactful moment might be his recent commencement speech at Northwestern University. Smart and funny, with references to the sitcom The Office, Pritzger relayed a powerful message:
"The best way to spot an idiot, look for the person who is cruel. Let me explain.”
Narratives of Hope in Your SEL Toolbox
We all know the language of teachers possesses the power to inspire or injure, to heal or humiliate. Language sets the academic and emotional climate of the room. The greater awareness of the relationship between language of the teacher and positive learning outcomes, the greater chance we have of getting the climate just right. So, we have to ask ourselves: “Does my language optimize learning, achievement, relationships and emotional intelligence?”
Hidden Impact: The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace
Katherine Johnson saving the day highlights the impact of recruiting diverse perspectives. Companies in the “top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity in management were 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean”.
4 Keys for the ADHD Leader
Visionary leaders have a few things in common. They see fast and far, they are creative and ambitious, they approach problems from angles that their peers might fail to see. These buoyant, entrepreneurial spirits have another thing in common: a lot of them have ADHD (often undiagnosed).
Deconstructing Cultures of Constant Availability
Technology has enabled us to work remotely and remain connected 24/7. That doesn’t mean we should.In cultures of constant availability, an employee’s alert system is always ‘on’. Pings and chimes and little red bubbles in the corner of an app were created to snag one’s attention... in the modern workplace, this exploitation is nearly constant.
Understanding Anger: 'Parts Work' in Executive Coaching
As Dr. Schwartz puts it, “there are no bad parts, only burdened ones frozen in the past that need to be unburdened rather than punished,” (Schwartz, 64). Often, punishing the parts of you who are responsible for less-than-ideal behaviors will burden them further – a degrading cycle that an alarming amount of people find themselves caught in. Instead, heal them, change them, let them evolve.
Are You a Credible Messenger?: 4 Keys to Successful Professional Development
Professional Development is essential. But it's not all created equal... Check out 4 keys to effective professional development from 3 members of the SEL Summer Institute.
The Mad Scientist: Gabor Maté’s 3 Keys to Leadership
Forgiveness should be one of the biggest beakers in your lab. Things go wrong. Humans are infinitely complex and (depending on your perspective) flawed. “I’ve made every mistake in every book I’ve ever written” admits Maté. We should all work on patience, humility, and forgiveness.
Business Lessons from NFL QBs
By David Gardy Ermann // The default assumption in professional football is that the starting quarterback is more than just the best passer on the field; he is expected to be the team leader. I previously wrote an article (available here) on three psychological principles that underlie the success of NFL starting quarterbacks: self-efficacy, preparation, and patience. Starting quarterbacks serve a role on their teams much the same as business leaders do their companies. To that end, business leaders would significantly benefit by incorporating the practices that are founded upon these three psychological principles.
Top 3 Misconceptions About DEI Work (and why you should be doing it)
By Maurice McDavid and James Davis / Why isn’t your company doing effective DEI work? There are clearly hurdles. Some people more receptive than others. And to be fair, consultants approach this work in different ways. We take a thoughtful approach. After countless culture and leadership development engagements, here are the top three misconceptions about DEI that we have encountered.
The Value of a Coach
by Maurice McDavid; Tom Brady has won 7 Super Bowls, gone to 15 Pro Bowls, and been the league's MVP 3 times. He has a coach. In fact, he has about six of them.We could all benefit from coaching. For the professional athlete, it might be a skills coach, or a sports psychologist. For the executive, manager or department head it comes in the form of an executive coach. These are the people that drive performance in others.
Toss the Trophies
Wait. Don’t toss the trophy… The title is a misnomer. Trophies are awesome. Goals are essential and when they are accomplished, they should be celebrated. In sports, it comes in the form of a trophy or a ring, in business it might be a bonus or promotion. Celebrate the milestones, you’ve earned it. When the celebration is over, take time to frame the experience. That is, tell the story of what just happened. Work to understand the process that led to the outcome. Celebrate the process.
Does Exercise Increase Productivity?
We delude ourselves into thinking that there is no time for a walk, taking a longer lunch in search of healthier food and a good laugh with a colleague. Making time for certain activities can replenish, invigorate, decrease stress and increase bandwidth. Is exercise one of those activities??
Concept Over Script: Commander's Intent
Concept comes first. What are you hoping to accomplish? Directions to bring that concept to life should follow, accompanied by all the skills the mission might require. Healthy, effective leadership prioritizes concept over script. It is an idea that extends beyond business.
Understanding Stress
“I’m overloaded”; “I’m underwater”; “I’m struggling here man” – those are three direct quotes from three different people currently sitting in my email inbox. Real, high-quality leaders, feeling overwhelmed.
Leaders are looking for “less stress” in their lives. Makes sense. Stress can be painful, frustrating, and make even small tasks feel more difficult.
But what is stress, exactly? Is there a difference between good stress and bad stress? Can we learn to thrive in the presence of potential stress and grow from those experiences?
