In this month’s column, I am turning to the issue of fake or overused consensus in decision making. Leaders, in the United States, often default to seeking consensus, seeing it as the holy grail of group decision making, believing that this is the only or a good way to ensure buy-in to the decision. There are several problems with this …
Management Matters: Microlevers™ — small moves for big workplace culture change
In this month’s column, I am turning to how to use small actions to greater, better, more joyous, more engaged work cultures. Dynamic, healthy, and appropriate organizational cultures and climates lift morale, which in turn increases effectiveness, in turn creating an even healthier culture and climate. Difficult and dysfunctional cultures and climates work in the opposite direction, dragging down results …
Management Matters: Clearing your plate for more purpose-driven work
In this month’s column, I want to pivot away from the larger identity questions that come with leading and provide you with a practical tool that many of my clients have found helpful. This tool helps manage the barrage of demands on your time, on your organization, and on your staff — demands which often come without adequate resources. This …
Towards a Four-Day Workweek: The Rise and Resistance
A systems thinking approach to assessing the adoption and scalability of a new way of working in the United States Leah Hancock March 30, 2021 Introduction “When the hours, the nature of the work done, the physical conditions under which it is done, and the method by which it is remunerated, are such as to cause great wear and …
Learn from Life’s Experiences
Values and beliefs shape how people lead. My best bosses have understood their personal values and beliefs, and then used that insight to focus their efforts and lead their teams effectively. A key tenet of Emotional Intelligence says that self-awareness is critical if a person is to manage their emotions, understand how others might react, or use interpersonal knowledge …
What Scares Leaders about Work-From-Home?
“What are you up to?! What about my team?!” Laura Freebairn-Smith, Partner at OPG Many managers have been taught that 8-5, in-office schedules are the only way to ensure accountability, productivity, and teamwork. This notion is a holdover from management ideas built on old paradigms around production lines, value of labor, hierarchy, privilege, and more. How does OPG continue to …
Make the Personal Connection in the New World of Virtual Work
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive and rapid shift to remote work and a transformational move from face-to-face to virtual leadership. As leaders continue to strive for performance and efficiency, there is a rapidly growing need for empathy and human connection in today’s digital world. Click here to read the full article by OPG Senior Associate Ross Tartell. …
5 Simple Ways to Increase Motivation in the Workforce
Motivation needs to begin and grow inside each of us individually. A truly motivated individual or team is the holy grail for many managers, and a leader who can spark motivation in individuals will find that leading is much more rewarding. Read more from Partner Tony Panos at Training Magazine here!
Use Empathy Maps to Understand Your Client
“Empathy Mapping is a powerful visualization approach that helps ensure project success by creating a clear understanding of the individual’s or group’s perspective, need, or experience.” Read more from Senior Associate Ross Tartell at Training Magazine!
Leading through Paradigm Shifts
Profound paradigm shifts are happening everywhere. Recent crises and long-simmering ones have been both devastating and brilliantly unsettling. Deeply held beliefs about what is possible and how fast change can occur have been uprooted and tossed out – creating both positive and destructive change. The extraordinarily rapid erosion of democracies around the world due to escalating propagation of disinformation is …