Team leaders want people to speak up in meetings; you want them to voice their concerns and share important data that could affect team decisions. Team members need to feel comfortable, and safe, in order to speak up. That means that they won’t fear recrimination, or other people shutting them down or belittling their concern. ... Continue Reading →
Don’t overlook the human side of change. “What people resist is loss, not change”. Prof. Marty Linsky and Prof. Ron Heifetz, authors of “the Practice of Adaptive Leadership” Photo credit: explorehr.org Listen to this organizational change scenario that I recently heard from an executive director. See if you recognize anything familiar in this: We’re trying... Continue Reading →
Imagine a group of stakeholders, talking about risk assessment of environmental spill sites, all with their own interests: oil and chemical companies (don't want to saddle the expense), federal and state government (protecting the environment, an the interests of the public), environmental consultants (assessment and clean up are the core of their revenue). Lots of... Continue Reading →
What messages about money did you learn from your parents? Imagine the importance of this question if you're a financial planner working with clients who have problems with over-spending. I was delighted to facilitate a workshop on practice management for the Mass. chapter of the NAPFA (National Association of Personal Finance Advisors), on the topic... Continue Reading →
What a moving display of bravery, determination and vision from the Parkland students and the young people who organized "March for our Lives" across the country to protest gun control. Their messages were future-thinking and visionary, calling for: an end to gun control, protection for students, letting teachers teach and not carry guns, and preserving... Continue Reading →
In recent conversations, I’ve been hearing that the function of HR Business Partners has been changing, and often expanding to include more strategic consulting, and even coaching. In a recent HRLF (HR Leadership Forum) meeting, I facilitated a conversation on this with several HR BPs and a few HR directors and HR consultants. I asked:... Continue Reading →
It was so much fun to host a Facebook Live talk show on April 2 on “What makes for an effective change agent,” with my colleagues Rob Greenly and Greg Collins. The technology is great, and the conversation was even better. Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/100004519807471/videos/977511429076175 See if your top characteristics show up in our list below: Building... Continue Reading →
As team leader or manager, your job is to facilitate participatory meetings that draw on the knowledge of team members to help the team make better decisions. What is your "Facilitation IQ"? TAKE THE QUIZ!
We've all been in meetings that drag on, without clear purpose or outcomes. As leader or facilitator, you're responsible for making sure everyone's time is well-spent, and that you're successfully solving problems, while also improving the team's ability to work well together. Meetings are most productive: when there's a clear agenda when the desired outcomes... Continue Reading →
