My oldest child moved in to his college dorm room this week for his freshman year – a huge step for him, and a big change for our family. Even if you haven’t experienced that change as a parent of your own child, you may have memories of your own first day of living inContinue reading “The Times They Are A-Changin’”
Category Archives: Community
The Untapped Potential of Commuting by Public Transport
“You’ve tried unplugging everything and plugging it back in, right?” the perplexed guy sitting across the table from me on the high-speed train asked into his earbuds. “I mean, it all worked when I left the studio half an hour ago.” Lots of pauses, and putting his hands to his frustrated face. “I know –Continue reading “The Untapped Potential of Commuting by Public Transport”
Translation, Reliance, and Gratitude
Image adapted from Jackson Simmer / Unsplash. Recently I had the privilege of co-leading a day-long program for immigrant families from Central and South America. The program was designed as a day of respite and fun during turbulent times, with team building and collaborative problem solving as key focus points, and a 40-foot rock climbingContinue reading “Translation, Reliance, and Gratitude”
“I Wonder…”
Photo credit: Brad Switzer / Unsplash How often have you been involved in a conversation where someone (perhaps you) moves quickly to problem-solving, and in doing so, they treat the presenting symptoms of the situation while missing the underlying cause of the problem? You might even find that in many cases you’re rewarded for comingContinue reading ““I Wonder…””
Stop, Collaborate and Listen
In recognition of the July 4th holiday here in the US, Building Bridges Leadership is taking a few days off, but you may want to read our now-traditional early-July article, How Is Your Team Like a Fireworks Display?, or alternatively revisit the post below, originally posted in early July, 2020, with slight updates below. Re-readingContinue reading “Stop, Collaborate and Listen”
Noticing the Global Intersections of Gatherings
Map of global flight paths by Brandon Jackson (no relation). Last week I attended a friend’s 50th birthday party – a beautiful gathering that was as much a celebration of community and of all the guests as it was a celebration of the friend whose birthday it was. With pizza, ice cream tacos, and aContinue reading “Noticing the Global Intersections of Gatherings”
Leading People in a Time of Distraction
Photo credit: Mike Stewart/AP How often are you taking part in (or leading) a meeting but finding it hard to concentrate because of something happening in the wider world? How often have you noticed someone else in the meeting suddenly disappear – mentally, if not physically? With news feeling like drinking from a firehose theseContinue reading “Leading People in a Time of Distraction”
Is a Banquet with 54 Speeches a Good Fit for Your Team?
Imagine attending a banquet, and learning when you arrive that there would be 54 speeches throughout the evening. Not three, not five… 54. How do you think you might feel at the end of the evening? Invigorated? Inspired? Uplifted? Surely not. But surprisingly, that was my exact experience last week. Our oldest child graduated highContinue reading “Is a Banquet with 54 Speeches a Good Fit for Your Team?”
“Coopertition”: What it Means & How You Can Use It
Coopertition, or co-opertition – often spelled “coopetition,” or “co-opetition” – is a term describing cooperative competition. How can that be helpful in the workplace?
Allowing the Right to Repair within Teams
Are you familiar with the “Right to Repair” movement? “They don’t make things like they used to” is an oft-repeated phrase, and there’s truth to it – with cheaper materials, planned obsolescence, and the proprietary nature of information and parts, it can sometimes seem impossible to fix something that’s broken. It can seem like theContinue reading “Allowing the Right to Repair within Teams”