Are you familiar with the term “kaizen”? We’ve mentioned it on this blog a few times over the years and it comes up in my work with clients on an almost daily basis. It’s a Japanese word (in which it is written “改善”), with a literal translation of “good change,” or “change for better,” butContinue reading “Kaizen and the Art of Talk Show Maintenance”
Category Archives: Creativity
Finding the Door Through Which an Idea Will Pass
Last month, Harry Belafonte died at the age of 96. An EGOT-winning actor and singer of blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards (and singer on the first ever million-selling album), he was also a humanitarian and political activist throughout his life. He was also a close confidant of Martin Luther King, Jr. duringContinue reading “Finding the Door Through Which an Idea Will Pass”
How to Give Feedback without Triggering the Fight or Flight Response
If you’re a parent, bring to mind the characteristics you see in your children that come from you – physical/character traits, or phrases they’ve learned up from hearing you say them over the course of years. Needless to say, your child is their own person; they are not you, but they are an expression ofContinue reading “How to Give Feedback without Triggering the Fight or Flight Response”
Revisiting the Idea of Being a “Student of…” (Not an “Expert in…”)
The idea of being a lifelong learner in your field – a “student of…” rather than an “expert in…” – has come up in a variety of contexts recently, so this seemed like a good time to revisit this article, originally posted in 2021. Have you ever started a conversation with a friend or familyContinue reading “Revisiting the Idea of Being a “Student of…” (Not an “Expert in…”)”
Anchor Songs: How Music Builds Team Memories
Each of us has certain songs that, when you hear them, instantly bring back a particular memory in profound ways, as if transporting you back in time. Even if you heard that same song dozens of times before that key memory, that’s the moment it will forever be associated with for you. When I hearContinue reading “Anchor Songs: How Music Builds Team Memories”
Is a Four-Day Work Week in Your Future?
Have you noticed the change in TV culture over the last two decades? At least here in the US, there has been a seismic shift from 22-episode a year network dramas (created for syndication and reruns) to 6-8 episode ‘prestige’ dramas (created for streaming). Suddenly it’s a lot easier to catch up on a showContinue reading “Is a Four-Day Work Week in Your Future?”
How Going “Goblin Mode” Can Be a Good Thing!
Goblins might seem better suited for Halloween than Hannukah or Christmas, but Oxford Dictionaries announced this week that “goblin mode” has been selected by an online vote as its word (or phrase) of the year, receiving over 300,000 votes – more than 93% of the total. “Goblin mode,” in case you’re not familiar with theContinue reading “How Going “Goblin Mode” Can Be a Good Thing!”
Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership
While the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US has a controversial history and our cultural retelling of it is inaccurate, the traditional Thanksgiving meal can help us reflect on how we lead others. This week seems an appropriate time to revisit the ideas of Banquet Leadership, Potluck Leadership, and the hybrid model we call Thanksgiving Leadership. If you’veContinue reading “Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership”
Reclaiming Rest: Are You a Victim of the Industrial Revolution?
In 1910, President William Howard Taft proposed that every American worker should receive two to three months of vacation time each year “in order to continue [their] work next year with the energy and effectiveness that it ought to have.” Sounds wonderful, right? Of course, captains of industry – and U.S. legislators – disagreed, andContinue reading “Reclaiming Rest: Are You a Victim of the Industrial Revolution?”
Listening During Liminality and Times of Transition
The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lengthy period of change and uncertainty – a seemingly endless time of forced flexibility. It brought the idea of liminality to our culture more so than at any other point in decades, as we all waited for a time when we would be able to see friends, or travel, getContinue reading “Listening During Liminality and Times of Transition”
Building Bridges Leadership 