Have you ever served on a jury? If so, what was your experience like? I’ve been called five times in all. In the first few days of 2025, I was called to serve on a grand jury. For a number of reasons I was released from serving, and I was grateful – In Massachusetts, aContinue reading “A Surprising – or Obvious? – Verdict About Juries”
Category Archives: Leadership
The Sound of Silence: The Value of a Simple Pause
“And in the naked light I saw / Ten thousand people, maybe more / People talking without speaking / People hearing without listening / People writing songs that voices never share / No one dared disturb the sound of silence” – The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon In turbulentContinue reading “The Sound of Silence: The Value of a Simple Pause”
When You’re Stuck with Curmudgeons and Critics
Bring to mind a time when you were on a team or in a meeting with one or two people who – either literally or metaphorically – sat there with arms crossed, only speaking up to criticize the work of others. Perhaps you can recall many experiences like this. If so, I wonder how youContinue reading “When You’re Stuck with Curmudgeons and Critics”
Five Years On: Honoring Covid “Anniversary Reactions”
Have you found yourself reflecting on “five years ago…” this week? I have been part of several conversations about this, and overheard others. Coronavirus cases first appeared around the world in late 2019. For many readers in the Western world, however, the most direct impacts began in March 2020 – with lockdowns and other sweepingContinue reading “Five Years On: Honoring Covid “Anniversary Reactions””
What is Ethical Fading?
Ethical fading is the social phenomenon in which people or organizations gradually lose sight of – or subconsciously self-deceive themselves out of seeing – their inherent moral framework, and take actions increasingly inconsistent with their values. Over the course of your career, how many times have you found yourself uncomfortable with the way your employersContinue reading “What is Ethical Fading?”
“What Did You Do Last Week?”
What would you do if you received an email like those in the American federal government received a few days ago, asking for an account of your work accomplishments over the past week, accompanied separately by the threat of losing your job if you don’t respond? Needless to say, I hope this is a situationContinue reading ““What Did You Do Last Week?””
Which Squirrel Are You Today? Sharpening Your Axe with SEL
Which squirrel are you today? If that question means nothing to you, you probably haven’t seen the “squirrel scale” – a fun check-in tool used by some schools initially during the remote learning era of Covid. I was reminded of this tool recently while working with a group of middle and high school teachers, duringContinue reading “Which Squirrel Are You Today? Sharpening Your Axe with SEL”
Using the Principle of “Two, Not Three”
How do you find grocery shopping? Is it something you enjoy, or just a necessity? When faced with needing to buy something new, do you like having several options, or do you find that overwhelming? For me, I prefer to shop in a store with fewer options – maybe one or two of each typeContinue reading “Using the Principle of “Two, Not Three””
The Necessity of Community… But Not Forced Community
How have you experienced community recently? I’ve seen it play out in several amazingly supportive ways, as well as one instance of it being wielded as more of a threat. I hope your experience has been more the former than the latter. Last week, I co-facilitated a team building program for a group of 30Continue reading “The Necessity of Community… But Not Forced Community”
The Pendulum, and Listening for Agreement in Others
How has the last week been for you? If you have felt unsettled by a changing political landscape here in the US (let alone earthquakes, or wildfires, or snow in places that rarely see any), you’re not the only one. And while people can reasonably disagree on a great many topics, it’s likely that ifContinue reading “The Pendulum, and Listening for Agreement in Others”
Building Bridges Leadership 