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””
Category Archives: Meetings
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”
The Big Role of Small Talk
How is your day going? Are you following all the news about the fires in Los Angeles? Awful, right? How about where you are – How’s the weather? And how’s your family? You’ve probably heard (or asked) some version of these questions in the last week – either at the beginning of a meeting, orContinue reading “The Big Role of Small Talk”
100 Ice-Breaker Questions for Any Group Gathering
Each week in our newsletter we include one question you can use as an ice-breaker for conversations with colleagues at the beginning of meetings, or to post on your internal workplace messaging platform. Some serious, some silly, but all with the intention of leading to further conversations and building community. With so many of usContinue reading “100 Ice-Breaker Questions for Any Group Gathering”
Applying the 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. So this week, as we approach the holiday, we’ll partake in our own annual tradition of revisiting the ideas of Banquet Leadership, Potluck Leadership, andContinue reading “Applying the Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership”
Building Bridges through Serious Play
Last Wednesday morning – about 90 minutes after the Presidential election results were announced – two colleagues and I opened an in-person two-day corporate retreat for 48 senior leaders from around the country and elsewhere in the world. If you read the last few Building Bridges Leadership articles, you won’t be surprised to know thatContinue reading “Building Bridges through Serious Play”
“It’s All in the Debrief”
What comes to mind when you hear the word “debrief”? If you watch spy movies, it might be James Bond passing by Miss Moneypenny on the way to let M know what transpired on his latest mission. In your work environment, it may look more like a closed-door meeting following the end of a projectContinue reading ““It’s All in the Debrief””
Planning for the Day After Election Day
At the time of writing, it’s just over a month until Election Day here in the US. Wherever you are in the world, I wonder how you feel when you think about that. Apprehensive? Hopeful? Determined? A lot of work goes into Election Day – from poll workers to candidates, from the town level toContinue reading “Planning for the Day After Election Day”
Counteracting Unreliable Work Memories
Your memory is unreliable. Shocker, I know. Life is full, and increasingly full of sensory overwhelm, so it’s not surprising at all that we sometimes forget things – details, things we needed to do, or something somebody told us. Our brains can’t retain every piece of information, and we need to constantly filter out piecesContinue reading “Counteracting Unreliable Work Memories”
Building Bridges Leadership 