Have you ever felt judged by others (at work or elsewhere) because of beliefs you hold, or actions you choose to take, or because of an aspect of your identity? Have you ever heard yourself be lumped in with a group that’s being discussed, without anyone else in the conversation knowing you’re part of thatContinue reading “People Aren’t Debatable”
Category Archives: Perspectives
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 we’ll partake in our annual tradition of revisiting the ideas of Banquet Leadership, Potluck Leadership, and the hybrid model we call ThanksgivingContinue reading “Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership”
Honoring Years of Service while Seeking Fresh Perspectives
Think back to when you started working for your current employer, even if it was in a different role than you currently hold. How long did it take for you to go from feeling like the newbie to feeling like you belong? How long were you aware of your time in the organization (“I startedContinue reading “Honoring Years of Service while Seeking Fresh Perspectives”
Finding a Thought Partner for New Perspectives
In your line of work, how often do you work in partnership with someone else? Do you have a regular partner, or partnership team? When was the last time you partnered with someone new on a project or initiative? If it’s been a long time, is that by choice? In my work as a facilitator, partnership onContinue reading “Finding a Thought Partner for New Perspectives”
Talk to the Duck
When you’re facing a problem that you think you should be able to solve, but you can’t see what you’re missing… what do you do? For many of us, frustration just builds and builds – and, while you may not need scientific studies to back up what might seem obvious, “frustration is often negatively associatedContinue reading “Talk to the Duck”
Solving for Now or Solving for the Future?
When was the last time someone shared a frustration with you? How did you respond? Were they looking for help/advice, or did they just want to be heard? Sometimes it can be hard to know without asking. Working with groups on practicing difficult conversations, many facilitators start with the skill of acknowledgement. Acknowledgement focuses onContinue reading “Solving for Now or Solving for the Future?”
Avoiding Selective Moral Outrage
I showed up to register for my first set of classes at Harvard Graduate School of Education on the morning of September 11, 2001. The World Trade Center attacks played over and over on the small TV screens in Gutman Library with large crowds gathered around, but we all registered for classes without acknowledging whatContinue reading “Avoiding Selective Moral Outrage”
Three Tips to Avoid Othering in a Divisive Environment
My kids and I have always enjoyed reading super hero comic books. The idea I’ve always bristled against, though – even in the context of fictional or real-life war stories – is the idea of a “bad guy.” In well-developed fictional worlds, knowing a villain’s own story from their perspective can change how you thinkContinue reading “Three Tips to Avoid Othering in a Divisive Environment”
How a Digital Detox Could Benefit You
Every Sunday morning, my phone vibrates and pops up a notification to show me how much “screen time” I’ve spent on my phone over the past week. Every week I think with some dismay, “that can’t be right.” But then when I think about how much time I’ve also spent in front of a laptopContinue reading “How a Digital Detox Could Benefit You”
When to Sub in Your Rising Stars?
If you didn’t follow the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, you missed out on some great games. But you may have also missed out on some leadership decisions that you might find useful to reflect on in your own workplace. In particular, mid-game decisions about when and how to replace tried and tested players withContinue reading “When to Sub in Your Rising Stars?”
