How often are you 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. “Breaking news” pop-ups have become commonplace as the business of news seeks our attention, andContinue reading “Team Meetings In A Time Of Distraction”
Category Archives: Privilege
The Social Identity Wheel
How do you describe yourself? What parts of your identity do you choose to include, and which do you miss out? More than likely, your answer depends on the context – you may answer differently on a dating app than in a job interview, both of which are very different from how you think aboutContinue reading “The Social Identity Wheel”
What Does “Thanksgiving Leadership” Look Like?
If you’ve been reading Building Bridges Leadership emails for a while, you may be familiar with our distinction between Banquet and Potluck models of leadership. In short, Banquet Leadership takes the form of top-down direction; a clear path to follow, wherein your team follows through on assigned tasks. This is efficient and effective in getting things done. Potluck Leadership takes the form ofContinue reading “What Does “Thanksgiving Leadership” Look Like?”
Outsmarting Our Own Human Biases
A new UK study suggests that working from home could lead to an increase in racism and other forms of prejudice. The study suggests that these workplace friendships are a key to breaking down misconceptions in our thinking, and building our own understanding of community. Siloed and isolated as many of us are in our home workspaces, weContinue reading “Outsmarting Our Own Human Biases”
The Power Of Open-Ended Questions
Bring to mind a recent conversation – in the workplace or elsewhere – that didn’t go as well as you would have liked; that left you, or others, feeling misunderstood, undervalued, or unacknowledged. What kinds of questions (if any!) did you and your conversation partners use? Now bring to mind a conversation that went well;Continue reading “The Power Of Open-Ended Questions”
RBG And Turning A Trail To A Highway
“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday brought with it instant questions and analysis about what her death means in this American moment, and all the possibilities ofContinue reading “RBG And Turning A Trail To A Highway”
Lessons from the Life of John Lewis
Two years ago, I was fortunate to be working at Harvard’s 367th Commencement ceremony, at which John Lewis received an honorary doctorate. In his speech, he encouraged everyone in attendance to make “necessary trouble” and stand up for justice, “even when injustice wears a uniform.” Mr. Lewis’s death last Friday has caused me – along with manyContinue reading “Lessons from the Life of John Lewis”
Poison Ivy And Privilege
In New England, where I live now, poison ivy is commonplace. But in the UK, where I grew up, there is none. So unlike many New Englanders, I didn’t grow up with regular exposure to poison ivy; nor did I grow up looking out for it, or being able to identify it with a “leavesContinue reading “Poison Ivy And Privilege”
Engage: How the George Floyd Protests Connect with Your Workplace
This past weekend brought protests across the United States and elsewhere in the world, following George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis and the systemic racism and white supremacy that his death symbolized – just the latest in a long line of countless examples. While in some locations the police stood in solidarity with theContinue reading “Engage: How the George Floyd Protests Connect with Your Workplace”
Seek Out A Different Perspective
“I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked, and mine might not be.” You may have seen a version of this quote floating around on social media over the last several weeks.Continue reading “Seek Out A Different Perspective”
Building Bridges Leadership 