Demographics demand change. With birth rates decreasing, the shrinking group of taxpayers will be unable to fund the pensions of retirees. It’s a problem facing every country. There are many solutions to the problem, but all of them carry a degree of pain. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, chose the...
6 Steps to Change Your Life!
Like you, I’m attracted to headlines that promise simple steps to make life better: The amazing secret that can double your metabolism! Three secrets of investing that made one man millions These articles are about promoting changes in behavior. A recent Washington Post article offered 6 simple steps to build an...
Layoffs done right?
Layoffs suck for everyone. Previously I reviewed Jeffrey Pfeffer’s guidance that layoffs rarely create an organizational benefit. They are a net loss all around. In January Google announced 12,000 layoffs. You can imagine the churn it caused. Employees had questions and the CEO stepped up to provide answers. This is...
It’s OK to Take Your Eyes off of the Goal
Last week we looked at the need for a constant connection with the organization’s mission, priorities and goals. It’s the foundation for a sense of purpose during change, and absolutely critical when change is difficult. Why?Sometimes a constant reminder about the goal can have an effect opposite to what we want....
Operating with Two Timelines in Mind
The Weather Network shared a report that 259 people died between 2011 and 2017 in attempts to capture the perfect selfie. Eleven of them were going for the perfect shot at the Grand Canyon. They should have been looking up when they were looking down. This is the same problem faced by many...
First Impressions Still Matter
Today I visited India, Australia, and Korea! Well, not literally, but I had people from all three countries on a video call as I facilitated a session of a client’s onboarding program. I asked how it was going so far:“It’s great to see how this company gets people started right....
Trust: The Missing Ingredient to Building Capacity for Change
This week I'm featuring a guest article from Eliza Brennon, a strong writer who has been featured on a number of media outlets and I'm pleased to have her contribution here. Enjoy! Organizations, both large and small, are adapting to the rapidly changing economic landscape. However, adapting to change is not without...
Fear Kills Credibility
The pilot just announced that after nearly two hours of flying from Canada to Mexico, we are headed back to the airport. A fault indicator had tripped for the landing gear. I’m writing this in real time. “We don’t believe there is a serious problem but we’re headed back to check...
The most important conversation about change is in your head
I can’t shut off my inner voice. I’ve tried and I just have so much to say to myself!When traveling I have long periods of solitude and began noticing just how active my internal voice is. I work through problems, reflect on nature, create lists, and think about my next...
Have you really learned your lesson?
Welcome to 2023! It’s a time when the typical newsletter reminds you to set ambitious new goals for the year! This is not that newsletter. I want you to keep the same goals as last year, but achieve them in a smarter way. Many of our goals relate to continuous improvement -...
