My leadership programs often include a segment on the impact of "triggers and amygdala hijacks" on one's leadership. This excellent article from Rick Hanson is a good reminder that tone of voice and body language can be big triggers and deserve close attention.
Your Brain on Purpose
Here’s an interesting fact: At least 11 million bits of information enter our brain through our senses each second. Our conscious mind, however, only seems able to process 50 bits of information per second. Most of what enters our brain happens outside our awareness. Rock and Schwartz note that in a world with so many distractions, a big challenge is our ability to focus sufficient attention on any one idea.
Three Dreaded Words
I recently had an interaction with someone close to me that resulted in some deep reflection. In order to protect the innocent, I’ve created a hypothetical scenario that captures the gist of the interaction.
You’re in the kitchen at work, eating your lunch, minding your own business. A colleague with whom you are close hurries into the kitchen and rushes over to you. In a loud voice, he says the three dreaded words: “Why did you…”
The Commitment Under the Conflict
My colleague, Cynthia Way, and I were having a heated discussion on a topic we both cared deeply about in the presence of her intern. We were doing a pretty good job of listening to each other but it was clear we had different perspectives. At the time, we reached what felt to me like an inconclusive resolution.
Many Kinds of Leadership
Enhancing Teamwork in Dispersed Settings
How is it possible to form strong teams when the people you’re leading work in different buildings, different parts of the country and even on different continents? Such teams may rarely, if ever, interact with one another physically. Communication may take place, at best, via video-conference and, at worst, merely via email.
We all have stories about the missteps that happen when we can’t pick up on voice tone and body language. Recent neuroscience research reinforces possible consequences of the reduction or elimination of physical interaction among team members.
Reducing the Pain of Organizational Change
Inspirational Leadership and Defensiveness
Website Debut!
Welcome to my re-designed and updated website. During the past month, I‘ve worked with the creative and skillful team from Gravity Switch, website designers, and Kimberly Hatch, photographer extraordinaire. Not only are they good at what they do, but they are also interesting people who are fun to be around.
Lots of lessons to reflect on...
Empty Mind
Bother
“Bother”: What a great word. When used as a noun it means “effort, worry or difficulty.” Interestingly, the origins of the word bother are “noise or chatter.” That’s exactly how I experience bother. Life can be going very well, yet if I feel bothered, a pall is cast over what otherwise might be happy, even joyful, times.
Assume Honorable Intent
I received an interesting request from one of my clients. She asked if I could do a session with the leaders in her organization on “assuming honorable intent.” Several years ago, I’d done a similar session with their senior leadership team designed improve the working relationships among the members.
Doesn't It Just Make Sense?
Hurricane Sandy and its devastating effects have resurfaced the simmering controversy over the reality of climate change. Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo weighed in on the subject when he said, “It’s a longer conversation, but I think part of learning from this is the recognition that climate change is a reality. Extreme weather is a reality. It is a reality that we are vulnerable.”
SoL North America Incubator
Detour
Falling at the Mall
Last week I went to the mall to meet a friend for lunch and do some Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, my friend had a family emergency and couldn’t make it for lunch, but I had several stores to visit so I carried on. 45 minutes later, loaded with bags and feeling gratified that I’d managed to find everything I was looking for, I exited the Target store into the center of the mall, right next to a Starbucks.
On Gratitude
Yesterday morning, as I was preparing for the day, something interesting happened. My thoughts had been an underground stream of worries: family challenges, the possibility that I might be getting another cold, the never ending economic woes. All of a sudden, unbidden, I experienced a deep feeling of gratitude that vanquished my worries. Not just a general sense of gratitude but something very specific:
At Last, Some Good News. Why Are We So Skeptical?
The Awareness Does the Work
This week I attended an interesting course entitled Coaching from a Systems Perspective. It was developed and facilitated by a group of colleagues affiliated with the Society for Organizational Learning. (http://systemsperspectivesllc.com) There were many valuable aspects that I’ll be incorporating into my practice over time.