Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
There was a minor kerfluffle with an organization with which I’m associated; a blog stalker noticed that a post I wrote quoted somebody from the organization by name (accurately, and within context, btw) and took exception.
Like the swimmer who admires the beauty in the whites of a sharks’ teeth before realizing they are about to be eaten, there are far bigger issues for anyone to worry about than someone quoting somebody else accurately on a blog.… Read the rest
As an advocate of the early warning, Chicken Little had it all wrong.
Lacking facts (the sky was not falling) and the type of receptive audience that Paul Revere had, running around warning people was a poor tact to take.
Rational thought, after all, has limits. Sometimes the best way to move something important forward is to change your normal MO (modus operandi).… Read the rest
Backbenchers, alas, are everywhere.
They are the people in companies and associations who are quick to point out the flaws and misdoings of others but seldom are on-point to take responsibility or blame, especially when things go south.
They are folks who are adequately competent but are more interested in taking care of themselves – as well as alerting “management” to the shortcomings of others – rather than working hard to move the organization forward.… Read the rest
As a quasi-Christmas Episcopalian (church perhaps once a year; no communion because the “drink the blood of Christ” stuff freaks me out), I have an ambivalence toward Christmas.
Start with the fact that I’ve never been great with surprises (“Wow! Nice tie.” Subtext: wish I still wore them) and you have the makings for a recipe for trouble in December.… Read the rest
You mess up, or maybe don’t mess up but things don’t quite work out, you get fired or get laid off, and you end up down in the dumps thinking you’ll never get another chance.
Cheer up; there are people out there reinventing themselves in ways that make you look like a saint. And if they can do it, so can you.… Read the rest
You can lack efficiency and effectiveness in how you communicate.
Or you can have both. Here’s how.
As background, it always helps to be clear about what you’re trying to communicate. Simply pass on information, or engage in a discussion and check for understanding? Ask for feedback, or do a data dump and run?
Great communication starts with focus about what you’re trying to accomplish, and what you’re trying to avoid.… Read the rest