Articles related to talent and competitive advantage have kept the pages of the Harvard Business Review and other publications full for decades. Despite the importance of talent, companies still rely on interviews as the primary selection tool. But why is this “time-tested” tool so poor at informing our most expensive and risky investment? The simple … Read More
Organizational Structure: Triangles Stunt Growth
Its structure is an architectural marvel. Often used in the design of buildings, the triangle provides strength and stability. The design provides a most effective energy distribution. Yet its robustness goes beyond a physical element. It is a key component of organizational structure and a common problem in organizational development. This may be confusing because, … Read More
What We are Hearing: Three Employee Issues Regarding Their Roles in 2021
There is no doubt that things are confusing in 2021 as we move through the next phase of the pandemic. Some people work at home, others are back in the office, still others are splitting their time between the two. As a result of the upheaval, we have heard three issues repeated among our clients. … Read More
Consensus Culture Kills Agility: When Decision-Making Rights are Undefined, Everyone has a Veto
As our face-to-face meetings with new and potential clients increase, we are noticing the rise of the “De facto Consensus Culture.” Such cultures secretly sap organizations of agility and drain their time. To illustrate, let’s start with an analogy. At 14 years old I cleaned the McDonald’s parking lot, dining area, and restrooms. I used … Read More
Three Ways to Respond When Your Meeting is Hijacked by a Righteous Underminer
Three hours into a strategy session, we were making significant progress. Excitement grew as the team envisioned what is possible. After a couple of cups of coffee in the morning and a diet coke for lunch, I excused myself and passed the marker to the woman on my right. Little did I know that my meeting … Read More
Non-Toxic High-Performers — An Organization’s Biggest Assets
In the 90s I listened to The Ticket, a high-performing sports radio station, almost every day. When anyone called in, the first words out of their mouth was their affiliation. In keeping with that tradition, my affiliation is the Green Bay Packers. Since my youth, I have been a fan and remember Superbowl Packers starring … Read More