Fans of the multiple Emmy award-winning television series The West Wing enjoy a deep and accurate insight into the dynamics and impact of different leadership styles. At one moment the fictitious President Bartlett will be building common ground and consensus with foreign or domestic leaders — the next moment he and his staff will be … Read More
Leadership: Developing Resilience in a VUCA world
If nothing else, the global pandemic — and our leaders’ responses to it — has taught us that nothing is certain. Over time, we have seen it all: Stock markets losing, and then gaining hundreds of points in a day. Investors adjusting their portfolios to deal with the uncertainty. Complex decisions to re-open being based … Read More
The Who and How to Operate in a Post Pandemic World
On May 15, McKinsey & Company published an article, “Reimagining the post-pandemic organization.” Widely regarded as a global thought leader, and somewhat guiding light for consulting firms in general, many organizations eagerly waited for a strategic announcement from them regarding what to do next. About a month earlier, on April 17, Psynet Group discussed its … Read More
How People Are Reacting to Fear of Job Loss – What Leaders Should Do
New research from Glassdoor published by HR Grapevine found that over half (53%) of employees are afraid of losing their jobs in the near future due to Covid-19. According to the research, 56% would rather take a lower salary, 68% would rather forgo a pay rise, and 71% would rather skip a bonus compared to … Read More
2020 (And the Death of Organizational Goal Setting)
Believe it or not, there was a time when the economy was predictable. Now it’s more of a distant relic than a familiar memory. Market crashes and corrections were the exception at the time, while repetition of tried-and-true business theories were the norm (think Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule). As a result, strategic planning became … Read More
Reframing the 2020 Black Swan Event to Create New Opportunities
RELAX, REFLECT, RETHINK As I write this, my team is sheltered in place, but how we choose to spend this time could be a game changer for me personally and for our firm. Using this time to Relax, Reflect, Rethink may be the gift of this Black Swan occurrence, in spite of its gravity. Very … Read More
How S.U.D.s Can Wash Out Your Company, Your Career, or Your Life
In the 2002 movie Unfaithful, Connie Summer (played by Diane Lane) is frazzled searching for a taxi in the SoHo neighborhood of New York. She slips on the sidewalk and scrapes her knee. An attractive man sees her fall and invites her into his apartment. As she contemplates whether or not to accept his help, a … Read More
Elliott Jaques Was an “Envisionary”
(Lesson 4 From 1,000 Assessments) Dr. Jaques was a Canadian thinker, psychoanalyst, and management consultant who is best known for developing many of the original ideas used in the classification of corporate culture. One major concept centers on his belief that individuals reach a certain professional level based almost exclusively on their ability to cognitively … Read More
The Unconventional Wisdom of Doing Nothing
(Lesson 3 From 1,000 Assessments) The Ultimate Dilemma– Imagine a burning building. As the flames climb, three individuals stand in the street wondering if everyone inside made it out safely, but with all the smoke it’s impossible to tell. The first person, unable to stand idly, rushes into the building looking for potential survivors. The … Read More