Pivot On This
There’s an old joke about a rich man who encounters a poor, starving man on the street. The starving man says, “I haven’t eaten for two days”. The rich man replies “Well then, force yourself.” There are few things more galling than receiving flatulent, clichéd and unsolicited advice, delivered from a position of comfort, to […]
When There Are No Demons
Not so long ago in geological terms, people decided that living together in communities was a good idea. While some remained rugged individualists, or worked in rural occupations like farming, many who had the choice saw the benefit in creating small villages. Pretty soon, it became obvious that the village needed one well. One really […]
Four Things They Don’t Want You To Know About Leadership Retreats
Perhaps you’ve already been on a team retreat for your work, or perhaps you’re about to go on one. Either way, there’s a host of things related to such retreats that the people organizing them would often prefer you not to know about. Here are four.
A Man Called Phud
Owen Phud. We were at a corporate reception. It was the usual cast of manager types and specialists in various fields, everything from computer software to team dynamics. I was the team dynamics guy. Music was playing. There were drinks. People were eating tiny things on sticks.
When The Bottom Line Goes Through The Heart
It’s tempting to think that we can solve problems in systems with more and better systems, and typically that’s the response from unprepared executives in crisis mode, desperate to keep the share price up and their jobs held down.
Up With The Downside, Down With The Upside
In defense of managers who make weak, maddening non-decisions. Aug. 26. 2016 Other than accidentally spitting through a closed car window, there can be few things more frustrating than a manager who just won’t take a risk. Whether it’s a boss who won’t let you take a training course (what if you’re needed while you’re […]
Congratulations, You’re A Marine
Little Jimmy Smith joined the Marine Corps at age 19, and he was full of excitement. Imagine his surprise when he arrived at boot camp to find not people doing pushups, crawling through mud or stripping and reassembling rifles but instead, a large and well-lit room full of computers. “It’s the new way of training […]
Conflict Till The Last Trump
You can learn many things from watching a presidential race, not all of them political. The combination of high stakes and detailed media coverage surrounding the Republican race to the nomination, for example, allows you to view everyday office and workplace dynamics through the lens of a high-profile struggle that everyone can identify with. In […]
Rejection Man
Meet Rejection Man. Superman can fly. Batman has money. Spiderman can climb skyscrapers. These are their superpowers. But what, you ask, is the superpower for Rejection Man? Rejection. You’ll meet him – or her – in some workplaces. It’s the person who refuses to engage in any optional interaction. The one who walks out when […]
A Brief Explanation of MBTI Type
ISTJ: These letters in no way define you. They are based on bad science and charlatanism. Your fate is not written down anywhere. Do what excites you, and pursue the dreams you really want. ISFJ: These letters in no way define you. They are based on bad science and charlatanism. Your fate is not written […]