Communication
In preparing for an engagement this week, I was reminded of this quote by George Bernard Shaw: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
Liminality
Last week, we were working with a client discussing their personal visions, how to lead teams, and their role as leaders in overcoming resistance to change. The word liminality came up, which is from the science of anthropology. Liminality is a state of transition between one stage and the next.
Leadership Purpose
I’m currently preparing to help a group of leaders define their personal leadership purpose—their leadership philosophy or identity. Exercises like these generate both excitement and pushback. Some resonate; others resist.
Immunity to Change
Why is it that even when we know what to change, we still struggle making the change? Volumes have been written about that subject, and we’re still learning. Change is hard! It’s hard to close the knowing versus doing gap.
Leading Through Transitions
“Our emotional wake determines the story that is told about each of us.” What great insight for leaders leading through transitions—personal, team, or organizational. If I were to ask those you lead to describe your emotional wake, what would they say?
Change the Way You Listen
Is how you listen helping or hurting your leadership? A LinkedIn survey of nearly 14,000 employees around the world found that only 8% of employees reported that their mid- and senior-level leaders are practicing listening “very well.” Why?
Excellence in Practice Award
Our work with Sun Life Financial and Duke Corporate Education won the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Excellence in Practice Award for Organizational Learning & Development.
Stephen Woessner Chats With Kendall Lyman (posted on Onward Nation)
Kendall Lyman is the author of “CHANGE THE WAY YOU CHANGE!”, a founding principal of The Highlands Group, a firm specializing in strategy, organizational change, and leadership development. He helps leaders around the world to navigate change, improve employee engagement, and transform culture. Kendall has consulted with a wide array of organizations ranging from Fortune 500 to small and midsize firms.What you’ll learn about in this episodeIncreasing your own capacity as a leaderTips and strategies for expanding your influenceDeveloping the self-awareness needed to [...]
Overcoming Resistance
In a study by the Conference Board, respondents rated organizational resistance as the biggest challenge to implementing successful change. Resistance is a natural reaction to any change. For example, employees have been trained to work in a particular way; they follow certain processes; and they have mastered those processes over time. Then a change comes along. Isn’t it natural that at least some people would question the change even when the reasons are compelling? Others might go beyond questioning and simply refuse to [...]
Change Dilemma
I bought a drink at a convenience store the other day for $1.16. Of course I didn’t have the exact change, so I ended up with a bunch of coins in my pocket for the rest of the day. Not sure about you, but I hate spare change in my pocket—not so much that I would say “keep the change,” but enough to let it annoy me. How similar is this to the changes we deal with in the work place? Most of [...]