When Do We Say, “We Need to Change Who We Are”?
I’ve noticed this pattern in the news. A murder/fire/something bad happens in a normally quiet neighborhood. The news people interview the neighbors, and each one of them says, “This isn’t…
Read moreWhen Do We Consider People Beyond Redemption?
You’ve seen leaders contribute as professionals. They excel and create a cohort that grows beyond anyone’s expectations. They become famous. Then, you notice personal behavior that makes you nervous. They…
Read moreWho Are Your Unsung Heroes?
The US Thanksgiving holiday is tomorrow. Many people will offer thanks for their families, their lives, their work. I’ll do that. And, I won’t stop with my immediate family. I’ll…
Read moreHow Do We Unite for a Common Goal?
As of this morning, the possible swing states are still counting the 2020 election votes. We knew this would happen. Why? Because back in the spring, when election officials planned…
Read moreHow Much Imperfection Can We Live With?
I’ve been thinking about perfection these days. As a society, we seem to want it all. We want everything open. We don’t discriminate between schools and airplanes. And, several people…
Read moreHow Do We Create Culture?
We often talk about a few “bad apples” in teams, groups, or even society as a whole. We use the term “bad apples” because that metaphor helps us see that…
Read moreAre You Playing a Finite or an Infinite Game?
In these COVID times, some people think they need to play zero-sum games. Those games are the ones where “I win, you lose.” While we might win short-term, we often…
Read moreHow Do We Operate When We Can’t See the Finish Line?
Right now, in July 2020, we have several problems: COVID-19 the disease, the effect of the virus on our economy, and a reckoning of our culture. Each problem shares a…
Read moreWhen Do We Choose the Social Contract & When Do We Choose the Economic Contract?
We operate at various levels in our families, work, and society. We have shortcut names for these behaviors: the economic contract and the social contract. When we use the economic…
Read moreHow Can You Create Boundaries?
As I connect with various colleagues and friends who now work from home, they all say the same thing. “I’m always working. I work all day and all night. The…
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