Here goes nothing. This has been a risky piece to write. I suppose confessions are that way. I fully anticipate judgements to come from my words here, but it's okay – I have the comfort of knowing which judgement matters and Who makes it.So I apologize in advance for any discomfort I may cause with these words. (more…)
It was Friday afternoon when my son and I returned home from the video store, part of a typical pre-weekend routine. My attention shifted automatically toward a little green house along McKee Road. The house was small and sat on a patch of farmland that had not yet succumbed to the advance of the city. The large trees provided shade and seemed to stand guard over the house. My eyes searched the porch for him, but he was not there. His chair was there, but he in his denim overalls,…
Saturday mornings had become something of a ritual in our family, not out of habit or tradition, but out of expectation. Since my wife's job required working on weekends, more often than not, I had the job to orchestrate The Feed. Our morning offered a special time to bond as we experienced the routine of The Feed and things part of that ritual. Breakfast served as the launching point of The Feed event, and the steps we took to get there were a journey worth reliving. That makes this a…
Have you ever experienced an adventure when none had been expected? Better yet, have you experienced the adventure in two stages, years apart, and both again unanticipated? And has that adventure been something to shake your belief systems and even challenge your faith? The first chapter in this adventure story happened in 1986 with the closing chapter three years later in 1989. I did not have plans or anticipations for either one; the second event shook my faith and beliefs deeper and more profoundly than the first. This adventure is…
I have heard people say that "life is a constant struggle". I am a partial believer of that statement when things like “getting-up-in-the-morning-to-beat-the school-bus” is a part of my regular reality. Every weekday morning I am confronted with another "beat-the-bus" struggle to motivate my kids to get up…get up…get goin.’ I suppose that each of us can identify with our own "struggles" we deal with each passing day. Struggle builds character they say. This is something you would expect a mother to say, or a coach, or someone else equally…
It seems I read too many black ops books and look at missions from a tactical perspective before nailing down an actionable strategy to move forward. No Delta Force team moves to execute on a leadership request on a mission without completing a thorough and comprehensive reconnaissance effort first. We (L&D) could gain considerable insight into adopting this approach to ensure an effective design strategy if we recon the mission intended to render an effective solution. Too often we receive a request for training and then go in “guns blazing”…
"GREAT" things are popping up lately like the Great Resignation, Great Retirement, and the Great Reshuffle as several examples. I am not swayed by the hype because these all point to one common denominator – Change...and the need to refocus on LEADING it. It is my opinion that we are seeing side-effects surface in the form of a Great Convergence of Thought and Action and formation of influencers that directly impact Culture. In other words, resignations, retirements, and reshuffling within and among organizations are driving the need for a strategic re-think…
A recent post on LinkedIn tripped my trigger this morning, and despite the urge to rant, I will try to be gentle. No guarantees. The question posted asked for advice for someone new coming into Learning & Development (L&D). Here is what percolated into this savory reply, and I should add, this reply is not just for a newbie, but for incumbants and leadership as well. My advice is this, "Step away from the stone. Stop pushing until you confirm it's the right thing to do." Here's why... (more…)
A few years ago I was blessed to speak at an IQPC Talent Management conference on a topic of “Change Leadership – When Change Management Is Not Enough.” My speaking invitation came from a post titled “Managing Change or Leading Change: Does It Matter?” I guess they liked the post and topic idea because IQPC interviewed me prior to the conference. The post is hyperlinked above and contains the interview transcript they provided. I share all this because it is the perfect lead in to navigating transformative initiatives be they…
This post is an annual event I usually post on Maunday Thursday to lift up Good Friday and what it now means to me. The original posting was also on a Thursday ten years ago, and I was reflecting on this tenth version for this Good Friday morning from within the chaos of a world in more chaos than ever before. The story never really changes. I may edit a bit as writers do to keep it current, but I find myself appreciating it more every year. Good Friday can…