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Dear Strategy Consultants: Stop Annoying Your Clients with Irrelevant Questions
My dissertation explored the questions organizations ask when setting strategy. I wanted to develop an approach to strategic thinking that produced better insights and more options. Ironically, while I scrutinized the influence of leaders’ mental models on the strategy questions they ask, I failed to notice the mental model driving my own research. Why should… Read more
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Leadership Begins with Managing Performance and Matures into Manifesting Purpose
For decades, leadership has been defined by competency models that focus on management skills. However, as leaders mature, effective leadership evolves into manifesting purpose, creating conditions for organizational success. Organizations need to shift from competency-based training to outcome-based reflection, emphasizing the experiences of team members over mere skills assessments. Read more
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Lane Changes
We all navigate life enclosed—in cars, in bodies, in busy schedules. Signaling our intentions is a simple act of compassion, helping others feel included rather than surprised. Here’s why developing this habit (and your attention agility) matters. Read more
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Work Awake!
The effectiveness of classroom training for leaders is questioned, suggesting that transformative learning occurs in real work contexts. The introduction of the Work-Awake Coach, an AI tool, aims to integrate skill development into everyday leadership practices, enhancing attention agility and fostering adaptation through real-time support and tailored coaching. Read more
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Listen for Underlying Influences; Helping Your Colleagues Get Unstuck
Be present, get curious, listen with empathy, listen actively, set aside your own opinions and reactions. All good advice for developing your listening skills. For over 30 years, I’ve been teaching listening skills workshops to organizational leaders. A few workshop participants get a lot better. Most improve in the classroom and then revert to their… Read more
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Five Cut-and-Paste Chatbot Hacks for Overwhelmed Decision Makers
Imagine having a whip-smart, creative summer intern who only fetches coffee while managers solve all the problems. That’s how many organizations employ AI assistants today. To help you get more from this underutilized resource literally at your fingertips, here are five hacks to elevate your chatbot responses. 1. Ask Me Questions Chatbots can do much… Read more