Sometimes politicians get into trouble because of something they say and are forced to resign. I wonder, was the resignation a result of the controversial remark -- or due to the failure to clean up effectively from that faux pas? I think people would stand a much better chance to be forgiven or to overcome their faux pas if they'd...
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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us." ~ Marianne Williamson I'm more of a rant and less of a rave concerning most popular lore about teams, teamwork and team building. I still find team effectiveness in knowledge-based,...
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The purpose of a goal is to keep you in motion. When you are in motion toward a real goal (a real goal is something you truly want for yourself, not something you think you should want), things happen. Here's a personal example. As an avid cyclist, I had long wanted to participate in a multi-day organized bike ride such...
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Most people I talk to are uncertain about how to behave powerfully in shared responsibility situations. Would you like some help with that? When I have the chance to talk with a small group of project leaders, I usual invite their questions, but only if they are also willing to take responsibility for their role in the situation. Here are...
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"It's not my fault!" "I didn't do a thing!" "I got put on a bad team!" -- which is my personal favorite. What's common to each of these statements is a claim that the cause of one's problem lies elsewhere, external to oneself. Many of us are quite accomplished at thinking and claiming that the cause of our problems lie...
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"Look" the fellow from Denmark exclaimed while pointing to the visual I'd created the day before. "It's just what Avery said would happen: we had a breakthrough!" It was true. His team had broken through a frustrating and heated issue. Now the ten participants, including Germans, Italians, Americans, and Danes, were expressing relief and celebrating. Why? (more…)
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There's a pattern I have noticed in those who belong to The Leadership Gift™ Program. No matter if it is calling into Application Mastery calls, talks with my mentor, or engaging in a conference call with other leaders, when I state something I struggle with, I'm not faced with judgment, evaluation, or advice. I'm told, “Congratulations.” (more…)
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Things often don't go as planned with teams or projects, but they can go as expected. Harvard Business School professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter once beautifully restated a longstanding truism about projects and teams. She said "everything looks like a failure in the middle." (more…)
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Normally this blog gives freely and asks little. Today is different. We're giving and asking. You see starting tomorrow and for the next two or three weeks, scores of leaders and coaches worldwide will apply for admission to The Leadership Gift™ Program 2014. Why? (more…)
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In my most recent post, I shared 5 secrets with you that help the best leaders achieve a team that operates with a shared purpose. But I have even more secrets I know to be true after working with leaders all over the world for so many years -- here are 5 additional ones. 6. Know your most powerful team...
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