Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dancing with a Bear

Stepping on Toes The giant man rose to his feet displaying his 6’8”, 400-pound frame, reached for his coat as if ready to walk out, and asked me “Do you want to know what I think of that?” We had … Continue reading

Posted in Communication, Conflict, Employee Engagement, Relationship Management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Zombie Chronicles

In my last post I shared four things you can do to create a zombie workforce. If you have a tribe of zombies but would rather have a team of zealots, this post is for you. Never fear; it can … Continue reading

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The Zombie Chronicles

Zombies are all the rage these days. They are all over the movies, TV, and video games.  This macabre fascination disturbs me, but at last I think I have uncovered the source of this unholy preoccupation.  Could it be that the battles acted out on the screen provide people some hope for overcoming the zombies growing within?  I’ve met many people who are losing this battle–and I have seen organizations unwittingly drive their employees into the zombie zone.

For the those who want to transform their zealous employees into zombies, and for those who want to revive the zealots buried inside their zombies, I’ve come up with a few of the best ways to foster the transformation. Continue reading

Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership, Motivation, Teams, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Campaign for Accountability in Healthcare

Johns Hopkins’ physician Marty Makary is campaigning to make healthcare safer – and cheaper – by publishing healthcare outcomes for all to see. His new book, Unaccountable, is sure to be a clarion call for true healthcare reform – as … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict, Healthcare, Leadership, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Formula for Courage

A Formula for Courage I recently read Breaking the Fear Barrier by Tom Rieiger of Gallup Consulting.  In it, he makes the case that parochialism, territorialism, and bureaucracy grow from fear.  Managers fear losing the ability to control their outcomes … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Motivation, Personal Effectiveness, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Executive Intent – C.A.P.E.S

Disappointing Results Leaders know how frustrating it can be when team members fail to follow what seem to be simple directions to complete a task.  It’s tempting to attribute the glitch on the staff member, but wisdom instructs leaders to … Continue reading

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Feedback, The Breakfast of Champions

The other night I watched two teenage sisters shine. They shined so brightly that their audience beamed with pride at their character and accomplishment. The girls volunteered to make a presentation and be coached in front of roughly fifty adults … Continue reading

Posted in Coaching, Leadership, Performance Management, Personal Effectiveness, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Happiness is Within Reach!

People who meet realistic life goals, who have enriching friendships, and who earn a “reasonable” income experience happiness. Contentment arrives wrapped in relationships – relationships with friends, family and your creator. That’s a gift available to all who care to open it. Continue reading

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Let’s Make Pretend

My young daughter sometimes reminds me, “This is just for pretend, Daddy.”  Although play is very serious business, she is clear that we are operating by make-believe rules. We suspend the realities that govern our actual existence so she can be … Continue reading

Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership, Motivation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Leaders in Sandboxes

As a young consulting pyschologist I worked for a consulting firm that specialized in executive assessments.  In other words we tested, poked, and prodded candidates for high level positions to see if they were a good fit for the prospective employer.   … Continue reading

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