Unlearning: A Critical Element of Organizational Change

Originally posted by Inside Indiana Business on February 23, 2021. Organizations typically focus on learning and fail to address unlearning as an organizational development strategy. Whether we realize it or not, we gravitate toward what is familiar and less challenging. But without taking the time to step back and reflect upon the ways in which […]

Preparedness Positions Us for Prosperity

Originally posted by Inside Indiana Business on January 13, 2021.   Both economic development and preparedness are extremely important. But they must be prioritized. Preparedness is always first. If you are prepared, you are positioned for prosperity. If you aren’t prepared, sustainable progress isn’t possible. I have witnessed this throughout my career. Once organizations gained […]

How to Turn the Pandemic into Opportunity for Meaningful Progress

Originally posted by Inside Indiana Business on October 29, 2020. As organizations adapt to change brought about by the pandemic, many contemplate how long it will take for our world to return to normal. Normal will be what we make of it. Our former ways of living and working have evolved in many ways to […]

5 Critical Aspects of Performance Management for New Managers

Proactive Performance Management When I started in management, I was focused on ensuring my team understood goals and expectations. Equally important, was knowing that each team member had access to the training they needed to do their jobs well. By the time I left that organization five years later, I was addicted to proactive performance […]

4 Costly Strategic Planning Mistakes: How Many Are You Making?

Effective Planning Can Result in Progress Many talented executives fail to fully appreciate strategic planning. The problem is they’ve not witnessed the progress that effective planning can help materialize. The unseen reason for their lack of optimism is minimal experience creating and implementing strategic plans.  When strategic plans are created time is usually tight, with […]

Improve Organizational Performance Using Strategic Decision Making

History has proven it: strategic planning is less valuable than it could be. The traditional strategic planning practice that involves business units presenting to executives on a periodic basis is outdated. This particular approach too often relies on assumptions or inherited legacy plans rather than data. History has proven it: strategic planning is less valuable […]

The Critical Need for Sound Leadership

Not All Leaders Are Prepared to Lead If you’ve recently found yourself frustrated and confused by leadership, you’re not alone. Being able to take charge during periods of rapid change and deal effectively with ambiguity are key competencies needed in today’s leaders. We need individuals who are decisive, trustworthy, and capable of creating solutions today […]

Use Innovative Learning to Prepare Your Organization for Change

Maintenance Learning is for Organizations Who Want to Maintain the Status Quo It is not uncommon for organizations to connect learning and development activities to performance evaluations. This practice fails to account for the performance required to successfully navigate change. The practice of maintenance learning addresses growth and learning related to performance gaps and anticipated […]

Using Strategic Communication to Earn Trust

I once worked for an executive who lacked the ability to strategically communicate. I say he lacked the ability, but perhaps saying he lacked the discipline would be more accurate. He chose to communicate in his preferred way all the time, regardless of how effective his communications were within the company. It was frustrating! Ever […]

Why Leaders Can’t Ignore Collaboration

Collaboration is critical to any successful, high functioning organization. Yet, amazingly, some leaders underestimate its value. Others, not only understand it, they use it to accomplish strategic goals. The collaboration between NASA and Lego® is a good example. Lego® wanted to help children learn about the aerospace sector so they partnered with NASA and signed […]