4 Ways to Enable Connections

Premise: One of the most important steps in driving any kind of transformation is the ability to rally around teams that are impacted by the transformation. One of the reasons many transformation efforts fail is existence of resistance for the transformation effort. It is critical to address this resistance if we want to have a good chance of success. Here are 4 ways that we can bring people together as team so that we can understand the existence and the reason for the resistance. Once we know this, we can then address the same openly. Shared Purpose The easiest and […]

How To Be Different and Stand Out

Premise: One of the side effect of the explosion of social media is that every one is trying to be seen (views), heard (downloads) and appreciated (likes/shares). In this constant struggle to be seen/heard/appreciated, everyone is trying to be different and unique and authentic. And that is the true challenge. According to National Human Genome Research institute, “All human beings are 99.9 percent identical in their genetic makeup.” Which means that we are all that different from each other genetically. The 0.1 percent that does differentiate us genetically is influenced by our environment, exposure and experience we have had in […]

Tips on Leading a Successful Transformation Effort

Premise: We are living in a world where every organisation is undergoing some form of transition or transformation – forced or otherwise. Another thing we know is that most change efforts fail. Given this background, what can we as leaders do to tilt the probability of success on our side? Here are some suggestions that are offered in the book “Terms of Engagement“. Flow of Information: In any transformation effort, the flow of relevant information between people plays an important role. We, as leaders, need to ensure that we are able to share relevant information with all the relevant stakeholders. […]

The Source of Grit and Resilience

In a recent post on HBR (https://hbr.org/2021/01/the-secret-to-building-resilience), authors Rob Cross, Karen Dillon and Danna Greenberg talk about building resilience based on their yet unpublished research. They argue and I quote, A well-developed network of relationships can help us rebound from setbacks by: – Helping us shift work or manage surges – Helping us to make sense of people or politics in a given situation – Helping us find the confidence to push back and self advocate – Helping us see a path forward – Providing empathic support so we can release negative emotions – Helping us to laugh at ourselves and the situation – Reminding us of the purpose […]

Lessons from Orchestra Conductors

In a recent blog post, Sethi Godin talks about how the famous conductors (orchestra) seem to be the only person on the orchestra that don’t make any sound at all and yet are the most important person on the team. He says, and I quote, Famous conductors are often judged for an hour or two on stage. They wear expensive clothes, make dramatic gestures and receive ovations. They also get paid a lot to carry a very little stick and they’re the only one on stage who doesn’t make noise. But it turns out that none of these things are […]