Theorists, authors, and speakers offer leadership advice to anyone who will pay attention. Some of it makes sense and helps leaders improve their performance and that of their teams. However, it perpetuates stereotypes just as much and does more harm than good. One body of work criticizes leaders whom they characterize as rigid, dogmatic Vulcans.Read more
Blog
In 1957, Leon Festinger introduced “cognitive dissonance”. Cognitive dissonance is research-based theory that posits that internal psychological consistency helps us function in the real world. Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation that involves conflicting attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. The theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior inRead more
People bat around the word “culture” as though it were a conversational shuttlecock. When an individual, merger, or organization fails, culture takes the blame. We use the word fairly arbitrarily, citing it to explain why things don’t change, won’t change, or can’t change. It’s that subtle yet powerful driver that leaders strive—often futilely—to influence. “Culture”Read more
From the time you started work, and actually from the time of birth, you have been solving problems. By definition, problem solving involves the process of finding a solution to something that needs to change or a deviation from what you expected to happen. It involves a multistage process for moving an issue or situationRead more
If clear areas of responsibility and accountability don’t exist, you have the first ingredient in the recipe for a culture of indecision. Making sure the senior team and all their direct reports have well-defined roles and responsibilities that leaders link to rewards and evaluations certainly defines the first step, but it’s just the beginning. TriumphingRead more
