Continuing my series of posts exploring the topic of sustainability – of our organizations and the larger world in which those organizations exist, today’s post examines the internal factors that enable an organization to be sustainable over time. Something that, over the last ten years, over 50% of the companies on the Fortune 500 list have failed to do.
As some level, I think every one of us knows that the old notions of stability are fiction. That the pace of change is breakneck, coming so fast and furious that we can’t assimilate and accommodate or make sense of it all. That the longevity of our position, our career, our company, our product, or our gadgets are measured at best in years, more likely in months and very seldom in decades. Love it or hate it – we need to reconcile that unrelenting change is the new normal.
I had to chuckle when I heard the news story about the legislators who, with good intentions, prohibited the sale of kegs of beer in their college town and, as a result, made the problem they were trying to solve even worse. This is a story of unintended consequences, a peril each of us faces as we implement changes in the organizations we lead.
How do you determine if you should spend more energy, time and effort to salvage something? And when is it time to shed it, to move on, to eliminate it from your life?
Today is a milestone birthday for me. I turn 60. I must admit that I I sailed past 30, 40 and 50 with little angst. Turning 60 has been a different story. A dash of disbelief. An avalanche of anxiety. A rash of reflection. And more than a bit of panic about too much to do and too little time to do it in.
And in that reflection I’ve come to the realization that 60 is better than 16. Read on to find out why.
At no time is communication more important than when a change is occurring. Today’s post, by Myra Cocca, will help you tailor it to the needs of your audience.
I wish each of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014 – in all the unique ways that matter to you!
In our Evergreen Leadership Process we have a way to continually stay fresh and healthy. The new year is a great time to build this practice into your life – and will yield better results than the tradition of making resolutions. Take a look…
We are all in throes of massive change – and the reality is that the pace and magnitude of change we are facing is only going to amplify. So having a basic grasp of how change works in organizations is important for us all. Warning: This list will not be for the faint of heart, so I’ll rate it on digestibility. Some will be suitable for all levels, and others for those who like to take a deep dive. And I am always looking for more here – so I’ll look forward to the books you recommend on this topic.
Returning to the US after 2 weeks in Southern India gave me fresh eyes – both for what I take for granted and for what is missing from my life in the US. Read on for my list… including the one that made my “take for granted” list 4 times.
I am back from my sojourn to India with Cultural Connections: Women Weaving Worlds. I made the decision to totally disconnect from electronic communication – but it was not the lack of connectivity that got in the way of blogging. Find out what DID get in the way.
Fill out the form to receive the Evergreen Leadership newsletter and be notified about new blogs.
