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Is Faster/Better/Cheaper Always Best?

We seem, in our personal and professional lives, to want to speed things up, maximize value, and do it with fewer and fewer resources and less money. And I’m not immune to that thinking. I challenge students in my Entrepreneurship class to find new ways to solve problems people have, to imagine ways to create a business that can do something faster or better, although I warn against competing on price alone (the cheaper). My change management practice aims to help clients implement change faster and better – and with less drama and resistance. Yet I wonder if faster/better/cheaper should really be our north star for all things and for all situations.

Leadership

Top Ten Books for Leaders

In Leadership is an Art, Max DePree tells us that “buying books is easy; owning them is not.” He goes on to explain that, “Good readers take possession of what they are learning by underlining and commenting and questioning. In this manner they ‘finish’ what they read.” He ends his introduction by saying: “You can read this book quickly; but I hope you cannot finish it quickly. It will be worth a lot more to you if you finish it, if you have truly made it your own book.”

DePree also shares that leadership is NOT learned by reading, alone – and I fully concur. But I also know that leaders who are thoughtful and open themselves to new ideas WHILE they get their hands dirty leading, grow into better and better leaders. My mantra is that LEADERS READ.

My list of top ten comes with a disclaimer – these are NOT for learning to manage or supervise. They are in my area of specialty: transformational leadership.

Change

Top Ten Books for Organizational Change

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.

Challenges

Getting Comfortable with Conflict

I’ll admit it – I am an expert at knowing all the ways one can AVOID conflict. I grew up in a house where Mom and Dad never disagreed publicly, where parents spoke and children listened, where adults were always respected and one never talked back. That translated into discomfort around disagreement; space I inhabited for many years.

I have a very different view now…

End of the Week Coaching Questions

At the conclusion of your work week, reflecting on a provocative question can help you learn, plan, adjust and generally, just get better. I encourage you to pick one of these per week to ponder and see what happens as a result. Writing thoughts is highly encouraged – but optional.

The Riskiest Act of All

Today’s world presents new risks… and perhaps the biggest risk of all may be trying to avoid them.

Intention

The 1% Question

I’ve just spent two days in Rocky Mountain National Park. What totally shocked me was this statistic.

Guest blogger

Success Pillars: Four Habits That Grew a Successful Business

Today’s post is from Crystal Hammon, a great writer and blogger and keen observer of life. In her post, Crystal shares four high-performance habits which have enabled her husband to build a successful business.

Leadership

The Morning After: What We Can Learn from Sports Teams and the Military

The morning after the big game, athletes serious about getting better review and rehash the action on the field. They learn what they need to adjust, what they need to practice more and what worked just fine. You can do the same with your team by holding debriefing sessions.

Why I am NOT Blogging About Helping the Homeless

I had an interesting conversation with a student of mine a few days ago. He left frustrated. I left with a deeper insight about leadership.

Evergreen Leadership Blog