This is the current version of general meeting principles I recommend in priority order:1. Proper Meeting Protocols and Ground Rules established - See Meeting with Purpose document (see below)2. Ideal meeting outcome established first3. Compile attendee list, information gathering and dissemination lists prior to the meeting - i.e., invitees, those consulted beforehand and informed after.4. Agenda shared … Continue reading Apply these seven principles to optimize nearly every team meeting

Most businesses, especially those that want to scale, are complex, interdependent systems. One of the best minds I have come across on complexity science is David Snowden - author of the Cynefin Framework - now a book. Here is what I have learned from him on complex adaptive systems and how to optimize them:A complex, adaptive … Continue reading How to apply complexity science to better answer “How are we/you doing?”

If you are struggling to hit your goals, it may be that they lack clarity and specificity. Regardless of the method (OKR, MBO, SMART, FAST, etc.) you use, here is a framework that increases the chances of goal attainment.Economy- Focus on active voice when writing Priorities, OKRs, MBOs, etc.  - Use as little punctuation and as … Continue reading MBOs, OKRs, and SMART goals, oh my!

1. What type of decision am I making (Simple, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic)? I like the Cynefin framework.2. Is the decision reversible or irreversible? If reversible, make it quickly. If not, make it deliberately.3. Leverage a decision making framework like WRAP or others including your own if you prefer.4. Keep a decision journal to track effectiveness. Modify chosen framework appropriately.For more on how to create a … Continue reading Four Part Decision Making Process

This is one of, if not, the best talks I have seen on why stories are powerful for leaders, and how to tell a compelling and effective one.Here is what I came away with as the key elements but I encourage you to take the 7-14 minutes (depending on your listening speed) to listen to see if you glean … Continue reading Key elements of a good story

Jim Collins provides us with reminders of how easily we can slip into a Valley of Death Some of these I have experienced or committed myself.The 5 stages of decline are:1. Hubris Born of Success - One of the key drivers of failure is success without humility. This phenomenon tricks a leader into thinking he can do no … Continue reading 5 Stages of Decline that can destroy an organization

In 2020, I asked Jim Collins what research he had on how to determine the right seats for the right people in which to do the right things made famous from his seminal book Good to Great. In the updated version of his first book Beyond Entrepreneurship - BE 2.0 - he provides an answer in this excerpt:What makes for a … Continue reading “How do you know you have the right seats?” – Answered by Jim Collins

This brief article outlining much of and confirming the work I do is heartening. Here is the list (my favorites are in bold):1. Remote workers can have higher engagement than in-office workers -- when they receive frequent feedback from their manager.2. Employee engagement is an even stronger predictor of performance during tough economic times.3. Management has … Continue reading 7 Gallup Workplace Insights: What We Learned in 2020

From the folks at the NeuroLeadership Institute comes a useful article on how to focus on the things that matter the most most often.  1. Here is what stuck out most for me: Zoomxaustion is a thing.2. Meet less often for less time to get more of the essential work done. Suggestion: Create minimal meeting Mondays … Continue reading 3 Ways to Hack Your Calendar for Better Focus

The Key Process Flow Map*The key process flow map (KPFM) shows where the money starts and ends. Where you spend your first dollar and when you get it back.  Also known as the cash conversion cycle. The goal of laying out the KPFM is to identify each step, key inputs and outputs, and associated function along the … Continue reading One strategic picture to transform your business