See. Change. Impact.
Hierarchical leadership is a permission machine. The machine is primed to respond with “No”. People’s work becomes figuring out how to override the default response … moving the machine to “Yes”. And then doing it again. And again. Working with the mysterious machine to get permission to move things forward. Managers might exist […]
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Rob started telling me about the cool stuff he was producing at work. His team is building things that would cost millions to buy. I was impressed with what his team accomplished. I asked him his secret. His team saw problems. They created solutions. Rob’s job was easy. Just say “Yes.” No one told […]
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The opposite of inspiring is uninspiring. Brilliant observation, I know. What does being inspiring look like? Passion, commitment, perseverance. What does being inspiring create in others? Engaged emotions Provoking new thought Motivated behavior What does being uninspiring look like? Indifferent, undecided, yielding. What does being uninspiring create in others? One of three things: […]
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I emailed Jim requesting access to the financials for my project. This was the 3rd request in 2 months. He responded with “Your already supposed have access. But I’m not the expert about this.” I was frustrated. I would not have asked for access if I had not already tried. He offered no value […]
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George, a rebel pastor I know talks about how we talk in terms of, “When I have X (Money, House, Car, Spouse) , then I’ll do Y (Start a business, go to school, have a baby) and then I’ll be happy.” He turns it on its head. “When I am happy, then I’ll […]
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Will said, “They won’t do it! Have you read Sven’s email. He said ‘No.’” I asked Will, “Have you spoken to them?” “No.” I Instant Message Sven. I bring up the situation, apologize for any way we miscommunicated in the past, and ask when there’d be a good time to chat. Sven […]
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It seems the more people we connect with the less there is of us to go around. I start with the default answer of ‘No’ when a friend asks me to do something. I check my calendar. Then I offer a date 3 weeks in the future. Am I free now? Yes. […]
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To … Take more risks. Begin to exercise. Eat healthier. Spend a night together with your family. Have a beer with a friend. Ask her out. Say I’m sorry. Say I love you. Buy her flowers. Cook him a steak. Buy him flowers. Cook her a steak. Manage your boss. Manage your boss’s […]
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Sometimes I get stuck in traffic. You, too, huh? I’ll start thinking to myself, “There better be an accident up there!” When I’m really twisted, I think “Somebody better be hurt!”. Sometimes the situations different. Maybe it’s bad service at a restaurant. I let the manager know. Then I think, “They better knock something […]
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I was late. Again. The bruises on my ass sore from me kicking itagain. If my shower was shorter. If I hasn’t taken my timeshaving. If I hadn’t hit snooze. I would be there.A word whispered in my ear. “You are here.” I was in my car. Driving. Alone. No where else. No matter […]
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