The road to self-engagement: part 1
Read moreAs we have seen in the recent example of Captain Abrashoff and the crew of the Benfold, effective leaders can engage team members by providing—even co-creating—a sense meaning in the workplace. In the case of Abrashoff’s battleship, the crew was able to achieve a form of discipline that stemmed from relentless focus on a shared purpose. People had a clear sense of doing something
Attitude determines altitude: lessons to guide your life
Read moreThis week, I had a bit of a difficult time deciding what to post about. There is certainly a lot more to write on our current theme of co-creating positive team cultures, the example of the Benfold, and applying its lessons to other types of organizations and endeavors. In addition, I continue to come across fascinating material on how work is changing. Every
Co-creating our difference (continued)
Read moreSince people often ask me for specifics about how to co-create, with their teams, stories of “how and why we do things differently”, this week I offer an illustrative anecdote from the Benfold. When Captain Abrashoff took over command of the ship, he began by interviewing members of the crew in his quarters, to get to know each one of them.
Co-creating our difference
Read moreSeveral weeks ago, I wrote that I saw Captain Abrashoff’s leadership journey on the Benfold as an inspiration to all managers, especially those “stuck in the middle”. Indeed, a ship’s commander can be seen as a middle manager in the vast system that is the US Navy. One of the elements I like most in the example of Abrashoff is that he truly took
Why “we” are different
Read moreOne of my favorite quotes about leadership is from Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn. When asked what distinguishes a great leader from the good ones, Ghosn replied simply: “A good leader brings results. A great leader writes a new story.” As one who has spent the past two decades studying the impact of story on leaders and groups, I agree
Year end thoughts
Read moreThe end of December is a deeply reflective time for me, as I spend time with family and plan for the coming year. Along with my other projects—a new book, upcoming client work and speaking engagements, I also reflect on the direction of this blog. As such, rather than a typical post, I choose this week to note down some of the