Is standing up for a change a courageous act? It depends on where you are in the organization. If you’re an executive, then you’re expected to set a course and encourage others to go with you. Some changes may be harder for your organization to swallow than others, but it is not courage you require […]
Courage and Convictions Read More »
There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” – John F. Kennedy
Back in 1982, during his last testimony before Congress as an active-duty naval officer, Admiral H. G. Rickover claimed he coined a term, “Say-Do.” He meant the term to refer to those people who say they are going to do things, receive praise from the people who hear them say they will do things, yet
On most days, the hardest part of driving change is admitting people’s right to their own free will. You might be saying to yourself, or to whomever will listen, “Why don’t they…” or “How could they…” In the rush for results, we want others to do things now. Now. Now! The reality is, they must
Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.” – Doug Firebaugh
Today I read a joyous e-mail. In the e-mail, a team lead celebrated a hard-fought-for success and thanked the team members who helped the team win. For years to come, that team lead will remember this win. That’s the great part about capturing and celebrating your wins; they stick with you. What’s your favorite driving
My favorite win was… Read More »
No matter how you think best, whether in pictures or in words (in print or spoken), if your change is stuck behind an obstacle, find someone else passionate about your change and talk yourself through the obstacle. Draw them the diagram or write out a few paragraphs and e-mail your writing to them, or have
Talk Yourself Through Read More »
How many times have you had a whole new set of obstacles appear in front of you just when you thought you had a change completed in your organization? Too many times to count? Me too. At those moments you may have felt like sitting down and giving up or turning around and going back
Immense Ranges of High Mountains Read More »
This week I found two fabulous, free booklets titled Innovation in Government and Leading Innovation in Government. The booklets were published by the Partnership for Public Service. If you’ve got ten minutes to flip through them, you should check them both out. Let me know what you think. [Thanks to Rosalie for sending me Innovation
Innovation in Government Read More »
I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for helping someone out, especially someone interested in driving change. That willingness to get involved in new situations often presents me with the most interesting opportunities and challenges I never would have found on my own. Some would say that I’m taking on other people’s drama out of some
