Capturing What Works

“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” – Guiseppe di Lampedusa, Italian novelist (1896-1957)  Sometimes we need to take time to capture what is working.  I once worked with a leader who was passionate about capturing the essence of what had been going so well for the last …

Culture, Leadership, Values
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Um, What Was the Question?

If you are a fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams you may remember that the “ultimate answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything” is “42.”  Of course, as it turns out, if you don’t know what the question is, the answer isn’t worth a damn. We often find people and …

Facilitation, Leadership
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Taking a Step Back to Move Forward

I am sure you have been here… Early on at the team retreat, things start to go sideways as people come out of the gate “hot.” While you may be focused on an opening agenda item, people quickly jump ahead to get their stance out on the table. (Indeed, how much of a meeting takes …

Facilitation, Leadership
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Pissing Like Racehorses

Okay, be honest.  How many times have you left an online meeting and had to pee like a racehorse? Turns out this phrase originated from the 1970s when horse trainers began using diuretics that caused racehorses to shed as much as 10 pounds before a race.  I have worked with extremely committed people in non-profits …

Culture, Leadership, Values
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This is Not About Trust Falls

Turns out building trust is more than team-building obstacle courses and trust falls. Building trust while doing the *work* is a practice that can be nurtured. As we know, we tend to veer toward what we put our focus on. In groups this means being willing to talk about and practice what you need to …

Community Agreements, Facilitation
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Fractals and the Power of Starting Small

We think a LOT about how to help you get better at meeting your mission. So many fabulous people and organizations we work with start every day wanting to make the world a better place. Yet the best of us can still struggle. Many organizations start with strategic planning to create a guide for achieving …

Facilitation, Featured, Values
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