Do you love sushi as much as I do? So how do you know if what you ordered was made fresh with quality ingredients? Would you buy pre-packaged sushi from a gas station or convenience store on some remote highway? What if that sushi was also over a day old – how many risks are you […]
Blogs from this Author
Orchestras, Onions, and Organizational Culture – A Primer
Have you ever watched an orchestra before they perform a concert? You will see an interesting ritual where musicians individually warm up their instruments as the audience arrives to find their seats. Next, without a visible external cue – and before the conductor steps on stage, the musicians begin their tuning process. The principal violinist (also known as the concertmaster) will play a tuning note. Fellow violinists seated next […]
Tools to Calibrate the Need for Organizational Change Management
While digital transformation started gradually over 25 years ago, this new wave of data driven innovation has steadily gained momentum. Today, digital transformation includes a wide umbrella of technologies – including the cloud, Big Data, analytics, artificial intelligence, mobile/mobility, and IoT. For me, the digital transformation revolution gives us an incredible number of tools to improve how we […]
Build a Perpetual Beta Mindset to Speed Organizational Change
Nearly every day, I can scan the headlines on my news feeds and read a report on the dramatic ways that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work. While the field of AI is wide and evolving, I like the definition given by Nils J. Nilsson, a founding AI researcher at Stanford University: Artificial intelligence is that activity devoted to making machines intelligent, and intelligence […]
Your “Back of the Napkin” Formula for Leading Change
When was the last time you gave an impromptu update over lunch on the back of a napkin to explain that big change project you are leading? Did you run out of space on the napkin or were you able to succinctly capture and explain where and why the project was – or was not – on target? […]
Cones of Uncertainty and Certainty and Organizational Change
“How will the change affect me personally?” This is the first question that people want answered as soon as they learn about upcoming plans for a large organizational change. However, at the early stages of preparing for organizational change, leaders are not able to give specific answers to these questions. This concept, known as the Cone of Uncertainty, is found in […]
Compelling Shared Visions Lead the Way for Organizational Change
I look forward to going to work every day. I know that sounds trite, but it is true. I have not always been able to say that. Don’t get me wrong – not everything about my job is easy or fun. Like the long walks down the sky bridge to catch my early morning flights, […]
Leading Organizational Change – Art or Science?
For better or worse, leading organizational change – especially for an external consultant – tends to carry a certain mystique. Perhaps this exists because some aspects of organizational change are intangible, unplanned, and require intuition. Thus, leaders seek out a consultant who can spread “magic dust” throughout the organization to get people to change and […]
NASCAR and Successful Organizational Change – Both Fueled by Strong Sponsors
NASCAR is a fascinating sport. The thunder of roaring engines, speed of racing cars, and energy of cheering crowds. To me, I notice that every car, driver, and pit crew are covered with stickers and patches of logos from sponsors. These sponsors provide the teams with financial and promotional support to connect with their fans […]