Cultural Cohesion
strategy+business ($) - Aug 19, 2021
What it means to be a Human leader
There are many types of CEOs. But in a post-pandemic world, those who connect with their staff on a personal level will thrive.
Chief Executive - Aug 13, 2021
Do You Want To Be Mindful? Ask Yourself This Question Every Day.
Mindfulness, a key component of Buddhist philosophy, has become quite in vogue today. Get on the right path by asking yourself one question.
MIT Sloan Management Review ($) - Aug 10, 2021
Why Every Executive Should Be Focusing on Culture Change Now
To make transformation a reality in their businesses post-pandemic, leaders must build a strong culture to support it.
Bain & Company - Jul 30, 2021
Leading From The Minority
Putting yourself into situations in which you’re not part of the majority builds valuable leadership skills.
HBR.org ($) - Aug 3, 2021
Did WFH Hurt the Video Game Industry?
The video game industry was better prepared than most to make the switch to remote work. Even so, researchers found that companies that went remote during the pandemic suffered more delays than those that managed to keep working in offices.
Bain & Company - Aug 4, 2021
Three Steps to Make Training Stick
Combining formal training, ongoing coaching, and peer learning is key to helping employees master critical new skills.
Fast Company ($) - Aug 5, 2021
‘It’s very time sensitive’: Why a fast-paced work environment hurts all employees
When a business emphasizes constant responsiveness, rushed and thoughtless action can become a cultural norm.
SmartBrief - Jul 30, 2021
Here are the habits of employees who lead without the title
In this article, I share five habits of these influential, informal leaders. They merit studying.
George Veth
This is a simple post on the current saga going on between Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packers organization. The author draws an analogy to the fact that the Packers may have the best roster (even better if Rogers is part of it), but it won’t matter if their culture is actually in disarray. They won’t be a winning team. The conclusion is that leadership needs to be cultural in nature. I like the constant reminder.
SmartBrief - Aug 3, 2021
Why leaders need to know the difference between teams and rosters
Most of it is talk about rosters, not teams. While it may sound like semantics, there’s a very big difference — one that affects you as a leader, even if you’re not a football fan.
George Veth
Two claps for this article! I totally agree that organizational culture is built on a set of behaviors/values that are applauded and rewarded over time. The reinforcing mechanism of celebration turns these actions taken by individuals into actions that everyone is copying and owning. The leader has the opportunity to identify and celebrate those activities that support the purpose and strategy of the organization and, thereby, influence what becomes the culture of the organization.
MIT Sloan Management Review ($) - Jul 26, 2021
Overcoming Obstacles to Successful Culture Change
New behaviors must become lasting habits to achieve positive, sustainable change.
Sift ($) - Jul 29, 2021
Hybrid Work Culture — It’s about Rebuilding not Maintaining
Just as “remote work” became the phrase of 2020, “hybrid work” is on its way to becoming the workforce word of 2021. And for good reason. The majority of companies are moving to a hybrid work environment and are already rethinking their processes, tools, offices, and more to adapt to this new mode of work.
HBR.org ($) - Jul 26, 2021
When Do We Actually Need to Meet in Person?
As company leaders grapple with what a return to the office should look like, they should take the opportunity to think carefully about which parts of work should be done in person, which should be virtual, and which can benefit from a mix, then can design toward that ideal.
George Veth
I really enjoyed this tantalizing post on the “sheep and wolves”. The post references a computer simulation that provides extrinsic rewards and penalties for wolves trying to eat sheep – leading to perverse behavior. The author then walks through how intrinsic motivation is sufficient to build a healthy culture that supports employees who already want to do good work! Love it. Great post.
Management Matters ($) - Jul 21, 2021
Sheep, Wolves, and Employee Motivation
What a game in which virtual wolves chase virtual sheep can teach us about organizational culture
Chief Executive - Jul 16, 2021
How Cadence Enables Great Leadership Teams
A guide to developing the rhythm that will bring your team into full alignment and better able to achieve critical goals.
George Veth
Great podcast with transcript on centered leadership. The author describes centered leadership as – having the presence “to be self-aware of what’s driving you and to be self-aware of how your behaviors are affecting others”. The assumption being that, stemming from this understanding, subsequent action would be taken as appropriate! Loved the ideas (several others beyond what I highlight here), the dialog, and the few examples to bring the ideas to life.
McKinsey & Company - Jul 15, 2021
Centered leadership creates connection in turbulent times
McKinsey’s Joanna Barsh discusses how you can become an effective and engaged leader.
HBR.org ($) - Jul 12, 2021
Leadership Training Can Pay Huge Dividends for Midsize Companies
Middle-market companies’ common objections to investing in leadership development programs reflect real constraints and concerns. These companies don’t have many layers of hierarchy and often rely on informal processes for talent management and development. But it’s important to overcome the objections, as data shows a clear correlation between superior talent planning and company performance.
BeingWell ($) - Jul 13, 2021
Forget ‘The Art of War’
Real Leadership is Built on Emboldened Empathy
Chief Executive - Jul 14, 2021
Avoid The Country Club: Stay Hungry Even When You’re Successful
The healthier the company, the harder it is to drive true innovation and change inside its walls. Some tips for staying hungry.
Regina Zafonte ($) - Jul 6, 2021
Your Hiring Process Determines Your Talent (Hiring Series 2/5)
Finding excellent employees can sometimes feel like finding your soulmate — you have to meet a lot of people to find the one.
We Are Heroes ($) - Jul 8, 2021
How leading by intent can empower product teams to reach new heights
Why empowering staff through intent based leadership has numerous benefits over traditional management
All Time Favorites
strategy+business - Feb 15, 2016
George Veth
For years, we have been thinking about how to create organizations that are adaptable to dynamically changing markets and unexpected disruptions. I can’t agree more that organizational culture is at the core of doing so. This article walks through what the authors deem to be the 7 elements of an adaptive culture, and, then, it goes on to explore the challenges of evolving culture over time. Many leaders think that culture is obvious – but that’s because it lives within their heads! However, we need more leaders to reflect on and broadcast the vital behaviors and dynamic processes that support an adaptable culture. We should all bounce our organizational culture up against these principles as well as measure our leaders by their efforts to build such a culture.