Okay all you crafters reading this – what is the difference between papier-mâché and play dough? And no…how they are spelled is not the answer I am looking for! One typical response might be that papier-mâché hardens into whatever shape you make it, while play dough will hold its shape yet remains pliable so it … More Engaging Partners – Will that be Papier-Mâché or Play Dough?
In a world where we have become conditioned to see many issues in terms of black and white, ‘either-or’ options, adopting a shades of grey ‘both and’ mindset may seem daunting and contradictory. Let me reassure you that fear is both real and false. Establishing new habits is always daunting at first and rarely as … More Polarity Series #5: Practicing Both And Thinking
What is the first thing you do when you see a caution sign? Wise individuals immediately slow down and scan their surroundings to gather more information about the potential threat. Then they plan their next steps or actions based on what they’ve learned. Managing a polarity employs the same principles. In order to consistently generate … More Polarity Series #4: Early Warning Signs and Action Plans
Welcome to Map Reading 2.0 – the third in my series on Polarity Thinking. So far we’ve examined the differences between a Problem or Polarity, and the component parts of a Polarity MapTM. In this post, we are going to look at some ways to better understand what our polarity map is showing us to … More Polarity Series #3: Map Reading 2.0
Maps. A tool that has likely been around since the beginning of time. Google the definition of map and the first entry to pop up states, “a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.” When you study maps in more detail, you notice there are directional arrows … More Polarity Series #2: Map Reading Basics
Peruse any number of job postings or Google the skills that employers seek in new recruits and chances are good that problem-solving will be mentioned. Often problem-solving is mentioned alongside related terms such as critical thinking, innovation, creativity and conflict resolution. The trouble with focusing on problem-solving is that not every challenge one encounters in … More Polarity Series #1: Do You Have a Problem or a Wicked Problem?
Acknowledgement: The team-building activity presented in this post was adapted by permission of the publisher from the book Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers by Brian Cole Miller ©2015 Brian Cole Miller. Published by AMACOM, NY, NY. All rights reserved. http://www.amacombooks.org Given this month’s posts have focused on the concept of Polarity Thinking and shifting from an … More Team-Building Activity: Unleash the Power of “And” Thinking!
I found this month’s team-building activity at Leadership Geeks (formerly Leadership with You) – a website dedicated to developing amazing leaders. It’s got a lot of great information and resources and a TON of free icebreakers and team-building-exercises. So, if you like what you read below, be sure to check out all the other amazing … More Team-Building Activity: Master Architects
Ask anyone who has organized or led a strategic planning process what it was like and you’ll likely hear that it was a lot of hard work but very worthwhile. The written strategic plan represents the visible tip of the proverbial iceberg; all the hard work (data gathering, analysis, stakeholder interviews, discussions, prioritizing, wordsmithing, etc.) … More Strategic Planning – Panning for Gold
I can’t tell you the exact number of times I’ve been contacted by well-meaning managers, executive directors and board members asking if I can facilitate their strategic planning retreat but I do know it exceeds the number of fingers and toes I am blessed to have. Early on in my career, I enthusiastically answered in … More Strategic Planning – It’s Not an Event!
