My view of organization effectiveness starts with two important assumptions: We are interdependent, and as a result We need to collaborate. Interdependence implies that people need to cooperate in order to accomplish what they want. In the workplace, managers need employees to accomplish results that lead to department or organization success. Likewise, employees need managers … More The Assumption of Interdependence
For the last few months I set aside writing to do some listening, research and thinking. I wanted to better understand a trend that over the past few years, influenced in part by 9/11 and most recently by the pressures of a struggling economy, seemed to be reaching a crescendo that was overpowering more important … More The Dangers of Corporate Fundamentalism
In my personal life, I am an optimist. I believe fully in the power of positive thinking and the value of spreading good cheer wherever I go, if only because it makes life more fun and enjoyable. But when it comes to managing change, I believe in realism. A key component of the Architecture of … More Despots, Group Think and the Ugly Side of Institutional Optimism
Nicholas Kristof’s column in yesterday’s New York Times shared that the origins of political judgments may in part be the result of our fundamental personality type and even in the hard-wiring in our brains. While even the researchers agree there is more work to do to validate these findings, it is consistent with the growing body … More It’s All In Our Head
Listening is an organization’s most critical capability whether we are trying to deepen customer relationships, engage employees, improve team performance, resolve conflict or lead organization change. … More The Value of Strategic Listening
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I enjoy the gathering of family and friends and look forward to the feast, especially the leftovers. More importantly, I love the reason for the day itself. It is a time to express gratitude for the abundance we have in our lives. Thanksgiving also is a change manager’s holiday because … More The Practice of Gratitude
Creativity. Innovation. Change. These words represent the standard demands of our current workplaces. Organizations have spent millions of dollars and countless hours attempting to infuse employees with the mindset and techniques required to live and breathe these values. But the very fuel that feeds these familiar mandates, however, inevitably produces conflict. Individuals develop new ideas … More Managing The Balance Between Conflict and Creativity
Erik Van Slyke 