The SHADOW side of the Pyramid Organization

NUGGET: Be sure that the way you draw your organization corresponds to how you want it to work – and be aware of both the “light” and the “shadow” of the assumptions that underlie your mental model. In leadership programs I often ask people to draw their organization. Before you read on, imagine how you […]

Let’s Move Beyond Our Love Affair with Charismatic Leadership

NUGGET: Don’t put any leader on a pedestal. If you are a leader, be careful with your use of your power and charisma. A mainstream view of leadership is that the best leaders (people with institutional power) have lots of charisma. They use it to instill vision, values, and culture and to make sure people […]

Nelson Mandela: The Responsible Use of Power Lesson Three: Inclusiveness

NUGGET: In times of change and complexity it is natural to retreat to an us/them stance. But, as Mandela’s life shows us, it’s often the opposite we need: a more inclusive view of people and ideas. In times of change, we are tempted to draw hard boundaries to protect what is “me” (the individual) or […]

Nelson Mandela: The Responsible Use of Power Lesson Two: Be a Bifocal Leader

NUGGET: Great leaders have bi-focal sight: they simultaneously focus on today and the longer term future. When we said goodbye to Nelson Mandela in 2013, I looked back on some of the lesser known insights from that amazing time of transformation in South Africa – a time that I participated in. I thought about many […]

Nelson Mandela: The Responsible Use of Power Lesson One: Awareness

NUGGET: A leadership role carries special responsibilities and powers. The first lesson is to be aware that as a formal leader you speak and act for your group, your institution, your cause. You are no longer just “you,” but are also your role. In 1983 I was invited to give a series of talks in […]

Introducing the SHADOW Side of Power On Power in the Changing World of Work

NUGGET: Become increasingly aware of the “shadow” that goes with formal leadership roles. It can derail your best leadership intentions – but also holds immense potential energy for leverage, learning and legacy! It was 1958, my 8TH grade (Standard 6) year. I was part of the oldest group in the school. We had all looked […]

Think BIGGER About Change The Case FOR Failures

NUGGET: Failure is a critical ingredient for complex change and today’s “failure” may be an important step in a larger journey. Don’t give up when somebody says, “We tried that and it didn’t work.” Rather check whether the change is worth pursuing now. Then ask, “What worked and didn’t work last time? How are our […]

Think BIGGER About Change The Case FOR Polarization

NUGGET: We demonize polarization (it does have its dark side) but it’s an important dynamic that helps fuel complex change processes. When it is most intense, it is a signal that the likelihood of breakthrough may be near. So, don’t be afraid of polarization. Stimulate it, and then find ways to transform it into more […]

The Lonely, Often Murky World of the Change Agent

NUGGET: Change, by definition, is something new and culturally unsupported. In its initial stages it is only fueled by one or a few people’s vision or desire for something different. This is true even when the change has institutional backing. It takes courage and commitment to get any change going. When that’s your job, be […]

Welcome to: A Pot of Gold

It’s pretty clear that today’s is a rapidly changing (and quite challenging) world of work. The question I would like to explore is, what does it mean for you as a leader and participant, or as someone who influences others in those roles? I believe that the changes going on are occurring at a deeper […]

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ARTICLES to stimulate fresh thinking and practical action for personal and business change