Dear Change Leader, In 1972, a small team at Royal Dutch Shell gathered to do something that seemed almost absurd: imagine a future in which oil prices would skyrocket. At the time, oil had been cheap and stable for decades. The entire industry operated on the assumption that this would continue. Planning for anything else […]
The Leadership Trap That Creates Tomorrow’s Crises Read More »
How leaders can reignite purpose and hope when teams are running on empty Dear Change Leader, “I look around the room and see people who used to light up when we talked about our work,” Stefan shared with me last week. “Now they just look… tired. Really tired.” As Executive Director of a community
When Your Team’s Spirit Feels Broken Read More »
Dear Change Leader, I’m writing this newsletter shortly after the summer solstice, almost at the midpoint of the year, as people traditionally prepare for their summer holidays. Given this transition point, I’d like to explore the benefit of pausing in the midst of what continues to be a hectic year. Imagine that you are
Appreciating The Clearing: Finding Perspective in the Midst of the Journey Read More »
Dear Change Leader, Picture this: A small dinosaur stands at the edge of a cliff, its body covered in what we now know were primitive feathers—originally evolved for warmth and display, not flight. Below stretches an unfamiliar landscape, changed by shifting climates and new predators. The old hunting grounds have dried up. The familiar food
Dear Change Leader, When a storm strikes, it’s not the strongest tree that necessarily survives—it’s the grove with intertwined root systems supporting each other through the gale. As we continue exploring resilience, let’s focus on what might be the most powerful dimension: relational resilience—the unique strength that emerges when teams bond through disruption. The
The Bonds That Rebuild: Cultivating Team Resilience Read More »
Have you heard our clients describe what happens when they work with us? Rebuilding from the Ground Up: Revitalizing an Academic Department When James accepted the interim chair position at a prestigious university department, he inherited what many would consider a leadership vacuum—the department had lost not only its previous chair but most of
Rebuilding from the Ground Up – Coaching Impact Read More »
Dear Change Leader, Would you fly on this airline? “We will no longer perform regular maintenance on our aircraft.” “Due to our hiring freeze, there will only be one pilot on the flight deck.” Imagine an airline making these announcements in the name of cost-cutting. Your reaction would likely be a mix
How hard can it be to develop a plan? You’d be surprised at just how challenging it can be! There are so many things that can go wrong – both in the process of developing the plan, and in the process of implementing the plan. But I think there is one common issue that shows up
Planning the Work – a practical tool for teams Read More »
In a world where company growth and success should fuel employee satisfaction, 67% of staff are not positively engaged. Here’s why, and what you can do about it. The Engagement Paradox I recently heard from an executive-level leader at a growing company. This company was good at what it did, it had a sterling reputation,
I’d never witnessed this before. A national election was threatening to tear a country apart. A high risk of violence by supporters of the losing party. Uncertainty about how the work of our organization would be impacted by the new government. I was unsure who I could trust in the workplace to speak about my