Most teams start January with renewed energy and all the best intentions to make positive changes for the year ahead. By February, the momentum inevitably stalls. By March, people have reverted to their usual ways of working. Successful teams invest time upfront to align on what work matters most for them to achieve their shared […]
Building Team Alignment for the New Year Read More »
How seeing systems reduces your overwhelm and increases your influence Dear Change Leader, “I kept thinking there had to be one key thing causing our retention problem,” explained David, a department head at a consulting firm. “I’d tackle communication, then discover it was workload. I’d address workload, then find out it was career development.
Seeing the Systems that Enable Everything Read More »
Dear Change Leader, “I thought I understood what was happening until I talked to someone in HR,” Marcus shared during a recent conversation. As Director of Operations for a growing tech company, Marcus had been wrestling with persistent delays in product launches. For weeks, he’d been focusing on what seemed obvious: the development team needed
The Perspectives that Shift Everything Read More »
Michael joins Carol Hamilton to explore how psychological safety—often dismissed as a “soft” concept—plays a critical role in team performance, learning, and innovation. Listen
Building Psychological Safety in Nonprofit Organizations Read More »
Dear Change Leader, “I think I’ve been asking the wrong questions,” Sarah confided during our coaching session last week. As VP of Operations for a mid-sized company, Sarah had been struggling with an impossible challenge: her team consistently missed deadlines despite working long hours. For months, she’d focused on one question: “How can we get
The Questions That Change Everything 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
Michael speaks with Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken about how organizations can prepare themselves to receive and use large investments to spur growth. Listen
What Nonprofits Must Know About Transformational Gifts and Sudden Growth Read More »
Dear Change Leader, Imagine this scene with me… It’s a windy day in the forest. Trees sway dramatically as gusts intensify, their rustling growing louder in your ears. Suddenly, one tree—its roots perhaps not as deeply anchored as others—topples onto a power line. An electrical arc sends sparks flying in all directions. In these
Finding Renewal in Disruption: The Forest Fire Principle of Resilience Read More »
Michael has a timely discussion with Mickey Desai on the critical importance of creating clarity on an organization’s Identity and Purpose – and how this enables nimble and adaptive change (such as when a crisis hits you!) Listen
The Prepared Organization with Michael Randel Read More »