Tag: devil’s advocate

implicit bias, bias, strategic bias, reputation, reputational risk, Starbucks, Starbucks Coffee, Starbucks Corporation, Chicago, Philadelphia

How to Recognize Implicit Bias After What Happened to Starbucks

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

A recent event at a coffee shop in Philadelphia has stirred controversy about subconscious bias, corporate policies, and how to repair a company’s fractured reputation.

In this article, I explain:

  • the facts behind this event (including quotes from the young men, Starbucks leaders, Philadelphia police and Mayor, and other experts)
  • What are Policies and Procedures?
  • When the Enforcement of Policy Shows an Underlying Bias
  • Starbucks’ Official Statement
  • Taking Action: What You Can Do to Prevent a Starbucks-Like Incident
  • The 7 Symptoms of Implicit Bias, and
  • My Conclusion

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unconscious aggression, aggression, aggressive, behavior, leadership, leader, anger, angry, management, risk management

Why Unconscious Aggression is So Hard to See as a Leader

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

Can we be aggressive toward someone and not even know it?

I think we can.

Aggression is behavior that is hostile, forceful, or destructive. It comes from the Latin ad- (“to”) and the word gradi (“to step toward something or approach; to attack”).

It is an outward expression of inward anger that can cause incredible harm to others, even if we don’t realize it at first. Sometimes it’s difficult to know what aggression looks like, especially if you’re very comfortable with a highly competitive atmosphere.

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SWOT, SWOT Diagram, Weighted SWOT, SWOT Assessment, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, strategic planning, internal risks, external risks, comparison, comparative SWOT

How Do I Make a Weighted SWOT Diagram? [Video]

Published on by Grace LaConte7 Comments

Today, I’m going to explain how to look for hidden opportunities and risks in your organization using a weighted SWOT analysis. This strategic management tool allows you to calculate your options, which leads to decisions that are risk intelligent.

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The Inferno of Dante, Dante's Inferno, Divine Comedy, Divina Commedia, Robert Pinsky, bilingual, translation, Italian, strategic, strategic perspective, strategy

Dante’s Inferno From a Strategic Perspective

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

When you hear the words “Dante” and “Inferno,” your initial thought is probably something like this:

  • Some guy named Dante wrote it a long time ago
  • It’s a book about the levels of hell
  • The Catholic faith has something to do with it
  • There’s something about “comedy,” but not in the traditional sense
  • I might have read the book in high school

Up until recently, that’s pretty much all I knew about this classic work. But what gems of wisdom are hidden in those lyrical texts? I decided to find out.

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strategic risk, risk management, strategic plan, strategic planning

What is Strategic Risk, and Why Does It Matter?

Published on by Grace LaConte3 Comments

When you hear the word “risk,” you probably think of either something dangerous (“don’t do that, you could get hurt!”), or an action that is likely to fail (“if this works out, we’ll be rich; if not, we could lose everything”). But risks are actually neutral; they’re neither good nor bad, but simply describe a degree of uncertainty.

We tend to say that risks are either “positive” or “negative.” But what we’re actually describing is the outcome. If a risk brings a positive outcome, we might enjoy new opportunities and pleasant surprises. If a risk brings a negative outcome, we could experience damage, injury, liability, or loss.

The factors that contribute to outcomes are called threats. Although most threats can’t be eliminated (such as consumer purchase habits, economic instability, and increasing reliance on technology), we can definitely reduce the chance that we will suffer from a negative outcome.

I’m passionate about helping leaders to recognize vulnerabilities in their organization: areas where an attack or loss is likely to occur. In this article, I explain the importance of developing your awareness of risks in a strategic context, the “perfect blend” of strategy and risk, and suggestions for managing them.

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