Why Foundational Staff Have Strategic Value [Podcast]

What do lowest-paid employees have to offer, and why should we ask them to help make strategic decisions? This episode starts with an eye-opening (and humbling) discovery. You’ll find out who Foundational are, the #1 question to ask them, why a Fight-Flight-Freeze response is not effective… and which response can add tremendous value to your organization.

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The Future of Business After COVID-19 [Podcast]

Whether your company provides face-to-face services or virtual ones, the novel Coronavirus pandemic has given us an opportunity to examine what has been going wrong… and what we can do to fix it. In this episode, you’ll hear some positive changes that are emerging from this crisis, a few negatives, some hidden opportunities, and potential threats to future success.

I will also explain the “neutral zone” of transition and why it’s important to acknowledge and fully experience the grief of what we’re leaving behind.

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Frankenstein Management: Why Bias Can Destroy a Great Business

What should you do when policies aren’t being followed, customers are upset, and everything starts to fall apart?

These are all symptoms of Frankenstein Management Syndrome: A condition where harmful outcomes occur because leaders are disconnected from the needs of their employees, customers, and community.

Let’s explore what causes this scary condition and how to avoid it.

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5 Painful Discussions That No Organization Should Ignore

This is the final in a 3-part series about Pain and Decision-Making.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

In previous posts, I described ways to see pain objectively, and how to identify pain points, and ways to fix them. In this article, we’ll be examining some difficult topics that most leaders tend to avoid.

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What Happens When We Avoid Pain in Decision-Making?

Pain isn’t something most of us want to experience. We are hard-wired to avoid unpleasant conversations, experiences, and memories. And most of the time, this instinct serves us well.

But when it comes to recognizing risks — vulnerabilities and threats that could cause harm — avoiding pain is dangerous.

This is the first in a 3-part series about Pain and Decision-Making.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

In this post, I will review the basics of pain, our unique thresholds, corresponding fears, and how to evaluate and properly both pain and managing risk. Continue reading “What Happens When We Avoid Pain in Decision-Making?”