Why the world needs intuition

I’d like you all to imagine you’re an engineer, working on a NASA project, to launch a shuttle into space.  Due to weather and other issues, the launch has been postponed 8 times, each costing NASA millions of dollars. The pressure is mounting to get this bird off the ground.  The date is January 28th, […]

Intuition and Flow Equals Productivity

Intuition

The ups and downs of an employment market and the surges and retreats of technology operate under a paradigm that problems are solved and decisions are made based on rational, data-based intellectual prowess.  On the other side of the scale, we’ve grown our emotional intelligence.  But, we still put a disproportionate value on how intellectually […]

Authentic Leadership Insights: A Conversation with Dean Newlund

This conversation with Dean Newlund covers leadership insights based on his years of experience as a leadership expert and trainer for large organizations. Dean is CEO of Mission Facilitators International, a 25-year-old boutique team-based development firm with offices in Phoenix and Bend. He has developed and facilitated hundreds of training programs for small to large […]

The First Phase in the Process of Culture Integration

In a recent post I mentioned most mergers and acquisitions don’t succeed because of a clash of cultures. According to a KPMG study, “83% of all mergers and acquisitions failed to produce any benefit for their shareholders and over half actually destroyed value”. I think the reason is pretty obvious: We get focused on the […]

Integrating Company Cultures should be a Top Priority

Many organizations see their survival and growth in acquiring other companies.  AT&T just bought Time Warner, CVS might purchase Aetna and Amazon recently added Whole Foods to its portfolio.  The economy-of-scale, overpowering or eliminating competition and expanding new IP, tools and customer bases are just some of the attractive reasons why this year companies have […]

Learning in this Era of Disruption

Disruption

The speed of change right now is the slowest it will ever be for the rest our lives.  In such a wild and crazy world of Uber-speed, the requirements for keeping pace or leading the pack is innovation and disruption.  Innovations are improvements while disruptions are game changers.  PowerPoint was an innovation to how we communicate while the […]

Leadership does not have to include Consensus-Based Decision Making

Consensus

Today’s brand of leadership is all about inclusion, engagement and service. With that comes an expectation for consensus-based decision making.  But, not all decisions should be based on consensus.   If you’re going under the knife for heart surgery, you don’t want your doctor to wait until everyone agrees on what to do next while you […]

Successful Conflict Resolution Must Have These Three Commitments

communication

Communication without conflict is peaceful, harmonious and pleasant. Imagine your family, fellow employees, and negotiations between nations void of conflict. Wouldn’t we be less stressed, more relaxed, with far fewer lives lost in wars? But communication without conflict can also be boring, unimaginative and repetitive. Imagine how dull conversations over dinner and in team meetings […]