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Posts tagged ‘Personal Development’

Dec 9

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The naked presenter

At first glance, Garr Reynolds’ new book, The naked presenter, is another entry in the “how to deliver presentation” genre. But as I read through the book, I found myself making notes. The notes were not about how to improve my presentations, but about how I approach change management.

As an organization development practitioner, I spend my time working with change management. This morphs through training – to teach something new, facilitation – where knowledge and ideas are exchanged,  and, communication – designed to inform, motivate, and effect behavior change. Reynolds writes about all of this and more. He integrates information from interpersonal neurobiology, personal observation of his surroundings, and jazz musicians.

He does write about making effective presentations and improving public speaking skills. But the most important idea I encountered in the book is that “lessons are everywhere.” It is up to each of us to inquire into everyone and everything we encounter, asking how it impacts who we are and what old and new lessons we take away.

Each of us has many opportunities to connect with others. Knowing who we are and what matters is the foundation. Knowing why we are speaking, along with how and what we are communicating, allows us to build and effect change.

If you like to walk around the neighborhood block backward, seeing the roof lines and landscape from a new perspective, I recommend reading this book and watching for patterns that reach far beyond presentation design.

Dec 8

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Who are you becoming?

This past weekend Jon and I went on an adventure to Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. A decade ago, I used to make an annual pilgrimage to the refuge every December for their Eagle Days celebration. The time there brought back wonderful memories of friends and the experiences we shared. It was a reminder that it is important to choose how I spend my time.

Daniel Pink recently asked a similar question, “Is what I’m doing right now going to be of lasting value to me or to others?”

In my world, time gets consumed online in-between meeting after event after meeting all while texting to keep business and family schedules synced and moving. The reality is that I’m riding along on the wave and taking my family and business along for the ride. What I choose directly influences who I become and what lasting value I create.

It’s time to stop and ask the question, “Is what I’m doing right now going to be of lasting value to me or to others?” And, then reflect on how I am choosing to use my time.

And yes, we saw over 30 eagles.

Dec 5

Needed: more data or the right question

Here’s a quote I’m turning around and looking at from all directions today:

The most important maxim for data analysts to heed, and one which many statisticians seem to have shunned, is this: Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise…
  – John Tukey

The key is finding the right question.

Dec 3

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Idea for reflection – 26


A great piece of art is composed not just of what is in the final piece, but equally what is not. It is the discipline to discard what does not fit—to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort—that distinguishes the truly exceptional artist and marks the ideal piece of work, be it a symphony, a novel, a painting, a company, or most important of all, a life.
  – Jim Collins

A stop doing list
Idea for reflection – 25

Nov 28

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Digesting experience

The long weekend has brought Thanksgiving meals with family and friends along with opportunities for walks in the woods.

In life, we constantly experience interactions with people and environment. Whether at home or in our organizations, we take in what is happening around us. It’s easy to let encounters, emotions, and memories accumulate. We hold on to our experiences – good, bad, joyful, and difficult.

When we eat food, our bodies process it, taking what is needed for life and energy, eliminating the rest. We do not struggle to digest food; it’s a natural process. What if we digest experience the same way? Observing and reflecting on what happens with the intention of embracing what is life-giving. Choosing to let go of what is not needed or energy draining.

What would we learn and embrace? What would we let go of? How would we and our organizations change?

Fetzer Institute – Tools for Changing Everything

Nov 27

A little imagination

… can take the lowly hedge apple

Fall Hedge Apple

… and create a work of art:

Hedge Apple Smiley Face

Thanks to the neighborhood kids and their creativity!

Where is your imagination taking you?

Nov 24

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Creativity

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
  –Pablo Picasso

How do you experience individual moments throughout the day? Do you see what is around you? Do you incorporate what you see into your ideas and opinions? Do you let it move you? Is it fun!? Here are some things I’ve seen in the last three days:

 

 

Getting unstuck

Nov 19

Idea for reflection – 25

 

When you improve a little bit each day, eventually big things occur. Don’t look for big, quick improvement. Instead, seek small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens–and when it happens, it lasts.
  – John Wooden
 
 
Idea for reflection – 24
 

Nov 18

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Unwoven threads

The wind-driven rain poured down the windows on yesterday’s rainy, November afternoon.

On a break, I looked out the window and saw the last rose of fall. With a snip of the shears …

it was inside, filling the room with its color and fragrance.

In the mist of work and life, I’m contemplating a variety of ideas that have crossed my path in the last few days. I’m still integrating them into my mental map. So for now, I’m going to point the way to them:

Writing about leadership roles in emerging systems, Peggy Holman has updated her proposed list. Read about system roles including Bridge, Artist, and Disturber. I’m considering what roles I play and have played as well as asking her question, “What roles would you add or change?”

Petsy Fink writes about her encounters at a senior citizens home in Germany. One of my questions in reflection, “How do our organizations not only honor our elders, but actively engage their wisdom in creating our future?”

Another interesting thread comes from the Interpersonal Neurobiology world. David Rock wrote about a new study that shows we human beings are on auto-pilot about half of the time. We live in the stories we tell in our brains – which is useful for “goal setting and strategizing”  – and live in the experience of the moment. Being focused on the here and now makes us more flexible in our responses.  The question is, “How do I increase my awareness of which mode I’m functioning in at any given time in order to be most effective?”

What is on your list of unfinished threads that you’re integrating into your map of the world?

Nov 11

Wanted: Experience

In recent job interviews, a just-turned-30 acquaintance has been rejected for lack of experience. Additionally he is often told that older persons already in the hiring organization wouldn’t be comfortable with a younger leader. And yet, he has kept a sense of humor, sending me an e-mail with this subject line: “How to sound younger in an interview.”

Having worked with this person on multiple projects in a variety of settings, I have come to appreciate his creative ideas and insights. I have seen him work successfully with people of all ages. On more than one project, his leadership led to changes that could not have been imagined by someone embedded in the system for the past 10 or 20 years.

I have worked with and supervised persons younger than me, and in turn, been supervised by younger persons. In all of these relationships, I have benefited from younger persons’ thoughtful leadership and management abilities. I have learned to see the world and organizations in different ways, to see my role and my self in new ways.

I value the contributions of all persons, no matter their age, in the organizations where I participate. If your organization is tied to a particular map of how the world works – i.e. older persons always supervise younger persons, I challenge you to adventure to the map edge and discover the power and opportunity of experiencing the extra-ordinary.

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