Reader if I'm new to your inbox, thanks for the welcome. If I've been here for a while, thanks for always welcoming me. This week I want to talk to you about the dangers of the conformity trap, a destructive organizational dynamic that prioritizes harmony and avoidance over truth and effectiveness. Here is a deeper dive into the concept, its mechanics, and why it’s so detrimental to business health: The Conformity Trap: The High Price of “Getting Along” The conformity trap is the state where...
13 days ago • 4 min read
Reader if I'm new to your inbox, thanks for the welcome. If I've been here for a while, thanks for always welcoming me. Jan joins the Zoom call with HQ from her office two time zones away. During the recent state medicaid symposium, she identified several company procedures and metrics that required alteration for her state. She sent her boss and the VP of Operations a summary containing all of the local updates and requested changes and scheduled the Zoom meeting. The immediate response...
20 days ago • 4 min read
Reader if things are feeling a bit toxic right now, this is for you. One of the most influential people in shaping my practice as an Organizational Development expert is Peter Block and this week I want to share his words on one of the most transformative choices you can make—inviting dissent. In a compliance-driven, empire, and colonial culture, saying no is considered a problem to be solved. Here are Peter's words on why it should be considered a superpower. It was a radical thought for me...
27 days ago • 3 min read
Reader I wonder how often you find yourself needing some courage. Needing courage because the situation you face is too risky challenging out of your comfort zone contentious overwhelming This past week I spent much time reflecting on courage. It began with my presentation to over 100 people at the TN SHRM annual conference, continued in a private facilitated session with a group of leaders, and ended on the pickleball court yesterday. The heart of each—our continuous need as human beings to...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader I'm just checking in to let you know I'm thinking about you. Last week was the one year anniversary of my father's death and funeral. So I am having a little grace for myself. I've taken a few weeks off from writing this weekly blog because I couldn't find the focus in words or even message. Grief is funny that way It shows up and sucks all the air out of the room, while simultaneously honoring life and love. Tomorrow I join a room of over 50 people at the SHRM Tennessee 2025...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader I'm not a big Marvel fan, but this line from the Toby Maguire Spiderman movie has stuck in my brain: "With great power comes great responsibility." Last Thursday I taught my Human Operating System model to a group of nonprofit leaders. The punchline is simple: You have tremendous power and influence over the results you get. Much of your thinking is habitual and keeps you stuck You can intentionally disrupt this habitual thinking You can replace your self-limiting thought with an...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader do you ever get that sinking, heavy, fluttery feeling in your stomach? It's July 13th, my oldest daughter's 16th birthday. She just passed her written drivers test and now we are headed to Florida with her former gymnastics coach and my good friend, Rebecca. Tomorrow morning we must be at the New College in Sarasota by 1PM to drop my daughter at her two week Duke Tip marine biology program. We stop in Atlanta for some fun, then continue to the Georgia/Florida border to spend the night....
2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, procrastinating is the sneaky play of your avoider. Your avoider uses a variety of stories to trick you into inaction: I don't want to do that thing It can wait till later Maybe somebody else will take will take care of it I'm not ready yet I can't do it well enough so I might as well not try And although there's truth in each story, it's only a half truth. The other half of the story is: If I get this done now I will get it off of my mind The sooner this is done the sooner I can...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, if you want to grow do this... I used to teach gymnastics. I would watch girls work so hard to learn a new skill only to have their overall performance decline at the meet despite nailing the new skill. In sports this is known as the a temporary dip. I told them the one and only sports psychology truth I knew: the dip is expected; perseverance is the key. Now I find myself in that same situation. I started playing pickleball in March and I am just starting to feel like I can hold my...
3 months ago • 3 min read