Blog
Too much safety? Are carmakers and school designers unwittingly dumbing us all down?
In the book, Why We Drive, Matthew Crawford warns about something being lost in all the work cars now do for drivers--antilock braking, traction control, radar cruise control, and their accompanying alerts: "Car makers have attenuated the natural bonds between action...
Consensus isn’t unanimity.
There are two things that everyone in the organization should agree on and commit to: The organization's mission and A clear decision-making process that invites the opinions of each team member and mines for disagreement. If those criteria are met,...
Unsolicited advice for law students
Speaking with a group of attorneys and law students recently, I heard and found myself sharing advice that was given to me by others, including some of my law professors. I've since gained a few insights from experience. Here they are, with a grain of salt and...
SMEs are your friend!
I am thankful for subject matter experts! Last summer, I started suffering from plantar fasciitis. It’s a condition in which a band of tissue along the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. It can cause severe pain after periods of immobility (sitting, sleeping, e.g.)....
Unselfishness = explosive scoring
We . . . really didn't care [who scored]. How could I care if D.T. got a touchdown, it's D.T., or Knowshon, or Julius. We were all like let's just score touchdowns, let's just run people over. - Eric Decker, former Denver Broncos wide receiver Jeff Legwold recently...
He’s just a dad.
The international soccer superstar landed in Miami this summer. And he's been scoring goals with apparent ease. And he's been celebrating creatively. This article chronicles Messi's superhero goal celebrations. It turns out the celebrations originated with summer...
Does doing the right thing really cost too much?
Compensation for employees of government agencies and nonprofit companies is often significantly lower than compensation for similarly skilled and experienced employees of other companies. Does it have to be that way? Have you, as an organization leader, done the...
Waiting wins sometimes.
Have you ever gotten close to solving a problem or making a strategic decision, and just waited? Slept on it--maybe for more than one night--and found the solution staring you in the face when you came back to it? Author Wayne Muller relates a conversation with...
Bad news is only bad if it’s a surprise
I was reminded this week of the importance of creating places where bad news is shared upwards, quickly. Creating such a culture makes a difference at home, too. So, how do you foster an environment where people are comfortable sharing bad news or even the possibility...