- Are you frustrated by misalignment during performance reviews or evaluations?
- Do you wast time and energy trying to understand what's expected of you?
- Do you struggle to create alignment between you and your employees, clients, managers, customers, vendors, teachers, or family?
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Take Your Goals from SMART to SMART as Hell!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Lessons from the Martial Arts
"If you follow the present-day world, you will turn your back on the Way; if you would not turn your back on the Way, do not follow the world" - Takuan.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Learning Moments: Empty Nest Syndrome
Well, we had a baby hummingbird that we named summer.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Make Work Great (one person at a time)
Last week I received my copy of Ed Muzio's new book, "Make Work Great".
I'm a big fan of Ed's work (writings, videos, and presentations), because he's one of the few thinkers out there who is trying help individuals build a bridge between great tools and productive relationships.
Also, because he's a great guy who happens to be a friend. Full disclosure: I acted as one of the 'peer reviewers' for "Make Work Great" last summer. I'm also the instructional designer for the companion one-day workshop.
Ed's 'Overtness' framework - which combines overtness of task (purpose, impact, incentive, progress, resources, and capability) with overtness of relationships (clarity, questions, approach, and agreement) - is a powerful tool. This framework helped me look at what I do and how I interact in a new light.
Ed's goal is to increase output - while reducing stress - in the workplace. This book points us in the right direction. I highly recommend you check it out.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Learning Moments:
How cool is this? We've got a baby hummingbird in our backyard. With the help of a stepladder, I took some photos.
We've named him/her Summer (the hummer) because, well, it's summer! We've been watching Summer for the past week, as he/she grows quickly from a little hummer with a tiny beak to the point where it's positively bursting out of its' nest.
Today, Summer is moving a lot. I expect that he/she will be flying off within the next few days. Until, we plan to enjoy the process (and then clean all the 'residue' off of our back patio.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Learning Moments:
We spent the fourth of July weekend at Point Reyes National Seashore, where we ate a lot of oysters, drank a little wine, did some reading, and fit in a couple of 8-mile hikes.
One of those hikes was the trail out to Tomales Point. Now, I know that it's been a rainy year in California and that the wildflowers did quite well. This was a little over-the-top, though, don't you think?
There is a trail that ran straight between me and Angie in the photo above. You just can't see it through the growth. While that may look spectacular (and it was even better in real life), it wasn't so spectacular on our legs.
We've walked this trail a bunch of times before and even debated taking a different trail this trip. Once again, however, we learned that, 'one can never step in the same river twice', because everything changes. As long as you're open to it, even seemingly repetitive events can create a brand new experience.
Four Lessons for Teachers from Bruce Lee
Last week, at one of my favorite used book stores, I picked up a book of quotes by Bruce Lee, called "Striking Thoughts".
- "Remember, I am no teacher; I can merely be a signpost for a traveler who is lost"
- "The ideal teacher - not 'what' to think, but 'how' to think"
- "Defeat simply tells me that something is wrong in my doing it is a path to success and truth"
- "Where method is, freedom is not"
- Take my words and do with them what you will. Your milage may vary...
- Observe and explore my process, not my content.
- Failure is not only to be expected, but welcomed and even celebrated.
- If you didn't hear me the first time, reread 1, 2, & 3!!