It is tough to recognize that we create our own reality. We live in such a way that the bubble we create is quite real to us. That is fine most of the time BUT when our reality stops working for us or impedes us in achieving our goals we come to a […]
Only when something helps the team burst the bubble, can a team begin to create new beliefs and a new team reality. I worked with a team that had a belief that “Only a lead person can do work scheduling.â€? After the company implemented a team system, the lead person was promoted to […]
Think of reality as a bubble or shell the team creates for itself to live within. The bubble is generally quite helpful and functional for the team. It creates a safe zone where everyone agrees on the rules of the game, where beliefs about how the work should be done are well established, […]
The story of Roger Bannister who broke the 4-minute mile on May 6, 1954 is a case in point. Until that date, most if not all professionals in Track and Field sports thought the 4-minute mile was impossible for humans. After Roger Bannister broke it, several other runners broke it within a few […]
This is such an obvious question, yet so difficult to pin down. For example, what is real to a Republican might seem just fantasy or unquestioned belief to a Democrat. Have you ever been in an argument with someone who was convinced that what they believe was real while you could easily see […]
You really can’t talk about teams without the concept of load balancing. It is such a fundamental part of teaming that without effective load balancing you may not have a team at all, just a single leader work group. The objective of an effective coach is to develop teams that can take on […]
Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it
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One area that makes teams worth the effort is load balancing. In many organizations where teams exist, I have noticed a lack of focus on this critical issue. While there are many benefits to a team-based system, load balancing probably gets the most bang for the buck. Simply put, load balancing means […]
Aggressive defensive behavior looks a lot different but serves the same purpose. When aggressive defensive managers stub their toe, they blame the rock. When they feel threatened, their first response is to attack. They believe the best defense is a good offense.
In the extreme, this type of behavior can border on abuse. […]
One key coaching concept I find helpful in working with managers is the notion of defensive behavior. There are two kinds of defensive behavior – passive defensive and aggressive defensive. They are both destructive but different ways to defend ones self. We all use both types of defensiveness but have a […]
Watch what you think, you may be listenting! Anonymous
Pray: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy. - Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary
I know I am not alone in this type of thinking. I see it in almost everyone I encounter. What is the result of thinking this way over and over again? It has a direct affect on my energy and morale. As the saying goes, “Watch what you tell yourself, you […]
My interest in writing about this type of victimhood is not to criticize my friend. After noticing this in my friend, I started noticing that I do it myself! Occasionally I catch myself talking about the unfairness of this or that. For example, I had trouble on a long business trip a […]
I have a friend who is fond of saying things like, “I deserve to treat myself.â€? Or “I deserve to take a day of vacation.â€? Listening to the way people use this terminology is interesting because it has a whole iceberg of meaning hiding below. Question a person about this statement and they […]