After more than 30 years of “fighting the system” and trying to “change the culture” in large organizations, I’m a little tired. I have…

Susan is a task manager in an international development bank who finds herself ceaselessly pulled between satisfying client expectations on individual country projects and…

The establishment of a goal is generally based on a place or state one wants to be at in the future, as compared to…

Recently, I was coaching a CEO who was lamenting the amount of time she was spending “selling” major decisions to her executive team and…

Dear Editor, This note is triggered by the article in Volume 11 Number 5 entitled, “Quality vs. Perfectionism: When Does Our Push for Excellence Become…

What is the most valuable contribution executives make to their companies, expertise or leadership? I say leadership. Knowledge and technical capabilities, no matter how…

Perhaps the most prevalent dysfunction in companies (and other areas of our lives) is conflict avoidance. Many of us avoid conflict without giving it…

Maverick business professor Henry Mintzberg’s new book, Managing (Berrett-Koehler, 2009), is a must read for those serious about management. He bases his book on…

I dream of a future where systemic thinking plays a central role. In my dream, here is what it will be like looking back…

In recent years, people have poured billions of dollars into so-called ethical funds mutual funds that invest in companies that pledge to uphold certain…