The opposite of civilization is human nature. And occasionally, regrettably, human nature finds a way to break through the behavioral, cultural, social, and even religious boundaries constructed assiduously around it. We define this “breaking through,” as conflict, violence, and—at the nation-state level—war. The purpose of civilization is to hold back Read more…
Two things are happening simultaneously in our organizational cultures, our markets, and our personal lives. We have established non-curiosity (“I don’t care how it works, I just want it to work”) as the new standard for engaging with the work, the ideas that interest us (or not) and the world Read more…
It’s hard to know when you’re inside the hurricane if the storm is passing over, or stalled out. In either case, preparation, intentionality, and awareness will save your house. But only if you act and work before the hurricane comes along.
No great change happens without conflict. Not one. And every great conflict generates resistance. Every time. So, since you know both things, decisions should be comparatively easy to make about change. Right?
The disconnect between what people know about how the Internet (and by extension social media) “works” (choices, behaviors, options, etc.) and what people use the Internet (and social media) to accomplish (tasks) is underrated and massive. Part of the disconnect comes from a lack of interest and caring about how Read more…
This post may not apply to you, but consider it a warning: It doesn’t matter how well-meaning you are. It doesn’t matter how intentional you are. It doesn’t matter if, after saying what you said, you respond to another person by saying “Well, you have to understand, that wasn’t what Read more…
The equation that drives change is simple: Dissatisfaction times Vision times First Steps must be greater than the Resistance to the impact of all three combined or else change efforts falter. There are plenty of dissatisfied people in your workplace, your work group, or even just your organization. There are Read more…
The resistance to needed changes in your organization is insidious, pernicious, persistent and determined. And if you are committed to making changes by grappling with the resistance, your approach to resistant people, resistant systems, and resistant attitudes should be as well.
The thing that’s on offer—the thing that’s being negotiated—is rarely the thing that we are fighting over. Our conflicts rarely get close to the core truth of the issues needing to be resolved, which is why management of a recurring conflict situation is a better posture toward conflict than one Read more…
It appears that the large conflict situations in life are the ones that matter the most. Death Divorce Job loss Personal and professional disappointments But the reality is, the small moments that appear to matter the least, are the ones that create the grit and resilience to survive the crucible Read more…