Today's post is a story about a recent consulting engagement that reminded me of the power of appreciative inquiry.  Appreciative Inquiry is a consulting methodology or philosophy which states that powerful change can arise from a focus on what is already working well in organizations.
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A continuation...... After spending the first day of the Racism retreat feeling confused and frustrated, I wasn't sure what to expect on the second day.  Ultimately, I left feeling less confused and clearer in my thinking than I had been at the end of day one. The format for day II was an ...

Today marks the 300th post on the Enlightened Manager, and it's time to say "thanks" to those of you who make writing this blog a meaningful experience. One of the things we've talked a lot about on this blog is communication, and the many ways that ineffective communication can hu...

Heaven knows that when you enter an employee development session or a meeting the deck is stacked against you.  Both meetings and training sessions are known for being dull, stressful, or both.  The idea that people come to these events willingly is often wishful thinking. Here are some ...

Today is an office day.   I'm sitting at my desk at home, listening to the hum of the furnace and watching my cats wrestle with office supplies on the floor.  (Perhaps this is a hint of some kind?)   I'm putting together an employee development program for one o...

I'm not a therapist.  The work of organizational psychology runs almost up to the edge of the discipline of therapy, but I'm not so much a fool to pretend I have clinical skills when I clearly don't.  But that being said, most of us will find ourselves working wit...

How do you communicate when morale is low and times are tough?  How can the survivors of a layoff take heart and keep productive?   How can leaders turn depression into action? I was at a meeting recently where a manager said the following: "We've cut back staff, and now e...

Have you ever been in a situation where your good performance has put your peers in a bad light?  It's a tricky situation, and one that requires diplomacy.  A couple examples: A friend of mine operates a business where she is a "manager for hire" on a short term basis....

I was thinking today about a talented executive I used to know, and the way he treated the people around him.  He was tough.  He believed that succeeding in business is about toughness, having a thick skin, and being willing to take some (metaphorical) punches to the gut without fl...

Friends and Enlightened Managers, Boy am I tired friends.  It's been a nice Christmas however.  We're not so used to snow here in Seattle, and getting about three feet of it in my neighborhood has put some cramps in our plans.  So although we have had to cancel quite a few ...