The move away from rigid performance reviews is an encouraging trend that began in Silicon Valley. However, no consensus has emerged as to what should replace it. The biggest concern appears to be that any new system will make the existing organization less meritocratic.
Frances Hesselbein’s Merit Badge in Leadership
As CEO of The Girl Scouts, Frances Hesselbein transformed the organization from a venerable but relatively staid institution promoting civic and homemaking skills into a vibrant, diverse one that emphasizes leadership, science, technology, and math. Who does she credit with her inspiration? Peter Drucker.
The Business Beat
Law enforcement organizations and leaders of large corporations don’t often look to each other for ways to improve company culture. Yet in this case, corporate leaders could learn a thing or two from those who patrol the streets. John Katzenback theorizes that the success of the “broken windows” approach to reducing urban crime could provide some valuable lessons.
The Farewell Address
What is the best way to respond when a colleague announces that they’re moving on? Bill Wiersma offers his professional advice on how you should handle this awkward and sometimes painful situation.
Papal Pull
Pope Francis’s efforts to transform the Catholic Church is a daunting task. He must simultaneously reengage a broad spectrum of believers and curb the power of an entrenched bureaucracy. In this article, examine the two step process that he has laid out to a maintain a sustainable transformation.
Thinking Out Loud
A high-profile Silicon Valley sex discrimination trial hinged in part on a thorny question: What is thought leadership? I spoke with magazine editor to Joel Kurtzman, author Jim Kouzes, and professor of leadership and learning Herminia Ibarra for their thoughts on this subject.
At Most Tech Firms, the C-Suite is Still a Boy’s Club
Many organizations are devoting more resources to attracting and retaining women with leadership potential. Then why are we seeing many of these women leave prematurely, step off the leadership track, and not progress as quickly or high as was hoped?
The Mother of All Off-Sites
Skilled leaders inspire people to open themselves to new and challenging experiences. René Redzepi, owner and chef of Noma, did just that when he moved his entire staff of 66, from waiters to line cooks, to a restaurant he opened temporarily in Tokyo, Japan. The lessons he learned are instructive to leaders of all kinds.
Peer Coaching as a Tool for Culture Change
What does it take to be successful at changing the culture within an organization? In this article I address the subject of peer coaching, an inexpensive and underutilized tool. When each member of a peer coaching pair acts as resource for the other, it provides them with a forum, a process, and a means of support.
The Entrepreneurship Coach
Ernesto Sirolli’s unusual insight into what successful entrepreneurs do well comes from more than 30 years of helping others start businesses that thrive. His most sage advice: shut up and listen.