by Larry Dressler | Jan 16, 2019 | In My Tool Bag
One of my favorite writers, Margaret Wheatley, wrote: “You can’t hate someone whose story you know.” I would add that when you learn a person’s story you can’t help but see part of yourself in them. Our stories reveal parts of us that transcend resumes and elevator...
by Larry Dressler | Jan 9, 2019 | On My Mind
When Linda and I lived in the state of Washington we planted a small orchard of apple and pear trees on our property. About three years after planting I began to notice discoloration on the leaves of the trees. I responded by spraying, dusting, and trimming back the...
by Larry Dressler | Dec 18, 2018 | Who I Read Online
In an expression of gratitude, I am sharing about some of my favorite bloggers, writers, and thinkers while taking a break from writing my own blog. For me, reading Parker Palmer’s blog often feels like I am reading a letter I wrote to myself – one that reminds me of...
by Larry Dressler | Dec 10, 2018 | Who I Read Online
Taking a break from writing my own blog allows me the opportunity to appreciate the writing and wisdom of others. One such writer is Margaret Wheatley (aka Meg). If you haven’t encountered insights from “Meg” before, I am happy to introduce you to...
by Larry Dressler | Dec 5, 2018 | Who I Read Online
Every now and again it feels good to take a break from writing and instead appreciate the writing of others that inspire me- in this case, Seth Godin. Seth Godin is one of the most prolific writers and podcasters I know of. That’s not surprising because for more than...
by Larry Dressler | Nov 20, 2018 | On My Mind
In Part 1 of this blog, I introduced white male privilege as a key leadership challenge. Last week’s Part 2 blog offered examples of “self-directed” actions – steps leaders can take to confront their own ignorance, complacency, and complicity. In this week’s blog,...
by Larry Dressler | Nov 13, 2018 | On My Mind
Last week’s blog explored some initial thoughts about what it means to lead responsibly as a straight white male in our culture. I shared some questions I’ve been asking myself for a long time. This week I’ll explore what I call the “inner work” of taking...
by Larry Dressler | Nov 6, 2018 | On My Mind
Back in the 1980s, I was at a small regional airport with a colleague named Michael. We were traveling together, running late and at risk of missing our flight. I suggested we sprint to the gate. Michael looked at me and said, “Larry, a guy who looks like me,...
by Larry Dressler | Oct 23, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
Communication breakdowns are inevitable when you are trying to build a culture of candor on your team or in your organization. The first step in minimizing these painful events is by learning to recognize your own contribution to them. University of Washington...
by Larry Dressler | Oct 10, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
Your project team, task force, or committee got off to a fast and enthusiastic start but lately, it’s struggling to make progress. For every step forward it feels like the team takes three steps backward. You keep hitting bottlenecks and having to revisit decisions...
