by Larry Dressler | Apr 18, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
After introducing a new technology, finishing a big project, or concluding a major meeting, many of us act on an impulse to move to the next thing on our list or go on vacation. But pivoting too quickly to “what’s next” denies you and your team the opportunity to...
by Larry Dressler | Apr 11, 2018 | On My Mind
Lately, it seems like conversation has become a competitive sport in which the end-game is to “win” or have one’s opinion proven right. In order to win we present our airtight cases and debate to convert others to our way of thinking. There is nothing wrong with these...
by Larry Dressler | Apr 3, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
There was a time in my life when I had very little vocabulary to describe my emotions beyond happy, sad, and… hungry. OK, technically the third one isn’t really an emotion but it’s all I had at the time. Much later in life, I learned to identify and distinguish a...
by Larry Dressler | Mar 20, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
One of my specializations is designing and facilitating meetings in which people with diverse interests can tackle complex challenges, like how to aid refugees or how to innovate next-generation solar technology. During these gatherings, people typically generate...
by Larry Dressler | Mar 13, 2018 | On My Mind
What makes teams successful? Google wanted to know the answer, so the company conducted interviews with more than 200 of its employees across more than 180 active teams. The bottom-line conclusion of the research team was surprising. As it turns out, there is no...
by Larry Dressler | Mar 7, 2018 | From My Bookshelf
My least favorite kind of book is the modern-day leadership parable: Too often the characters are simplistic and the narrative stilted. An exception to my distaste is The Anatomy of Peace, a book inspired by real events. The Anatomy of Peace tells a compelling story...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 20, 2018 | On My Mind
A skillfully expressed apology might be sufficient to repair a relationship. But more often than not, a second kind of conversation is required. It is the conversation about what you and the other person need from one another to work together effectively in the...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 13, 2018 | On My Mind
Saying “sorry” is not easy for most of us. It is easier to decide others are the problem – that they are oversensitive or unreasonable in their expectations. It’s more comfortable to self-justify our behavior or retreat in shame. However, if you are committed to...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 2, 2018 | On My Mind
If you work on a team it’s inevitable that at some point you will disappoint, frustrate or anger a colleague. You will fail to keep a promise. You will take an action or make a decision that negatively impacts others. You will react during stressful moments in ways...
by Larry Dressler | Jan 22, 2018 | In My Tool Bag
Recently, I was planning an offsite retreat for a team with a significant number of new members who didn’t know each other very well. The first goal was to help them learn about one another beyond their public resumes and job descriptions. The second goal was to play...
