IN MY TOOL BAG: Proposal Feedback Poster
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 dozens of ideas. So keeping people curious about each other’s ideas is a key to success for these […]
ON MY MIND: What Google is Learning about Superb Teamwork
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 magical algorithm for picking the right mix of team member attributes, […]
IN MY TOOL BAG: Jenga with a Team Building Twist
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 and laugh together. When people feel seen […]
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There! Ten Principles for Leading Meetings That Matter
“Meetings are as common as dirt and about as popular.” –Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff In my work helping clients to achieve breakthrough collaboration, here’s a question I often think about – How do we create conditions that help people with diverse perspectives come together to do their best thinking, make solid decisions, and mobilize […]