Processing Our “Should’s”
Holacracy advice on what to do when you think a coworker should work differently, and there is no boss to complain to.
Publication Type: Articles
Articles are blog posts discussing self-management and related topics.
The Irony of Empowerment
A while back I had the privilege of attending a play written by one of my favorite organizational authors, Barry Oshry. It was a brilliant play about organization and empowerment, and one of the lines really struck me and stuck with me. The line was delivered by a character who worked for an empowering leader, … Read more
The Limits of Company Values
Earlier in my entrepreneurial career I set out to build a values-driven company, where deep human values would shape the culture and help define the organization. I’m not talking about the corporate values statements you see posted on the walls of many large companies today. More often than not, those have little bearing on day-to-day … Read more
Obsoleting Organizational Politics
Despite the implicit nature of our expectations, we often apply them to others as if they were clearly the right thing, and sometimes even wield them over others as a weapon – especially when we’re frustrated. That is, until we’re the target of someone else’s implicit expectations, and then we cry foul – “that wasn’t … Read more
The Insanity of the What-by-When
When you agree to take an action, do you also give others a commitment of when you’ll do it by (the so-called “what-by-when”)? As much as this practice is generally recommended in today’s business world, allow me to offer a contrary view: This practice has big downsides, and obscures a better way that comes from … Read more