A Bomb Cyclone Haiku
Bomb cyclone is here. Wisdom of trees; perspective. Catastrophizing. - A haiku about how weather these days has different, scarier names than it used to; if this is catastrophizing, I hope it is effective...
Four Ways to be Resilient When You Feel Like Crap
This past weekend was brutal for my physical health. Food poisoning and a nasty flu bug took away my bodily fluids and ability to sleep. In the grand scheme of things this was a minor setback and I was able to recover and perform at an acceptable level as a dad by the...
Tension: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How it can Realize a Community’s Potential
My Tension Tension happens in work and life all the time. Recently, I found myself in situations where tension was both palpable and enabling. The first instance occurred during the planning of an important event. Initially, there was considerable confusion and...
Three Ways to Break Your Bias
Vancity Credit Union is completing a month of learning about unconscious bias. Partnering with the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI), all employees are completing online learning and discussing bias within teams. A quick Google search will reveal dozens of articles...
A Turn the Temperature Down Haiku
It's too hot these days. Politics. Planet. Culture. Leaders turn it down. - A haiku about listening more than we talk, seeking to understand and find common ground, and probably riding bikes and walking around a little bit more.
Seven Ways the Cooperative Model Enables Career Development
July 6, 2024 was the International Day of Cooperatives, which celebrated the world’s most equitable and adaptable business model with the theme of “building a better future for all." Sustainable, impactful, and meaningful work is at the intersection of cooperatives...
How Agile Methodology and the Co-operative Model Complement Each Other
Earlier this year I took part in two different learning experiences. The first was some pretty standard classroom training that introduced Agile Methodology to employees at Vancity. The second was not standard because I traveled to Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region...
From and With Each Other
Learning from and with each other happens everywhere and all the time in agile learning organizations. Microlearning happens when content is delivered in bite-sized (3-5 minutes) bursts at the point of learning need. Learning in the flow of work happens when learning...
A Cite Your Sources Haiku
Cite sources always. Respect, intelligence, growth. Bad plagiarism. - A haiku about the pitfalls of being the VP of Strategy who didn't credit Harrison Owen when they applied (not "invented") Open Space Technology or the COO who takes credit for Toyota's "five whys"...
Five Productivity Lessons from Espresso
I love coffee. It’s delicious, chock full of life-enhancing antioxidants and fosters connections and collaboration, too. After spending a few weeks in Italy last year, I developed a love of espresso. In addition to the concentrated caffeine boost that a shot brings,...
How Language Creates and Erodes Interdependence
I agree with Batman that our actions matter more than who we are underneath because actions reveal our true character. I also notice how much language influences who leaders are and what we stand for. I notice this the most in the world of work, where I aspire to...
A Carbonara Haiku
All the carbonara. Hosting, connecting, friendship. Fueling the cycling. - A haiku the underscores how sharing good food with good friends builds healthy and connected communities that are sustainable for the long term
The Egg Drop is Perfect Performance Evaluation
A few weeks ago I attended the Egg Drop Challenge at my sons' school. Kids, teachers, and parents cheered as creations were tossed from the roof and all of us analyzed the result of the experiment. The experience was transparent, supportive, and easily measurable....