Brief Moments

     Having led and mentored a number of  non-profit entities and as well as entrepreneurial for-profit ventures there is a common thread I see that interferes with our ability to become adaptable, sustainable and innovative in the new global economy.  It is simply the balance of our passions with the algorithms and math required for continued existence.      From the age of five I have always been passionate about reading. I will freely admit that entering Grand Valley State at age 17 majoring in improvisational theater and broadcasting that my passions mainly centered around self.  America in particular has an obsession, even a disease with self, which is not an excuse for any one individual's behavior or my own.  When I was a child . . .   It may be in part why Dutch Social Psychologist Geert Hofstede added indulgence versus restraint as a sixth dimension in measures of culture after many years with just five dim...

We tackle 20 year problems with five year plans staffed by two year personnel funded by one year appropriations.  Harlan Cleveland       Over the past month I've watched with interest a discussion thread on LinkedIn titled What's Missing from Strategic Planning. Having been involved in strategic planning for over 20 years and teaching both theory and practice at the graduate level for Siena Heights University I of course have no opinion on the matter.      Here's some direct quotes I've heard in the past nine months from executives and organizational leaders (not necessarily the same thing). " We had a strategic plan in 2004 and it's sat on the shelf ever since ."  " I saw it once, but it's 60 pages long and who's got time  with all of the daily work we have to accomplish." "We spend a week working on it every year, then change the dates on last year's plan." Copyright Scott Adams: www.dilbert....

     In our small part of the world with global impact the PGA recently ascended upon the community for the 73rd Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Club at Harbor Shores .  You might say ascended?, but descended doesn't describe the opportunity.      Having discussed the very long, hard fought and expensive journey in Economic Growth, Vision and Reality , High Hopes , and The Art of Business recently, I don't mean to belabor the point. However two stories in the Herald Palladium since Friday show how visionary and innovative many individuals and organizations have been. In particular, two key community leaders are worth discussing.  It's unfortunate that the paper's ownership has a skewed vision of internet news, so if you read these stories two weeks after publishing, you'd have to pay to read them.  For that, I apologize. Graphic courtesy The Herald Palladium   ...

     One can find in small moments of many movies a level of absolute truth.  There's a thirty-second sequence below in City Slickers (1991) with Bill Crystal and Jack Palance that fits as one example.      We all need to find that one thing in ourselves, as well as those with similar passions who we can collaborate and innovate with.  When it comes to leadership though and the thousands of studies, published research and books on the subject, the one thing is trust.            If you're not familiar with the full range of leadership model(Avolio, 1999; Bass & Riggio, 2006) this graphic from my presentation last year at the Midwest Academy of Management in Omaha gives the basic concept.  These are basic definitions only.     Laissez Faire is simply hands off managers who pretty much ignore the team.     Management by exception (MBE) in either its' passive or ag...

     A number of years ago I belonged to Lakeshore Rotary.   The growth in my business and service on other boards led me in different directions with limited time so I had to resign. The mentorship from many servant leaders during that period helped shape who I am today, profoundly.      Rotarians world wide believe in "Service above Self."  So do millions of other human beings who aren't members of any service organization.  Rotary, Lions, Masons and many other networking clubs with higher purposes  have accomplished amazing life change in this world, but struggle in this era with membership growth.    My sons have grown up watching their father serve in many ways; in church, community; family and more.  My wife and I have rarely had a period during our 23 year marriage that someone we know, going through divorce or some other crisis hasn't lived with us.   There was five years where we es...