When we are in conflict with others, often our default pattern of reaction tethers us into a repetitive cycle of withdrawal-frustration-rage. The pervasiveness of this unhealthy reaction pattern is evidenced across a multitude of situations — • Beating and sexually…
Across cultural and racial differences, humans still share more in common with each other than differences. If you need proof of such common ground, then consider this universal response pattern habituated by most people when they experience anger—first comes withdrawal,…
Yoga is a spiritual practice meant to unite or integrate our whole being—mind, body and spirit. For many beginning yoga practitioners, these aspects of ourselves may not be working together and in some cases may actually work against each other.…
If running a small, medium, large or global enterprise truly requires emotional intelligence as well as industry knowledge and technical expertise, then why do so many corporate leaders score low on emotional intelligence? In a recent study of 1500 senior…
Societies with greater equality between men and women are healthier, safer and more prosperous. The Elders Just the other day, I overheard a young woman say to her friend, “gender discrimination doesn’t apply to me.” At that moment, I realized…
In his 1990 book, Shared Minds: The New Technologies of Collaboration, Michael Schrage wrote that collaboration added real value by creating both better ideas and better work. Unquestionably, we see this truth demonstrated throughout the many collective systems in current…
Recently I wrote in a yoga article (published by the Winnipeg Free Press), in order to be happy no matter what emerges, we need to strengthen our positive response-ability. Ultimately, this means finding our centre (our true nature) and staying…
Customers [and employees] expect exceptional experiences and have plenty of other choices should you not rise to the occasion. Lior Arussy As we are learning in our workplaces, the Millennials (Generation Y) are not good at following orders because they want…
Do you have an intimate understanding of your customers’ experiences when purchasing and then using your services and products? Given that mapping organizational workflows prove to reduce operational errors and increase return on investment, it follows that mapping your customers’…
In the late 70s, I learned a painful, but effective, lesson in leadership. At that time, I was playing softball in the Pan Am Games for the Canadian National Team. Leadership of the day was typically male and aggressive, which…
For the past 30 years, I collaborated with small, medium and large organizations in redesigning their structures, systems and processes to fit their strategies and enable employees to serve their customers. In the 70s, we referred to this subsequent flattening of the organizational hierarchy as democratizing the workplace, which suited the social-spiritual ethos of the day. In the 80s and 90s, similar efforts were renamed as building high performing teams and workplaces. Almost two decades into the millennium, and organization designers now refer to these streamlined, democratic workplaces as adaptive enterprises. Regardless of what lessons we learned and labels we invented over the past 50 years, the purpose of an organization has never changed — to provide the necessary resources and training to front line staff so they confidently, considerately and joyfully serve clients.
Many of you may remember friends or parents telling you that for the sake of polite conversation, avoid talking about death, religion or taxes. I assumed such polite conversation implied social discussions neither too controversial nor too upsetting, which for…
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