Building a Network of Partnerships
There’s a famous saying that notes: “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Simply put, there are some actions that benefit all parties involved, such as strategic partnerships. Partnerships can come in the form of an external partnership, by partnering with other businesses; it can also come in the form of internal partnerships, by collaborating across […]
Practicing What You Preach: The Importance of Corporate Values
If we honor our values, they should dictate our decisions. A company’s values should be no different — if a company claims to value a transparent, collaborative work environment, their values and culture should naturally reflect that. Corporate values are something many companies tout, but do not adhere to when the rubber meets the road. […]
The Secret to Entrepreneurship
What is the special sauce to being a successful entrepreneur? Some will say it’s hard work, while some will say it’s luck. But I think the right answer is that it’s a little bit of both. Let me explain. To be successful in entrepreneurship, business, or even in life, I have a few simple characteristics […]
It’s Time to Bring Courageous Conversations to Work
Many of us have encountered uncomfortable situations at work and have been unable or unwilling to speak up and deal with the conflict transparently. It could be that you wish you could be honest with your boss that the timeline they set for a certain project is not feasible, orit could be that your coworker […]
The Gift of Professional Development
As a leader, what is the best gift you could give your team this holiday season? Especially with holiday parties taking a hiatus this year, why not give your employees the gift of professional development? While annual raises are always a viable and appreciated option, investing in your employees through professional development is a personal […]
Creating a Positive Company Culture Extends Beyond the Leadership Team
Recently I have been “leaning in” and listening to conversations which are happening as co-workers wait for their coffee to be ready or their lunch order to be called. 9.5 times out of 10, these conversations are complaint sessions about co-workers, managers, projects going south, or a loathing of their work. Which makes me start […]
Partnership: Moving from ME to WE
In most cases, managers and even executives don’t get to choose their partners. They have “partnerships” not because they want to, but because they are obligated by contracts or by the structure of their organization. Here are things I hear from clients who struggle with partnerships: “I am dependent on this group (or partner) to […]
Permission to Slow Down
I like many others have seamlessly made the switch to 100% virtual work. My home office is my new haven, my camera and microphone on my computer are working just fine. My calendar looks just like it did before we all went into mandated stay at home orders of self-isolation. We are getting into the […]
Effectively Using Product Roadmaps for Agile
What is an agile roadmap? A product roadmap is essentially an action plan for how a product will evolve to completion. Product roadmaps can be incredibly useful to outline your product functionality and showcase a timeline for when new features will be implemented. Multiple agile teams can utilize a shared product roadmap. When employed in […]
The Beauty of Blank Space
I was in Portland, Oregon a couple of weeks ago attending Agile Camp 2017 Northwest. I had a day before the conference to explore and decided to go to Portland’s Japanese Gardens. They are quite beautiful and invite peace and quiet as you enter the gates. As I hiked through the gardens, I stumbled upon […]
