Ever tried to microwave a bag of popcorn and waited, hand on hip, for that magical moment when one or two lonely pops suddenly cascade into a flurry of buttery explosions? That’s critical mass. And it doesn’t just happen in physics or snack preparation. It’s a real thing in business – that elusive, powerful point […]
Critical Mass: The Tipping Point that Changes Everything Read More »
I wrote about the topic of change many years ago and reflected on why it can be so disliked and resisted. I’m back to discuss the same word, but from a different perspective, one of relevancy. This topic occurred to me a few months ago when the question was asked (I forget the context): if
Is Change really a thing anymore? Read More »
Have you ever been pushed in a toboggan or sled, that starts slow, then suddenly it’s going 60 kilometers/hour and you’re hanging on for dear life, trying not to crash into two little three year-olds at the bottom of the hill, or worse, the oncoming truck that’s on the road just past the hill? That,
Scaling Fast, Steering Blind Read More »
Meetings can sometimes be the bane of a leader’s existence (whether they should be is another story). The one meeting that I’ve found to have the most impact on culture, engagement, and, yes, performance, is the simple morning meeting. Whether it’s called a pre-shift, morning startup (or standup), or “the daily”, it helps to ensure
Have you ever tried to walk across a freshly waxed floor in socks? That’s not just your lack of grace and coordination (yes, or mine). 🙂 That’s physics. Specifically, friction is taking a coffee break. Friction is one of those everyday miracles we love to hate. Like alarm clocks. Or deadlines. Or the corner piece
The Drag We Never Knew We Needed Read More »
Picture this: you’re preparing for the annual work summer BBQ. Off to the grocery store you go, and after the purchases, you’re pushing a shopping cart with a stuck wheel through an uneven parking lot, loaded with 60 pounds of bottled water and one ripe watermelon. You’re giving it everything you’ve got, but it barely
Why Your Business Isn’t Moving? Read More »
There’s a law in physics that’s always stuck with me, probably because it doesn’t just apply to thermodynamics, but to everything from businesses to relationships to processes and culture. It’s the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and it says this: Entropy never decreases in a closed system. In plain business terms? Without intentional input, things fall
Energy Will Beat Entropy – Every Time Read More »
There’s something oddly satisfying about building a dashboard. You pull together the right data feeds or build the right code. Add some charts. Pick a clean layout. Maybe even colour-code a few KPIs. Give it a round of testing. The team logs in. They nod at the numbers. And then… nothing happens. No decisions occur.
Why Most Dashboards Don’t Drive Change Read More »
I’ve written before about words and the terminology that people use, and how many (yes, consultants included) try to manipulate those words to their own purpose and advantage. I’ve stumbled upon a new debate over the last few months that I’ve been both thinking and chuckling about lately. Have you ever been in a strategy
Terminology Doesn’t Build Momentum Read More »
“Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” That C.S. Lewis quote has followed me around like a gentle nudge on the shoulder throughout my career. As someone who straddles the line between my pointed, efficient German heritage and the more relaxed, community-minded culture of my Nova Scotian roots, I’ve come to
Leading with Less Ego: The Strategic Strength of Humility Read More »
