Organizational Miscommunication? There’s a Good Way to Avoid It.
It's all too easy for team members to misunderstand something. Effective leaders know the value of the "pre-brief."
Authors
Russ Linden |
Email : russlinden1946@gmail.comRuss Linden is a management consultant, educator and author. His major areas of expertise include change management, performance improvement and collaboration. He has written five books, his most recent being Leading Across Boundaries: Creating Collaborative Agencies in a Networked World (Jossey-Bass, 2010).
His clients have included several intelligence, natural-resources and defense agencies; the departments of State, Treasury, Interior, Veterans Affairs and Education; more than 40 state and local government agencies; and nonprofits in the U.S. and Israel.
A Management Mantra for Turbulent Times: 'Be Quick, But Don't Hurry'
It's critical for public leaders to take the time to distinguish the signal from the noise.
A Model for Agility in the Public Sector
Search and rescue task forces need to deploy at a moment's notice, and they have to be ready for any challenges they may encounter.
The Question Governments Need to Ask: How Are We Doing?
There is a range of customer-feedback tools, including very simple ones.
Giving Public Employees the Power to Use Their Judgment
There are risks, and there still must be accountability. But some leaders have shown the way.
Avoiding Another Charlottesville
There is plenty that local officials can do to avert the kind of deadly violence that erupted in the Virginia city.
The Agility That Governments Need for a Disruptive Age
Public-sector organizations aren't designed for it, but some are finding ways to make it part of their culture.
Sexual Wrongdoing in the Government Workplace: the Leadership Challenge
Despite all the media coverage, assault and harassment remain too common. There's a lot that public leaders could be doing.
When Performance Measures Go Horribly Wrong
They have a powerful influence. But unrealistic, unreachable goals can produce unethical behavior.
The Difficult Art of Responding to Public Criticism
When accusations are flying or scandal erupts, it's crucial to get the initial response right.
When the Heroes Are Also the Victims
PTSD is common among those who respond to disasters and other emergencies. It's hard to deal with, but there are ways to help them.
You Won the Election. What Do You Do Now?
It takes a lot of energy to get elected. But that's the time to think about how to accomplish things once in office.
Public Employees and the Path to Resilience
Knowing your organization's story and why it's important can go a long way toward helping workers cope with change.
Public Projects and the Optimism Trap
Rosy, unrealistic scenarios just cause trouble down the road. It's far better for managers not to deceive their leaders -- or themselves.
Sexual Assault at UVA: 4 Lessons in Crisis Leadership
There are better ways to handle a situation like the one that has ignited a firestorm at the University of Virginia.
When the Best Intentions Lead to Disaster
The VA scandal has its roots in two related management failures. Government leaders everywhere should keep them in mind.
You Can’t Manage a Secret
Creating a culture of openness and candor is critical to organizational success. It takes a strong, concerted effort by leaders.
Innovation and Government's Fear of Failure
When it comes to trying something new in the public sector, we're especially averse to risk. But there are ways to gain support for these kinds of initiatives.
The Dilemmas of Leading in a VUCA World
Today's turbulent environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity means new challenges for government managers and policymakers. There are ways to cope with them.
What Legacy Will You Leave?
Nurturing the next generation of leaders is one of the best things you can do for your organization.
The Rider and the Elephant: New How-to Book for Creating Change
A remarkable book provides leaders with a practical, simple framework, based on the latest brain research, for turning an organization to a new direction.
The Perils of Tunnel-Vision Leadership
The leadership fight at the University of Virginia is a powerful example of why so many change efforts fail.
The Life-Saving Power of Crowdsourcing
It's hard to imagine a better demonstration of its potential than the worldwide volunteer effort that helped rescue thousands of people after the earthquake in Haiti.
Taking the Fear Out of Change
Most of us are all too comfortable in our habits. The lesson for leaders in an era of change: Make the novel seem familiar.
Close Encounters of the Productive Kind
All too often, the first meeting of a collaborative group is a waste of time. Here are some ways to keep that from happening.
Avoiding ‘the Tyranny of the Immediate’
Managing an enterprise requires keeping the focus on “the main thing” and not being distracted by the daily tasks and deadlines that always seem urgent.
People Just Naturally Resist Change, Right?
Not so fast. What many people fear about organizational change is loss.
Logic Models and the Quest for Results
They can help governments achieve the outcomes they want. But they have their downsides.
‘Hire for Attitude, Train for Skills’
The way a successful airline finds employees who fit in with its distinctive culture holds lessons for the public sector.
How’s Your ‘Court Vision’?
Effective leaders know the importance of focusing not only on the things they can control, but on the larger picture.
James Madison, the Constitution and the Power of Collaboration
As the story behind the U.S. Constitution illustrates, history is chock full of lessons on collaborative leadership.
Reframe, Broaden a Problem
Dwight Eisenhower said, 'If you can't solve a problem, enlarge it.' It's a powerful insight into problem solving.
Creating a 'Line of Sight'
When employees have a line of sight, they can see the connection between their everyday work, and something larger.
The "Traps" to Successful Implementation
A guide to avoiding these five traps, and successfully implementing public initiatives.
Using Web 2.0 to Support Collaboration
Four ways agencies and organizations can use Web 2.0 to foster collaboration.
Boosting Your Team’s Effectiveness
No doubt you’ve heard the phrase, “There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team.’” Here’s an approach for dealing with those who insist on putting an “I” in “team.”
Change Doesn't Have to Take a Decade
Russ Linden on bringing about major change in a short amount of time.