TEAMS THAT WORK BETTER
Refocus on goals every day
I have a confession to make: as someone who loves helping teams increase productivity, I am a sucker for office supplies and organizing systems. But, what I’ve learned over the past 20 years is this: we need more productive habits, not stuff or systems. read the full post
Accountability Not Perfection
I once worked with a woman who would hold up a project if she disagreed with the use (or lack) of the Oxford comma. Or any questionable grammar, no matter how small or subjective. Consequently, correspondence would be late. Tiny projects would grind to a halt. She was unrelenting in her quest for what she believed was perfection. read the full post
My very favorite 4-letter word begins with “F.”
That word is “fail.” (I bet that’s not what you were thinking.) Why? It’s simple, really. When we fail, we learn. When we learn, we grow. When we grow, we have a much better chance at succeeding - as long as we keep going. Failure is a natural, normal process. To repeat: FAILURE IS A NATURAL, NORMAL PROCESS. It is a learning tool, not a weapon. read the full post
Mixed Links #2 – Making Change Possible
Do you want to become a better leader, build stronger communications, or move your project forward? If so, these resources that caught our eye recently will be of interest to you, too. read the full post
What do you think you see?
Guest post by Lori E. Green: We judge. It’s human nature – indeed many studies suggest judging one’s surroundings, including the people with whom we’re interacting, is essential for survival and is a highly-developed skill through generations of evolution. As we’ve become more evolved and our understanding of our fellow human beings progresses, does the need for judging still exist? read the full post
Mixed Links #1
Do you want to ask better questions, be inspired about purpose, or better align with remote teams? These resources caught our eye lately at Facilitator on Fire. Sip now or bookmark for a meal later! read the full post
Purpose means you show up anyway
This morning, I took a red-eye flight home from a conference that was several time zones away. It was a terrific but intense conference for entrepreneurs, and I am bone-tired. Yet I am sitting here at my computer anyway, taking a risk that what I am writing now could turn out to be a confused jumble, because I am moved to achieve my company’s purpose. Today, I just don’t have the energy to find much motivation, but I am pushing myself because my purpose is so strong that I can’t resist it. I am truly inspired to show up. That’s the difference between purpose and motivation. Purpose is stable and solid. It gets us moving and keeps us going in the right direction, even when motivation is lacking. When we have purpose read the full post
The lost art of apologizing
Guest post by Lori E. Green. I was surprised by a recent news item about Ohio’s Governor John Kasich noting he had issued an apology to the local newspaper. He had called their reporting about some state-wide information “fake news.” Thing is, this report was based on figures released by his department. When corrected numbers were issued by that same department, and reported in the newspaper, Governor Kasich called the editor to say “I’m sorry.” This made me realize two things: read the full post
“It’s complicated” Is True
When I was a kid, one of my family chores was washing the dishes in the evening several times a week. I grew up in a farming community back in the 80s, when almost nobody had a fancy electric appliance called a “dishwasher.” There were 6 of us in my family, so dishwashing was no small task, either. My mom and dad each gave me advice about how to get dishes as clean as possible. Mom said to use plenty of soap, and Dad said to use the hottest water I could bear to stick my hands in. I ended up with seriously chapped hands most of the time. My friend Tom pointed out something to me about my dad’s advice... read the full post
Accountability: Plan Implementation – Mistake #5 of 5
Years ago, I was managing the paperwork to close a high 6-figure deal, and all I needed was for the people who worked several levels above me to sign it. The project had been in the hopper for years and finishing it was deemed a priority by the organization. I had crossed all of the “t”s and dotted all of the “i”s, checked and re-checked the numbers and made certain that all of the players were truly committed and on board. Yet when push came to shove, my supervisor’s supervisors refused to move forward on the needed documentation. read the full post
J. Kay Coughlin, CEO & Chief Facilitator
After completing work with Facilitator on Fire, on our own we’ve been able to address and create solutions to strategy and organizational problems we had previously been unable to resolve.
Claude DavisOur Facilitator on Fire Team Workshop was different from a typical corporate retreat. It was more fun, more laid back, eaiser to be honest.
Emily Robinson,