The Big Question

Many times during executive coaching sessions this winter, senior leaders have confided in me that they are deeply frustrated by how dysfunctional their team has become.

“What’s the problem with people these days?”, they ask me. “Why can’t they just get along and get things done?”

There are no easy answers to such important questions. It takes time and perspective to understand what is going on and why it has resulted in the problems that many senior teams are experiencing right now.

Still, one insight I have gleaned from years of this level of work is that most leaders talk team but in actuality just want a single leader work group where they as the leader define all the goals, the agenda, and the definition of success. They want to be in control and in charge. While there is a time and a business context for such a choice, most leaders use team based language but choose single leader work group behaviors thus generating confusion and trust issues amongst the “team” participants.

Because this issue is surfacing in multiple industries across the country, I have decided to spend time exploring and discussing it at the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. It is part of the following larger agenda:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How do leaders deal with continuous strategic and operational changes at the same time?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - How do leaders create a mission driven, core-value led culture?

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - How do leaders distinguish between when to build teams and when to build single-leader work groups?

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - How do leaders hold people accountable?

4:30 pm - Adjourn

Thursday, April 9, 2015

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How does one lead with executive presence?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

12:00 pm - Adjourn

Location: Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel at 1800 50th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa

If you and your team are interested in discovering creative and effective answers to the question of teams vs. single leader work groups, I encourage you to register today. Here is the link to the registration form:

http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2015-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf

I look forward to your participation as we discover new and better ways to collaborate.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

Managing the Intensity of Change

Currently, people in management and leadership positions are overwhelmed by change. It is happening at the strategic and the operational levels at the same time. And it keeps coming hard and fast with little time to finish one thing before another starts.

As I noted at the Fall 2014 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable, change has shifted from being episodic to continuous even though we as leaders have continued to frame it up as episodic. Rather than thinking of organizational change as a “one and done,” we now need to focus on it being dynamic and continuous.

The result is that people are emotionally exhausted by the amount of unknowns. Every day, there are too many variables to process, and too few people to share one’s feelings and thoughts about it all. The upshot is that many are now focusing on operational compliance rather than strategic clarity.

When people are feeling overwhelmed and clearly feeling outside their comfort zones, I have taught for decades that leaders need to create a strong team, offer strategic perspective, and develop a safety zone so in-depth and thoughtful strategic level dialogue can take place. The challenge is that most leaders are too busy to take the time to reflect, and think and engage with others in constructive strategic dialogue.

The solution to this situation is to sign up for the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. Here, you will discover a fine group of dedicated leaders who are more than willing to step back from the day to day intensity and engage with you in thoughtful and meaningful dialogue about what is and what is not working. Consider it your personal think tank where creative and effective ideas and solutions are explored and developed.

Now is the time to register yourself and your team for this powerful learning opportunity. Here is the agenda for your review:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How do leaders deal with continuous strategic and operational changes at the same time?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - How do leaders create a mission driven, core-value led culture?

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - How do leaders distinguish between when to build teams and when to build single-leader work groups?

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - How do leaders hold people accountable?

4:30 pm - Adjourn

Thursday, April 9, 2015

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How does one lead with executive presence?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

12:00 pm - Adjourn

Location: Courtyard in West Des Moines/Clive, Iowa.

And here is the link to the registration form:

http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2015-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf

I look forward to your participation as we all learn new and better ways to manage the intensity of change.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

Early Bird Special Reminder!

Before more of our winter thaw takes place here in the midwest, I just wanted to send you a friendly reminder that the “Early Bird Special” for the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable is set to expire on Friday, January 30.

If you sign up between now and 1/30/15, the price will be $ 275.00 for the two days and $ 175.00 for a single day. Here is the link to the registration form:

http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2015-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf

Please write “early bird special” on it when you send it to me by mail or fax (# 319 - 643 - 2185).

After 1/30/15, the registration price will be $ 295.00 for the two days and $ 195.00 for a single day.

Here is the agenda for your review:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How do leaders deal with continuous strategic and operational changes at the same time?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - How do leaders create a mission driven, core-value led culture?

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - How do leaders distinguish between when to build teams and when to build single-leader work groups?

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - How do leaders hold people accountable?

4:30 pm - Adjourn

Thursday, April 9, 2015

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How does one lead with executive presence?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

12:00 pm - Adjourn

Location: Courtyard in West Des Moines - Clive, Iowa. Here is a link to this location: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsmch-courtyard-des-moines-west-clive/

Hope you can come! Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

2015 Spring Roundtable - Early Bird Special!

With all of the New Year celebrations in the history books and everyone back to work, now is time for us to turn our attention to the Spring 2015 Roundtable! 

On April 8 - 9, 2015, we will gather at the Courtyard By Marriott in Des Moines/Clive, Iowa for the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. Here is the agenda for your review:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How do leaders deal with continuous strategic and operational changes at the same time?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - How do leaders create a mission driven, core-value led culture?

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - How do leaders distinguish between when to build teams and when to build single-leader work groups?

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - How do leaders hold people accountable?

4:30 pm - Adjourn

Thursday, April 9, 2015

9:00 am - 10:15 am - How does one lead with executive presence?

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

12:00 pm - Adjourn

Starting today through Friday, January 30, I am offering an “early bird” registration price for the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable.

If you sign up during this time period, and submit payment before 1/30/15, the price will be $ 275.00 for the two days and $ 175.00 for a single day. Here is the link to the registration form:

http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2015-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf

 Please write “early bird special” on it when you send it to me by mail or fax (# 319 - 643 - 2185).

After 1/30/15, the registration price will be $ 295.00 for the two days and $ 195.00 for a single day.

I hope you will reserve April 8 - 9 on your calendar, and e-mail me today about whether or not you and your team are coming. Then, in April when the daffodils are just starting to bloom, all we will need to do is meet at the Spring 2015 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable.

Thinking ahead and looking forward to seeing you in April!

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257