January 2014: Go slow to go fast.

Any of us would be hard-pressed to find an organization that isn't focused on speed -- getting the job done faster. We all feel the effects of 'institutional impatience' - a frenetic rush to show progress or completion. Even organizations undergoing major culture change want to make it happen right now. As leaders, if we want to be nimble and achieve sustainable speed, we need to understand the concept of going slow to go fast. 

Often, leaders will try to drive a major change effort without bringing people along the 'change curve' first. They might push an innovation out the door before it has been tested, expect teams to be high performing without first building a foundation of trust and open communication, or expect to get unvarnished feedback without building relationships that make it safe for that to happen.  This often results in stalled progress or even a backward slide. Remember that when you invest the time to lay the right groundwork, you can accelerate toward your goals! Today, think about something you might need to slow down in order to go fast

January 2013: Develop a “Beginner’s Mind.”

It’s the beginning of a new year -- the perfect time to consider applying “beginner’s mind” to the challenges and opportunities in your midst.  Beginner’s Mind refers to an openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions. It means letting go of what you think you know, and adopting an “I don’t know” strategy.

This is especially challenging for us as leaders because most of us earned our position (as well as respect) based on our expertise. Indeed, we are usually rewarded and recognized for knowing; having the answers. It’s hard to let that go. However, we need to recognize that our expertise is based on past circumstances. Today we are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, so what worked in the past may not necessarily work best today or tomorrow.

There’s a famous Zen saying: In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.  Today, think about one particular problem or opportunity facing you, your team and/or your company. Suspend your expert judgment, start asking questions as if you were a ‘beginner,’ and see where it leads.