October 18 , 2015 /

Personal Power, Influence and Changing the Status Quo

  In most organizations there is a prevailing culture that is either receptive to creative change or resistant to it.  As someone who might wish to influence change that you believe would improve the overall performance and position of your organization, it might help you to know how best to do that.   Everyone has qualities

read more

October 12 , 2015 /

RETIREMENT, REFLECTION, RENEWAL

About 6 years ago I wrote my “official” letter of retirement after 12 years of working in association with a fine and well-educated group of professional colleagues.  I had the liberty and benefit of a “home office” in northern New Mexico during that time although that required a fair amount of travel.  It’s the old

read more

October 5 , 2015 /

WALKING INTO THE WOODS, INTO THE HILLS

Like Thoreau and Bill Bryson, I took myself into the woods today, mostly for a walk up and down the hills, for the clear, cool air, the views of the distant mountains and landscapes.  There is nothing quite like a walk among the trees, the juniper, piñon, aspen and ponderosas around here. They seem like

read more

October 1 , 2015 /

LIVING AND DYING WELL

Assume you write for an audience consisting solely of terminal patients.  That is, after all, the case.”    Annie Dillard, On Writing, p. 68 At age 41 I had an epiphany about my own mortality. I was leaving my office, driving through a parking lot toward the main street.  I had to stop the car as

read more

September 22 , 2015 /

MORTALITY and THE GIFT OF TIME

Atul Gawande’s book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, takes a good look at how we, and the medical community, deal with people in the later years of their lives. For those of us with aging parents or who ourselves are already past the midpoint, whatever that may be, there are some

read more

September 14 , 2015 /

The Seven C’s of Competent Leadership *

Rate yourself (or your leader) on a scale of 1-10 for each one.  Total and average.  See results. 1. Communication that is clear, concise, compelling and timely.  Stay in touch with customers’, clients’ and constituents’ information that keeps them connected 2. Collaboration that is supportive and encouraging.  It takes time, effort and energy,  but the

read more