The Thoughtful Leaders Blog

Where are the hidden leaders in your organization?

Robyn McLeod — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:45:53 +0000

As a firm believer in the presence of leadership at all levels in an organization, I particularly enjoyed a recent Harvard Business Review post, Find the Reverse Leaders in your Midst, by Scott Edinger. Edinger describes it as reverse leadership – “when someone not in a formal leadership role demonstrates great leadership ability.” I have [...]

Sharing a great op-ed about technology vs. conversation

Chatsworth Consulting Group — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:42 +0000

We have written about the impact of technology on our lives and work numerous times, sharing our perspectives on how our constant need to email, text, tweet, and update status disconnects us from good old-fashioned face-to-face human interaction. We’ve shared our experiences about being bowled over by a fast-walking texter in Manhattan, observing a group [...]

The magic of butterscotch ripple

Chatsworth Consulting Group — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:04 +0000

“Invention, my dear friends, is 93 percent perspiration, 6 percent electricity, 4 percent evaporation, and 2 percent butterscotch ripple.” Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka New ideas are born from sweat…and a bit of magic. So often we think that creativity and true invention should come to us easily, with no effort at all – like [...]

5 Thoughtful Leadership tips to stopping overwhelm

Lisa Kohn — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:35 +0000

I am feeling it – that feeling of just too much. Too much to do. Too many deadlines. Too many balls in there air. And while I coach clients and offer keynote sessions on managing overwhelm, I’m feeling too caught in my own stuff to know what I know…so here’s a refresher for me (and [...]

Throw out what you know

Chatsworth Consulting Group — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:21 +0000

“I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.” Georgia O’Keefe I have found – in my own life and work as well as in the lives and work of my clients, colleagues, and friends – that so often it is what I “know” that gets in the way of what [...]

An easy way to boost morale and keep your best people

Robyn McLeod — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:30:01 +0000

This past weekend I ran a 5K race through the Bronx Zoo – the Run for the Wild to raise funds to save the world’s lion population. It was a great run traversing up, down, and through the many trails of the zoo. On a cool morning, many of the animals were out. We saw [...]

I could be wrong

Chatsworth Consulting Group — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:43 +0000

“Of course that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.” Dennis Miller I am convinced that there would be less conflict in life – even in the world – if more of us were willing and able to admit that we might be wrong. Whenever I get most stuck with colleagues, clients, or family members, [...]

What is your greatest strength?

Lisa Kohn — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:30:31 +0000

To grow as a leader, or in any endeavor, it is essential to build upon your strengths. And in order to do that, you must be aware of your strengths – the specific things that make you you, that make you great, and that make you good at what you do. This awareness is something [...]

Where are you limiting your accomplishments?

Chatsworth Consulting Group — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:00:37 +0000

“There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Ralph Waldo Emerson One of the ways we start many of our client engagements is with an OEA – our Organizational Effectiveness Assessment. This allows us to gather anonymous input from our clients’ employees as to what’s working [...]

Tips for dealing with difficult people

Robyn McLeod — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:15 +0000

Recently I attended a workshop led by two dynamic facilitators. Their credentials, renown, and years of experience certainly were impressive, but it was their handling of one incident during the session that truly highlighted their mastery of facilitation and connection to others and provided a great leadership lesson for dealing with difficult people. Here’s what [...]