As helping disciplines struggle for credibility, "best practices" and "evidence-based" have become prevalent busswords. It turns out that these phrases may block innovation rather than act as a source of inspiration.

Themes are identifed that can be utilized as training and coaching tools for individuals and organizations as they face cultural diversity.

Perhaps we have not found the right God. In that case, humanity has been living out the implications of the American Gary Larsen’s cartoon which says that, “Before he discovered his true purpose in life, Robin Hood would rob from the rich and give to the porcupines.” This sounds like the human race.

“Coachability” is the willingness to be coached, to listen, to respect instruction and act on it. Coaching (another set of eyes) lets you see what’s missing which, if you act on it, could make a big difference.

If most of my planning had made no difference, what did make a difference? Was most of the world’s strategy and planning really bunk, no more than a way of suppressing anxiety about the future?

There are two parallel worlds in a business. There is the world of technology, machines, objects and design, and the simultaneous world of people’s feelings, relationships, and whatever animates their spirit and moves them to cooperate.

Creativity itself is an activity to create something, but Asymmetric Thinking is not creativity. Instead, its purpose is to introduce the possibility of new action.

Fundamental and sustained improvement in a business is always a function of fundamental change in the leader’s point of view about what is possible.

An interview with Charlie Smith, PhD. by IdeaConnection‘s Vern Burkhardt. Excerpt below, read full interview HERE. “Inevitably organizations with the most available energy will prevail. This refers to energy, aliveness, and vitality. Energy is equivalent to the power to act, which in turn determines success.” Charles E. Smith Vern Burkhardt (VB): In Navigating From The Future you talk about “sustainable …

Stop whining about the economy! It’s no excuse! (I’m talking to myself here, not you–unless, of course, it applies!) We have an opportunity to truly step up and lead and be creative with how we grow our businesses and lead our organizations now more than ever. I was reminded of this by a fabulous piece of internet fluff that was …