informal coalitions

Acting politically - An essential component of successful organizational leadership

According to conventional wisdom, people who act politically in organizations are ‘playing dirty’ - undermining the legitimate structures and functions of their organizations for personal gain. Despite this widely held view, it is important for leaders to recognise that successful organizations achieve high performance not only in spite of political behaviour but also because of it.

Calling weaknesses "development needs" is not a sign of strength

Why is it that ...?

Many HR, L&D and OD professionals insist on referring to individuals' weaknesses as "development needs."  Perhaps this euphemism is meant to make people feel better and less threatened.  Perhaps it is an attempt to avoid giving people what is misguidedly seen as 'bad news'. 

Gareth Morgan's 'plantpot solutions'

Picture the scene. A man is on his knees, arms spread wide and eyes cast skyward. People are seated in front of him, looking on attentively and listening intently to his words. A book lies open by his side.

This was the picture presented to us by Gareth Morgan, at a workshop on metaphor, paradox and change that he ran in London around ten years ago. "What is the man," he asked, "and what is he doing?"