Seek First to UnderstandWhen experiencing counterproductive behavior, compassion might be helpful
Wed, 01/28/2015 - 13:27
My wife, Carole, and I recently saw And So It Goes, a film with Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton. Michael Douglas’ behavior in the movie reminded me of one of Stephen R. Covey’s classic habits in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Simon… Conscious LeadershipTurning off our smart phones might be a first step
Wed, 12/24/2014 - 00:00
My wife, Carole, and I recently participated in the 16th Annual ILA (International Leadership Association) Global Conference. The theme was conscious leadership. At the conference, Meg Wheatley was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. That puts… Tell Me a StoryStories can bring customers, investors, suppliers, and employees closer together
Wed, 11/19/2014 - 12:22
I recently finished reading the book Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, by Ed Catmull (Random House, 2014). On the book jacket, Catmull, who is president of Pixar Anitmation Studios and Walt… ThanksIf happiness is not part of our Six Sigma intentions, maybe it should be
Thu, 09/25/2014 - 11:04
Shortly after the death of the brilliant comedian and actor Robin Williams, his daughter Zelda quit Twitter and Instagram following online harassment over his death. How sad. We seem to somehow like to see the dark side of the world.
Even my three… Say Yes… and Yes, AgainIn Six Sigma efforts, the ‘why’ may be more important than the ‘how’
Wed, 08/27/2014 - 12:27
Last evening my wife, Carole, and I attended a celebratory dinner for the family of one of my former students. Luca, my student, originally from Italy, brought his wife, Olivia, and his young daughter, Kendra.
Olivia, originally from Uganda, is a… Companies That Train, GainWhy Deming encouraged education and self-improvement in the workplace
Thu, 07/17/2014 - 14:45
I recently noticed that Starbucks initiated a College Achievement Plan. Starbucks’ partners (employees) who pursue a college degree at Arizona State University (ASU) will receive some combination of tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and other… The Journey Toward ExcellenceMany events can lead the way
Thu, 05/29/2014 - 17:47
This month’s column is about a recent trip to New York and what I learned along the way. About a month ago, we attended the National Band and Orchestra festival at Carnegie Hall. The high school orchestra our granddaughter, Claire, plays in was… Making MoneyWhen profits get lost among disconnected processes
Tue, 04/15/2014 - 13:02
My wife, Carole, and I decided to get out of town to get warm during my recent spring break. While at our destination, Carole decided to look on the Internet for a restaurant that was new to us, had a great view, and a great reputation for food and… The Great Work and Six Sigma CommitmentRemembering Thomas Berry
Mon, 03/03/2014 - 17:22
I was reminded recently of the passing of Thomas Berry, one of the most eminent cultural historians of our time. His work and insight have been touchstones for me for the last 30 years.
For me, the story starts in 1993 when my wife, Carole, and I… Tired, Scared, or Shopping?How Nelson Mandela’s life might inform our views of management and leadership
Wed, 01/15/2014 - 11:27
After Nelson Mandela’s death, I asked my students how Mandela’s life might inform our views of management and leadership. They were not very forthcoming with responses, and I asked them why this would be. As you can imagine, many of them are much…