2021: A Call for Resilience

John Bennett/ January 5, 2021/ Change, Organization Development

Without a doubt, 2020 was the most challenging year for most of us. We witnessed a global health pandemic resulting in quarantines, hospitalizations, health resource shortages, deaths, record-speed development and deployment of vaccines, polarizing elections, racial injustices, economic highs and lows, unemployment rise, businesses shuttered, education systems pivoting to provide remote teaching and learning … I could go on, and

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Navigating Difficult Conversations Around the Table

John Bennett/ November 22, 2020/ Change, Development

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I remember with fondness the gatherings around my grandmother’s table for a home-cooked meal that expressed her love for us. I remember conversations and time spent together with extended family and friends. I’ve continued this tradition with my own family, and we often have 12-18 people join us for dinner and “fellowship”, as my father

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Powerful Lessons and Impactful Shifts for Coaches

John Bennett/ September 13, 2020/ Change, Development, Executive Coaching, Leadership, Teaching

Are you paying attention to what’s happening? Through my own work with coaching clients, and with students who are developing a coaching mindset and skillset, I’ve noticed some reflections that, when explored and reframed, can lead to powerful lessons and impactful shifts. Whether you are an experienced, professional coach or a manager-coach, paying attention to your thoughts and reactions has the ultimate potential for new insights and further development. Below is a chart

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Join me at the Ignite Business Development Bootcamp on October 3

John Bennett/ August 17, 2020/ Change, Events, Facilitation, Leadership, Teaching

I’m excited to present “Leading Change” at the Ignite Business Development Bootcamp™ for Small Businesses on October 3, 2020. As a result of COVID-19 business owners have been forced to change how they do business. During this interactive session, you will gain a deeper understanding of change leadership, and work through a change you’re currently leading or planning to lead.

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Delivering (and Receiving) Unpleasant Messages

John Bennett/ August 10, 2020/ Change, Development, Leadership, Teaching

I’ve noticed that many people are delivering (and receiving) unpleasant news more than usual — messages that were not expected, contrary to the norm or unwanted, and negatively impacting. Obviously, the current pandemic may be fueling this. The news about job loss, health conditions, layoffs, furloughs, elimination of bonuses and pay increases, possible pay cuts, different expectations, in-person school programs moving to virtual formats, students not able to go to campus for the fall term, and forecasts

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Confessions of a Bibliophile

John Bennett/ July 6, 2020/ Change, Development

I am a bibliophile. But it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I actually fell in love with reading. I’m not quite sure what happened to prompt the shift. Perhaps it was the first time I remember a friend and me reading and talking about the same book. Or, perhaps it was my 11th grade English teacher inspiring

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With All of This Disruption, What is “Normal”?

John Bennett/ May 30, 2020/ Change, Development

In recent weeks, states and communities have started lifting restrictions on movement and business operations amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. I suspect this will be a slow process. And, as many experts forecast, we may see a return to restrictions in the coming months. As I think about my experience since mid-March and imagine what is on the horizon, I am

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Working in an Unfamiliar Space: What Will You Do?

John Bennett/ April 5, 2020/ Change, Development

Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I  have been that should be of interest…. – Georgia O’Keefe (1976)  I’ve been working at home and practicing social distancing for over three weeks. Like most of you, the phrase “social distancing” wasn’t even part of my vocabulary

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