Articles will be featured in Organization Development Review Special Issue (March–April 2021) I’m honored to be one of the guest editors for this special issue of Organization Development Review. Click here for original printing in ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT REVIEW Vol. 52, No. 2, 2020 We have been experiencing what living in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world (VUCA) looks and
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
As human beings, we often strive to be helpful. We may do this in one or more of our roles as a friend, colleague, manager, peer, coach, consultant, parent, sibling, etc. In his book, Helping, Edgar Schein (2007) wrote about the imbalance that occurs when a helping relationship emerges. This imbalance involves the person being helped as a “down” or “subordinated” position (NOTE: this is not “subordinate”). Most of us
The following appears in Organization Development Review, Winter/Spring 2020, Volume 52 Number 1. It is co-authored by myself and Heather Berthoud. A PDF of the formatted article as it appears in the review is available here. ______________ Every day we use our “self”. How did we learn to do this consciously? And, how can we teach others to be more aware
Building on the experiences of 15 successful congregational leaders in the United Methodist Church, John Bennett, Ph.D., and Julie Gawle along with five graduate students (Emily Carpenter, Brendan Coffey, Danielle Frottier, Laurie Meek, and Tori Scarborough) from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, identify and explore leadership behaviors that support congregational vitality. In this study, 15 pastors
On a recent business trip to Germany and Austria, I was reminded of how difficult it can be to communicate when you don’t speak the same language. Even the otherwise simple tasks of ordering a meal, asking for directions, and shopping can be complicated. This experience prompted me to think about how difficult it can be to communicate in business
It’s no surprise that I’ve found myself in more virtual meetings during the COVID-19 crisis than in the past several months combined. While virtual meetings are not new, this volume is definitely different. It has prompted me to consider what I know about group and team dynamics in a physical environment, and how that applies to the virtual world. Here
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
Asking questions demonstrates curiosity, shows interest, solicits answers, engages others, prompts shifts in thoughts and actions, fosters reflection, helps to reframe a situation, helps generate ideas and solutions, and builds rapport.
What can we do individually to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’?