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Can there ever be too much transparency?

Can there ever be too much transparency? Transparency has been recognized as a vital attribute for organizational health and performance. Organizations that demonstrate transparency give voice for employee concerns. Leaders that are willing to be vulnerable in sharing even bad news create environments where employees can admit mistakes before crises erupt. So when is too …

Impact Investing: Still Small Fish In Big Pond

Impact Investing continues to garner a lot of attention, at Davos, at the Clinton Global Initiative, at the G8 Summit, and at social enterprises big and small. But it’s still having little financial impact. For now, big institutional investors are not participating. Until they do, impact investing will remain small.

Are “Creative” Business Plans A Good Thing?

Most people agree that a rigorous business plan is a good idea. Clearly it’s best to research the market and risks as thoroughly and objectively as possible. In contrast, a “creative” plan, one that involves sketchy research, is unlikely to meet with success. Right? Well, maybe, but perhaps a certain amount of naivety might increase …

Can You Exit Stage Left?

One of our recent projects involved work to be done on a short, 3-month deadline. According to the project leadership, everything which denoted good project management practices had been performed. The work was scoped, fine-tuned, and broken down into work packages. The work packages were then assigned resources and budget. Budgets and timeframes were confirmed …

Tips On Facing The Board

You are going to give a presentation on a new application or product. There will be stakeholders, developers, and some managers at the board meeting. Your hands are sweating and you are short of breath. Do not worry – you are ready. Why? Because you have all your notes, and your presentation is ready. You …

The Fail-Safe Way to Delegate

“I know I should delegate but: “I can do it faster…He won’t be able to get it done on time…she’s bound to make some mistakes.” These are things I’ve been hearing frequently from overworked, stressed out managers. I jokingly mentioned, in a recent presentation, if there was something in the air that’s causing this outbreak …

There’s No Crying In The Workplace…

…It’s Your Money and Corporate is to Blame That Your Not Getting It. We all know people who follow their supervisor’s every whim – blowing the way the wind blows. For some reason, you can’t do that. You’re too independent, too creative, but competent nonetheless. Still, you’re being set up to fail. It’s all about …

Can a director serve two interests? – a dilemma

Xevach is a director on the board of a government trading enterprise. He also chairs the governance committee. The company has a significant geographic monopoly and owns and operates a vital piece of infrastructure in the industry. One of Xevach’s colleagues on the board, Yolanda, is a former director of a larger, competing, government trading …

Presenting Across the Table: Successful Informal Presentations

Presentations don’t have to be formal, stand up affairs. Many times we make our case across the table from a client, a boss or a colleague. It may be tempting to consider these informal presentations as unimportant, but just think what is riding on them — a major sale or business relationship, a raise or …

Independence and Freedom: True Self vs. False Refuge

Last weekend I attended a seminar with Tara Brach and Jonathan Foust, two excellent Buddhist teachers on Conscious Living. Tara talked about living in your ‘false refuge’, that place where you go to hide or escape so that you don’t have to connect with others authentically. When you are angry or hurt, do you complain …