tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103703392008-12-01T15:01:15.443-05:00This on-line journal captures my (Dr. Linda E. Pickard) reflections on personal and organizational leadership based on my recent learnings, discussion with peers in my network, and from the rich pageant of daily news events.Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-30905587391899206012008-11-30T14:13:00.001-05:002008-11-30T14:17:39.661-05:00

Every interaction is a form of confrontation---a clash of priorities, a struggle of dignities, a battle of beliefs. --- P. Koestenbaum, In LaBarre, 2000, p. 222 White water rafting is an apt metaphor for surviving in our current environment. Times of crisis, which keep rolling in one after another, starkly show whether a leader can adapt or not. Times of crisis test the leadership within each

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-41755943091841582272008-11-09T19:36:00.001-05:002008-11-09T19:37:59.931-05:00

The Republicans didn’t have a chance against Obama given the context of fear from which Americans wanted to escape. According to neuroscience, we all hold to a greater or lesser extent two moral world views---conservative and progressive. Sometimes, we hold both at the same time on an issue-specific basis. These modes of thought are hard-wired into our brains through biology and experience. They

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-39573807480634997962008-10-26T20:52:00.002-04:002008-10-26T20:56:54.827-04:00

If you think life is always improving, you are going to miss half of it. ---David Whyte Turbulent times call for special managerial skills---helping teams walk together through the chaos with the confidence that a new and stronger order will arise out of the ashes of the old. Just like a forest fire enables new growth. This is life but we as a rule do not like such unpredictability and

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-51964428836645668942008-10-22T21:48:00.002-04:002008-10-22T21:50:46.789-04:00

Our fascination with Barack Obama and Sarah Palin underscores the power of emotions in a leader’s “ratings”. That ability to connect is gate number one. Substance comes later as we ponder who will step up to the leadership challenge. Stephane Dion never had a chance as he could not open his emotional gate enough. A story by Peter Newman in the October 22, 2008 Globe and Mail brought the mystery

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-37219827409091251732008-09-30T10:36:00.003-04:002008-09-30T10:44:40.538-04:00

These are interesting and exciting times for democracy. Pure-bred capitalism has shown its ugly side. Main Street Canada and America are showing signs of revolt. The spirit of involvement in our collective destiny is gaining momentum, particularly in the United States and judging by media commentary, also in Canada. Perhaps the chasm in values between those who govern and those being governed

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-24546537520303249792008-09-21T20:59:00.003-04:002008-09-21T21:02:56.176-04:00

What’s the difference between a campaign of ‘hard questions’ about momentous issues and a carnival of lies? Lipstick. ---David Olive (September 20, 2008). Toronto Star As some people like to say, “There’s a reason for everything”. Maybe Sarah Palin showed up in our lives because we needed a little more levity in a generally somber political environment. Fear, violence, climate upheaval and too

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-14658875414863208322008-09-01T13:02:00.002-04:002008-09-01T13:09:26.465-04:00

Learning teacheth more in one year than experience in 20, and learning teacheth safely, when experience maketh more miserable than wise…it is costly wisdom that is bought by experience. --- Roger Ascham (1515-1568) in The Street Master The listeriosis outbreak traced to one Maple Leaf Foods plant in northern Toronto glaringly shines a light on the ethical and moral dilemmas underlying

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-28664634398970675982008-08-26T15:34:00.003-04:002008-08-26T15:36:23.478-04:00

Life seeks to organize so that more life can flourish. Systems are friendlier to life. They provide support and stability. They also provide more freedom for individual experimentation. ---Margaret Wheatley, A Simpler Way, p.33. The Chinese have done Canadian Sports a favour. By doing the job so well, they brought to the foreground the serious inadequacies in our system, starting at the

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-38857506828935997582008-08-10T15:01:00.001-04:002008-08-10T15:03:16.536-04:00

When there is so much to work on to become a more effective leader, it’s heartening to find something that’s easy. Empathy, a form of social intelligence, is a desirable capability for leaders and managers. How to become more empathetic remains an enigma for many. One very effective way is to work on “being present” with another. This is commonly wrapped up in the term “active listening”. Those

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-2903167623125628602008-07-26T17:52:00.002-04:002008-07-26T17:56:04.969-04:00

Imagine around every corner in your organization, you didn’t hear the din of quiet but the buzz of live chatter. To your left and right you see small groups of your colleagues immersed in excited conversation around of all things—a blackboard (or, a chalkboard depending on the term used when you were growing up). Ideas are filling the board. People are debating, rubbing out and adding ideas.

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-16645042313881379392008-07-06T12:05:00.003-04:002008-07-06T12:10:05.955-04:00

Let’s hope that the G-8 leaders are listening to a younger generation of advisors and more seasoned pros who are strategic thinkers. Based on media reporting so far, they seem stuck in the past unable to grasp that it’s time to be inclusive, let alone on trend with the pressing global issues. A “groundswell” mindset means the balance of power is no longer within the G-8. It’s more than G-13 and

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-57092817108838299652008-07-05T11:26:00.002-04:002008-10-28T21:59:20.381-04:00

Personality specialists have long touted “openness” as one of the healthiest traits for surviving and thriving in our complex, chaotic world. Economists and urban planners note that organizations and city-regions with “openness personalities” have a better chance at prosperity than those which are not. Alan Greenspan, retired Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, characterizes the ability or talent

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-90805471398335024062008-06-08T17:44:00.002-04:002008-06-08T17:47:17.274-04:00

The pundits have been out in full force largely criticizing Hillary Clinton for fighting to the bitter end. If the situation were sports, would they be so quick to rest her case? As we know in golf, tennis, horse races, soccer, basketball, hockey and the like, the competitive situation can change drastically in a flash. It matters to persist even in the face of overwhelming odds. Throwing in the

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-64087165370611945652008-05-24T13:58:00.001-04:002008-05-24T14:01:24.325-04:00

Anyone who can withstand the grueling nature of the United States Presidential nominations’ race deserves a gold Olympic medal. It has to be adrenalin and a steady diet of optimism that keeps the candidates upright and awake! In a world in which top and middle management leaders are on overload most of the time, we can identify somewhat with the brutal challenges of leading. Now, with the dial

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-14791103091914509272008-05-14T16:44:00.001-04:002008-05-14T16:47:07.985-04:00

At first, I was flummoxed by Annika Sorenstam’s surprise announcement that she was “stepping away from competitive golf” at the end of the 2008 season. As one of the greatest female golfers of all time and with many more playable years left, why, at age 37, would she do that? Watching her press conference and many others that followed, I began to understand---the peacefulness of her demeanor

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-38992385128955150332008-04-20T16:49:00.001-04:002008-04-20T16:52:12.459-04:00

Emotional intelligence refers to an ability to recognize the meanings of emotions and their relationships, and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them…it is the capacity to perceive emotions, assimilate emotion-related feelings, understand the information of these emotions, and manage them. ---Mayer, et al We all know what it’s like to grieve for a loved one. So, when someone out of

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-36303940076281192752008-04-13T14:12:00.002-04:002008-04-13T14:18:03.989-04:00

Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. ---Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind. ---Zen Proverb All the significant battles are waged within the self. ---Zen Proverb Life seeks order in a disorderly way. ---Margaret Wheatley, A Simpler Way Every spring brings our collective sigh of relief that winter has past and fresh growth is upon

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-62339270679220555052008-03-30T23:01:00.002-04:002008-03-30T23:03:59.264-04:00

The success of Earth Hour participation around the globe demonstrated that small actions combined with big ideas are a powerful force for change. Such awareness, particularly when the action is simple, sets the stage for deeper and longer term behaviour change. The sense of community the campaign engendered added to the potency of the idea. Our minds are forever imprinted with the entire

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-26852365867102543052008-03-17T13:48:00.002-04:002008-03-17T13:51:15.616-04:00

Simplistically-speaking democratic delegates are in a bind. Vote for Hillary if you want depth or deep experience. Or, if breadth is the requirement, a symbol of diversity and apparent open-mindedness, vote for Obama. Both are vital for effective leadership. Too bad one of the candidates doesn’t measure up significantly on both. An either-or choice is making life difficult for the Democrats.

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-24112944482198306902008-02-27T13:54:00.001-05:002008-02-27T13:57:25.916-05:00

As the flow of ink becomes exponential describing and analyzing the escalating battle between two able presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, we search to identify and feel comfortable with the forces in play. Many pundits refer to Obama’s appeal as a “movement”, the likes of which we have not seen since the beginning of the civil rights era or the challenges to the status quo

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-30000508947401439052008-02-13T13:16:00.002-05:002008-02-13T13:21:29.899-05:00

The American Presidential primaries have ignited a firestorm of civil participation not seen in a long time. This is good. Something is getting to the hearts of people across all spectrums. Could this be an original sound of rediscovered meaning and purpose in a world that has veered too far from what it takes to lead an ordinary life? Hands down, Barack Obama has led the way with his

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-59072134467529424892008-02-03T13:22:00.000-05:002008-02-03T13:33:34.927-05:00

I had the pleasure of observing a Michael Buble tour up close and personal recently. I discovered a welcoming, well-run organization with a pervasive spirit of fun mixed with---as the younger generation says--- “awesome” virtuosity. With talk of the rise of a leisure economy again, this could be a signal of things to come for managers and leaders working with the “twenty and thirty-something”

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-13325909143901949822008-01-31T14:35:00.000-05:002008-01-31T14:38:18.418-05:00

The presence of Tiger Woods in a tournament causes higher-skill PGA golfers’ tournament scores to slump. This can have implications for “tournament style” competitions in organizations when one person far outshines everyone else. According to Jennifer Brown, a researcher from the University of California in Berkeley, California, the other top pro golfers’ scores are 0.8 strokes higher when Tiger

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-14533865741384003732008-01-13T14:41:00.000-05:002008-01-13T14:45:09.726-05:00

It tantalizes us. It provokes us, this perplexing leadership trait called “charisma”. At the same time, we crave it and we fear it, as we do not want to lose our critical judgment or look silly. We also wish we could have more of it for ourselves as the media reminds us over and over again---people love it. Barack Obama has struck a chord deep in the American psyche. It’s about being tired of

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370339.post-29953744621488538492007-12-31T23:39:00.000-05:002008-01-01T13:02:13.715-05:00

Living in a developed country where the pace of change seems too fast can lull us into the illusion of progress. With the advantage of hindsight, change is chaotic and non-linear and often very slow in coming. We are, in reality, just specks in the sand in the long course of human history. So, global events remind us such as Pakistan’s situation. Mahatma Gandhi fought his entire adult life for

Dr. Linda E. Pickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912492213716209559noreply@blogger.com0