Engaging Change: Ideas for Improving Business Culture and Change Leadership

Only 1 in 1000 in the US have tried this proven performance booster

Michael Cushman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:29:40 +0000

Throughout history, the wealthy and powerful supported their children with private tutors. Alexander the Great probably wouldn’t have been so great if his tutors weren’t Aristotle, Leonidas, and Lysimachus.

In 1984, education researcher Benjamin Bloom identified, “the two sigma problem”. A student in the middle of a class (the 50th percentile) shoots to the top of the class, (the 98th percentile), when

What is the Future of Coaching?

Michael Cushman — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:26:15 +0000

The previous 30 days, I attended a coaching bootcamp, volunteered at the Jobing.com career fair, ran a focus group on my own business, interviewed a few successful coaches, looked at six coaching surveys, and read Coaching Millions. If you don’t mind, I would like to share a few thoughts with you about the Future of Coaching.

Executive Presence, Can it be Taught?

Michael Cushman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:00:31 +0000

Q: How do you address the issue of "executive presence" when it is missing? Can it be taught?

Mark Herbert
New Paradigms LLC

A: Yes, anyone can learn.

As you know Mark, "Executive Presence" is acting and looking like an executive. Teaching it is what I do for a living. I happen to call it "Nonverbal Leadership", because many of my clients are not executives. Many are consultants, sales professionals, and experts such as engineers, lawyers, etc.

(I chose to emphasize "nonverbal" because most communication is nonverbal

Ideal Values for an Exceptional IT Environment?

Michael Cushman — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:06:19 +0000

Q: What are the shared values that the company or team have in an inspired IT environment?

Similarly, what are the behaviors or conditions that threatened this environment?

NG
IT Strategy & Globalization Professional in the Auto Industry

Q: What's a "damn good life?"

Michael Cushman — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:04:28 +0000

In Fortune Magazine, Steve Jobs said, "We don't get a chance to do that many things, and everyone should be really excellent. Life is brief and then you die... So it'd better be damn good." How can we make our lives that damn good? Anonymous

A: Ever life can be a damn good one

Dear Anonymous

Steve’s quote is interesting because it reveals a model that I think Steve didn’t followed himself. The model is, “Be excellent, so you can do great things in a short lifetime.” Is that how Steve did it? No.

Steve Jobs a driver who is also a visionary. He has high standards and demands excellence from others. He never settles for ordinary.

That is not the same thing as being excellent. Steve has never been about “being”; Steve’s life is all about “doing”, not about being excellent, but about making excellence.

I love the quote from Joe Sabah, “You don’t have to be good to start, but you have to...

Q: What can I do to make my organization more innovative?

Michael Cushman — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:28:03 +0000

Dear Engaging Guru,

I work in a water treatment plant in NY. I need some practical ideas for increasing innovation that I can start to use right away. I don’t have time to take training or read books.

A: Dear MM.

It takes 3 things to increase innovation.

1. A context of uncertainty
2. An attitude of curiosity and possibility
3. Congruent leadership behavior

Q: What innovations will drive next decade?

Michael Cushman — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:00:30 +0000

Dear Engaging Guru:

I’m a Strategist and Change Agent. What innovations will change business organizations and the world economy in the next decade?

Innovations that enable a human capital revolution ...

A: Dear JP

The confluences of many forces lift worldwide human capital faster than at any time in history. Bellies fill, money flows, and minds expand.

Q: What is Speaking Charisma?

Michael Cushman — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:13:34 +0000

Dear Engaging Guru,

I recently asked my speaking network for their best answers around presentation skills, voice, story telling, stage presence, tricks of the trade, etc. See their replies at Charisma List.

Please share with me one or two of the most meaningful lessons you have learned in developing your platform charisma.
Ed Rigsbee
www.rigsbee.com

A: Here is my charisma breakthrough: the importance of Status

Q: How do you attract talent?

Michael Cushman — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:18:14 +0000

One doesn’t have to travel very far or dig too deep to read statements that we are either in a Talent Shortage, or – due to the coming of the baby boomer retirements – on the cusp of a MASSIVE Talent Shortage. How do you attract Talent to an organization?

Edward Caulfield
SWISSCONSULT
Germany

Talent is always a scarce resource.

A: Ed

Here is a model that works for me:
People join organizations (any organization), for three categories of benefits.

Speaking without Notes

Michael Cushman — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:28:55 +0000

All change leaders give speeches. Change leaders know that speaking without notes, speaking from the heart, leaves a memorable imprint. How do you wean yourself from notes?