Insights

Company culture has always been the heartbeat of an organization: the shared values, behaviors, and sense of purpose that define how people work together. But as hybrid work becomes the new standard, maintaining a strong and connected culture has never been more challenging. Leaders can no longer rely on office energy or in-person connection to build engagement . Instead, they must learn how to improve company culture intentionally, in a world where employees collaborate acro

By Colin McLetchie Almost without exception, when I ask leaders or leadership teams I’m working with, “What do you do to ensure you’re getting the feedback, ideas, and information you need,” they exclaim with great delight, “We have an Open Door Policy!”  Oh … goody.  So, then I ask this question: “When is the last time someone walked in your door to share an idea, offer you constructive input on your leadership, the organization’s direction, or, well, anything of real signi

The landscape of work has undergone a profound transformation, with the rise of remote and hybrid work models. In today's dynamic work environment, the concept of a hybrid team — where some members work from the office while others work remotely — has become rapidly prevalent. As organizations adapt to this paradigm shift, managers find themselves at the forefront of a new era, charged with the responsibility of leading teams that span physical and virtual spaces. Managing a

Frank Blake, the beloved former CEO of Home Depot, credits the company’s core value of “Entrepreneurial Spirit” as the secret behind its success year after year, even during tough economic times. According to Blake, Home Depot's founders wanted their team members to think and behave like their name was on the front of the building. When employees aren't afraid to take risks, they grow. Many successful organizations, from Home Depot to Amazon to Starbucks have fueled their gro

The metaphor of the dance floor and the balcony was made popular by Harvard professor Ronald Heifetz as part of his work on adaptive leadership. In this metaphor, the "balcony" represents the vantage point from which leaders can gain perspective, observe the bigger picture, and reflect on the overall dynamics of the situation. In an era of rapid and unpredictable change, leaders need to be able to both stay in the game as well as pull themselves to a level above from time to

I was recently in conversation with a former client of mine who had left his previous employer after 15 years with the company. While there were a number of factors behind his decision to leave, one that stood out for me was when he shared that he had no longer felt appreciated at his last company. He had been burning the midnight oil for months on end to get a critical initiative completed for the company and did not even get a simple thank you from the senior management. I

Storytelling is an incredible asset that we have at our disposal! We all have the ability to tell stories; it’s part of our DNA, passed down to us through generations. In the organizational setting, stories provide an incredibly powerful means to connect with and influence the workforce , inspire change and support the alignment of organizational culture to the organization’s mission and vision. Stories promote engagement at a deeper level so that ordinary work becomes extrao