Professional Development Blog
“Openness to learning and growing is partially achieved in how you deliver feedback in the moment, and partially in what you have done the days, weeks, and months prior to that moment.”
— Kristen B. Hubler | One on One 101
3 Minor Communication Adjustments that get Major results
Last week, I received a prescription reminder from CVS. For years, I have been getting text reminders like these from various organizations. If I'm being honest, I know I need them but have still always found them rather annoying. Leave me alone, I would think, I'll do it tomorrow. Therefore, on this particular occasion when I picked up my phone and checked the message, the last thing I was expecting to do was smile.
What is Adoption and Change Management?
Adoption and change management (often abbreviated as ACM) is an idea that emerged in the last decade. I first became familiar with it in early 2019 when it became very popular in organizations as they tried to adopt new technology like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, etc. If you have searched for this term, it is likely because you know you need to apply change management to your technology adoption and may not know where to start. Or perhaps you’re a change practitioner trying to understand why ACM is different than OCM. This article is meant to go back to basics and provide a solid foundation of the words you may hear when you learn about ACM and what they might mean for you and the technology you are trying to roll out.
Stop Saying “so what I hear you’re saying is…”
How to Make Difficult Conversations a Little Less Difficult | Part 2
I have heard from many different people some version of the phrase So what I hear you're saying is…. It is a sentence that, when used in the right conversation, can be a good tool. On the other hand, when used in a difficult conversation, can destroy your chance of a positive outcome.
It’s not their fault
Why Communication Strategy Matters
It is very easy to look at this classic cartoon and blame the workers that are too busy. At one glance it is easy to judge and think, how silly, if only they took a minute to try something new. While I understand that this is where our minds first go, I personally want to cut them some slack and I doubt I’m the only change practitioner to have those same feelings. I don't think it's their fault because we've all been there.
Focus Time That Actually Lets You Focus
Clearing the Path for Change | Part 4
It is ironic that the only way I have managed to start writing this article on Focus Time, was to wake up at 5am on a Saturday. It has been on my To Do list for weeks, but somehow there was always something more pressing that bumped it down the line. Does this sound familiar to you? Too often the environment that we are living and working in does not leave enough uninterrupted space to focus on the things that matter most.
The Path to Modern Collaboration
Clearing the Path for Change | Part 3
When I was just shy of 2-years- old, I drove our old red minivan into a tree. My mother had left the car running and parked in our neighbor’s driveway, just stepping out for a quick moment to drop something at their front door. In the minutes she was gone I successfully broke out of my car seat, climbed over three rows, put the car in drive, and drove down the hill into a tree. Before you try to cast blame on my mother, you should know that I also tried to jump off the dresser claiming I was super baby and therefore could obviously fly. So clearly no number of straps were holding this child down. At least not in 1987.
The Path to Effective Meetings
Clearing the Path for Change | Part 2
It is no secret that meetings have a bad rep. When you search for images of typical meetings it is not uncommon to see picture after picture of bored faces and heads on the table. If you want a real laugh, try searching for meeting memes.
The Path to Effective Change
Clearing the Path for Change | Part 1
Organizational Change Management has taught us that to make an influential change in work behavior we need a big initiative. What most don’t realize is that the big initiative more often than not comes down to changing small behaviors. That’s where real change happens; when individuals decide to stop doing something the way they’ve always done it and try it a new way. It is a task that seems simple but takes a lot of vision and planning because our natural instincts are to question change, resist it, and revert back to what we know and love.