Walter Berkowicz, from Allstate, who is a Forum graduate, sponsor, speaker,and facilitator. will lead us in a great dialogue about complexity, innovation, ethics/morals, sweeping change ,and finally family and balance… all based on his personal leadership derived career. If you are a Forum graduate/speaker/sponsor, and have not recieved the appropiate advance material & link, email me @ < dick@thedooleygroup.com>
May 31
Some version of the below 8 trends/focus points seems to be in every interaction I have today with clients or LLF graduates. Does this loose, macro view, resonate, in part, with your sense of things??
The Unique Potential [Overwhelming??] Impact of Eight, Current, tightly Integrating “Horizontal” Organizational Processes Four traditionally based or driven by I.T., or deeply impacted by I.T. Initiatives Two [#5 & 6] are often independently started there, and the last two [#7 & 8] are basically not indigenous, likely even “strange” to many I.T. groups
1. Overall Technical Architecture [OTA]- long standing quest, still elusive
2. Project Management Office – discipline/processes – a few are corporate wide
3. Enterprise Wide System[s] & business process redesign – primarily I.t. driven often owned or lead by a senior line executive
4. Mobile-handheld-APP based development-cloud residence- multiple function devices[ BYO]- Hardly well in hand anywhere –not seen as I.T.’s especially by the “younger generations”
5. Security- fullest sense- sometimes I.T. located
6. Leadership Development – needed desperately in I.T., then in concert corporately – My work has been with I.T. groups who wanted this as a priority, largely because of the whole 8!!
7. Ownership & Accountability Expectations –very uneven approaches
8. Organizational Culture and Change – Human Recourse “Should”, almost never “is”
Richard E. Dooley 5-29-12
Nov 23
This service, Fuze Meeting, will allow recording, video & audio, which many of you have asked for, if you miss a call. It also allows access from any device [ hand-helds, etc.], and has a simple one step sign-on process, using multiple methods. Also, more than one presenter can be shown live, via web-cams. Plus, most importantly, its much less expensive, so I’ve been able to lower the cost to participants significantly, to a token amount. Finally, it’s much more collaborative, supporting real dialogue, which is the way I’m now running these virtual calls [ c.30 so far].
Join us to contribute and gain, both personally/professionally. We [ i.e.,anyone knowledgeable of the Forum Process & its “Magic”] is growing and being re-energized together!!
Oct 10
Our LLF @ Cantigny 10/4-5/11 was spectacularly successful for every one of the 27 attendees/speakers/facilitators. Their feedback was extraordinarily positive, & appreciative. That’s always been the case@ Cantigny though every session is different. Go to the tab above for more detail. I’ll put up some of the attendees comments re. value.We plan to return next October 2-4, 2012. Pencil it in, please. And make your own comments please to this blog if you were there
The two photos below show some of the ongoing interaction there!
A break-out session of Cantigny LLF’ers
Henry Givray delivering the ending keynote talk on leadership @ Cantigny
Jul 23
On 7/15 in our regular LLF 2.0 virtual call, I had asked three panelists, representing three generations, to speak with all those engaged on the call about the huge topic of “Networking”, which had been the thread of 4 previous calls. The use of various social systems got a lot of comment/coverage! In particular, LinkedIn. A wide range of opinions/use/experiences/beliefs were shared
Some deep into it and asthonised that all weren’t!
I got perhaps 1/2 dozen long comments in the session feedback forms to me, afterwards, saying that the session motivated them to get more engaged. Right now. Not latter!
And…it had the same impact on me……..moving me further along the curve from passive use, to more active aggressive use . I thought I was already @ a high level of use effective use! A very real lesson & benifit from our networking via LLF 2.0. It’s very esay these days to allow yourself to be left behind!!
Sign on 7/28 for Dr.Hammerschlag.
Jul 09
Barbara and I attended this spectacular, community festival. We have before, but it was much larger this year,and attracted participants/attendees from all over, all happily connecting thoughout the grounds! It’s always over the July 4th holiday. [Interesting reference]. The Wampanoags are the tribe native to Cape Cod. First to meet the “white man”, on “First Encouter Beach” on the outer Cape. Beautiful new, or carefully preserved costumes. Many children, Many “elders” [my senior by a lot seemingly!!]. A huge & long Grand Entrance dance/walk [traditional]. which we were never early enough to see before. Many stalls for crafts. Quite unusual selections. Yes, the usual tourist stuff, but also tons of authenic looking, expensive, certified made by American Indians, superb quality, tent fulls of clothes, trinkets, pottery,wall-hangings, furniture etc., etc. Great for a 2nd home on the Cape. Clearly was selling!! We ,as an obviously non-indigenous couple, were by far in the minority! [My eye patch drew fast attention…pirate implications??] Maybe later more of current Cap Coders showed up?
I was struck by the value of preserving history and customs. My Leadership Learning Forums are based as much on reviewing, reflecting on the past, as much as preparing for the future. No doubt the best, deepest learning is a combinaton of both…..to combine the available wisdom of actions/history, with the potential insight for future possibilities. Surely in leadership development, a review of growth to date, must be integrated with a focus on the continual learning and change, that is there for us all. Whatever our heritage!
A very provocative several hours. Productive of “HOPE”. Unusual!
Jun 28
Some time ago , in helping design an internal Leadership Learning Forum in The University of Kentucky’s I.T organization, we choose five excellent themes, one of which was the title above. It’s certainly needed everywhere. Especially you might argue in a large University. It turned out, of course, to be a very important focus. And with some real results.
Since then in almost every other organization I’m in, it’ s a key area of emphasis. Perhaps having become sensitive to it, I’m noticing more often, how much the planning/executing/communicating necessary for today’s work., requires more of it than has been the case! Few things can be effectively accomplished in 2011, because of the extensive “fish-netting” required . Everywhere. Much more than a few years ago, when we also knew it such cooperation was useful.
Pay attention to how you can increase cross-functional collaboration. It can be done. Others are!! It’s an imperative!! And also is divergent [ i.e., we’re never finished]
May 29
This has been an oft requested short presentation to my retainer clients. The perspective being that I was in 20-30 organizations ever year and running sessions with hundreds attending. So…. even if I didn’t know the answers, I knew what leaders were worrying/asking/pondering about.
I am traveling less now, but interacting more, either by phone or electronically. Here is my current list. Each point sometimes takes an hour or more of intense dialogue when used as a discussion framework. I plan to do a video on my website for each one, overtime- two minutes or so long, i.e.,-crisp & relevant- every other week or so!
Do come to interact….leaving a comment, suggestion, or alternate view!
May 27
The first experimental video we did, was a message on my 76th birthday. It’s stored with others now on this website, but it’s success connecting with many in my personal and in my professional network, prompted the work leading to this new website!
So I’ve just done another. Very short..here is a still shot, taken on the National Seashore by Barbara ,as we walked there on my birthday just now. Such walks are a favorite thing of ours, & one of the strong reasons for moving to Cape Cod 7 years ago.
I hope to be doing this, as happily as today, for 25 more years. And all that while, learning to connect with you all in different ways, like these videos, on this website. Or in ways none of us can imagine yet!!
May 23
The informational value, and actionable comments, from last Thursday’s virtual call, validated for me, all the time & energy I’ve invested in exploring this very different media over the last 18 months. About 25 such calls with many of my network. I’ll continue with more focus, applying the lessons absorbed, prompted by participant comments, and eager to help others continue their journey of learning/change, via use of the LLF process!
May 05
Thank you all for your comments about this new website. It is surely easier to change/update.
I plan to add in, now, two minute videos on each of the dozen topics I’m talking about @ Forums, or @ Client sites currently. That list is now posted under “Leadership”, under “A Dozen Topics”, for your review, or suggestions!!
A Dozen Things I’m talking about with various clients. I have the “Spider sense”, that these are likely true to some extent in many locations. Not just I.T. oriented. Not in any order. 5-4-11 issue
• The importance of process skills/perspective, as part of continual business based communication, & alignment.
• Need for pervasive Mentoring, and leadership development, not only of “emerging leaders” but of the 2nd generation down
• Horizontal collaboration & thoughtful communication, both internally & externally. This communication must be conversational/persuasive/relationship building & maintaining [i.e., small talk].
• Outside connections /exchanges, non-competitive. Likely somewhat diverse. To learn. To plan better
• Making tough decisions faster, with disciplined follow through, in a transparent manner. The use of time.
• Clear & continual reality limits on “how much is enough”. In multiple dimensions Communicated!!
• Being able to “Drop your ‘Tools’ of Identity”. At least for a situation. Maybe fundamentally.
• Trust. Extensively worked. Divergent
* Financial Acumen. Continually spoken to, & acted upon, on the part of ALL I.T. staff leaders
* Security- In the fullest sense. Identified accountability
* Leaving a Legacy –Why, When, What???
* Internal Consulting. Part of I.T.’s responsibility
Richard E. Dooley President TDG, Inc. 41 Babbling Brook Road Centerville, MA 02632
dick@thedooleygroup.com 508-771-0534 Notify re, faxing please
