Aug 11

Conflict resolution is a process that’s been a functional area of concern for decades. It still needs attention by all evolving leaders, in my opinion, and is often not handled well by executive leadership. In a recent session during an internal Leadership Learning Forum, lead by Henry Givray, the CEO of SmithBucklin Corporation, participants discussed, and exercised cases, as a group, developing their own capacity with this process, using superb materials which are a part of that on-going program. Most staff are not so fortunate, to be  part of such unique developmental opportunities, but never-the-less have a  similar need to perform better. Attached [click here] is a brief checklist of ideas  for you to consider  pondering, & to develop your  own increased effectiveness. We all need to get better doing conflict resolution in our work, in our homes, in our communities!!

In the same LLF session, three books were reviewed, all of which are LLF “core” readings: “Blink”, “Crucial Conversations”, and “Defining Moments”],  and all helped integrate different  approaches to conflict ,with examples of both sucess or failure. I will share again, in coming weeks here, a brief review, of these favorite LLF books and how they connected so powerfully

Jul 15

Issues or challenges that confront “C” level leaders, wherever I am these days, often require more experience, education, or capacity than they, or their staff, has! I’ve listed 15 trends or processes [click here], which are usually co-mingled in some way, and also 5 responses, both of which help that frame such discussions, and may be relevant for your environment. It’s an overview that’s surprisingly daunting for many staff leaders today!!

Jul 04

I chose to allow a long diversion from this communication  vehicle, unbelievable c. 8 months…..while helping several Retainer Clients do their own form of internal Leadership Learning Forums…and because of two quite serious, surprise, unusual surgeries while vacationing on the west coast with Barbara. Luckily we were right by Stanford Medical Center whose emergency room staff, & recovery facility, handled me superbly well over 8 days. Now having returned to Cape Cod, & largely finished careful rehabilitation, I am refocusing in my 6th  life phase. The Legacy Phase . And will detail those phases, on this website,  in connecting with my Legacy Representational Perspectivre Next 15 years  [LRPN15], which has been shown here for the last almost 20 years! [under”My work” as  E -15 year Full Plan]

Dec 17

As the year come through these Holidays, it seemed appropriate to share a broadcasted note of  thankfulness and serenity. We stopped sending “Christmas cards” years ago, but not of  reaching out, to connecting to many with whom we are unfortunately, no longer often in contact with. I was able to stop travelling for TDG, Inc.  engagments for 6 weeks, which is increasingly a happy state! So my usual “sign -off” – Peace, Energy Strength, and Joy, in abundance, to you and all your close connections

 

Oct 10

36 of us shared ideas, techniques and plans for internal Leadership Learning  Forums, using the historically  powerful First Division Museum @ Cantigny, outside Chicago, for the third time. Very provocative talks , tours, &  breakouts. Nine presentations,  plus 13 client leaders with short topics, or views presented from the audience, along with my stream of comments  and context, made for a unique learning experience for all. The materials posted ahead of the forum, and several since added, are all available to clients, under Cantigny, under materials 2012

Jul 31

I’ve been talking about these everywhere. Like some of us wished everyone agreed to, years ago……. but now are indisputable, if a little annoying to some outside of I.T.  However the challenge of living up to, and surpassing expectations with these trends [ CHECK HERE  -posted under Cantigny where we’ ll talk about it more],  is still there , surely so for all my clients, and I believe everywhere.  The list may not be complete, but it’s surely enough!!

Jul 22

This year we will not give out any notebooks @ the session, nor any handouts from those presenting. All materials will be posted to this website under Cantigny, under “Materials 2012”. and I will ask all attendees to bring their laptops/tablets/handhelds – whatever –  to follow the agenda, take notes, search for other referenced materials, etc.

This experimental use of technologys, for us, will be different for many but is more appropriate now, in my mind, to the kind of session I have always run….i.e., intense interaction, with many new views & ideas, provoking lots of off-line follow-up!!

Get the password from me to review materials for 2012 as they are being posted now, and for 2011 also, as we retrieve them.

Jul 15

On  7/12/12, General Hal Nelson U.S.Army [Ret.] lead a dialogue about our upcoming  third forum @ Cantigny, hosted by The McCormick Foundation, 10/1-2/12. His slides and other materials are available in my website. Many of the participants on the call,  had been to previous sessions and articulated the value to/impact on them! The importance of preparation [ pre-reading], and the deeper insights acquired by those who attended a 2nd or 3rd time, and the fact that Cantigny is so rich/diverse/large in scope and history, that whatever you need to learn about leadership….. it’s already there!  And will be clear as the session unfolds!!  All were emphasized. A truly unique learning experience!!! Join in with us to contribute and to grow.

Jun 16

On 6/14, as referenced below, we discussed complexity,and sweeping continual change, and their impact on current challenges in I.T. today [see “Horizontals”  below also] . There was a very relevant dialogue about “Ethics”  in all our careers. Also about preparing for “The Signularity”[ i.e., having a learning plan]. And about the professional value of TDG, Inc’s  Cross Industry Field Trips, e.g., Normandy , Gettysburg, Cantigny  [ next 10/1-2].

Join us on 7/12 to understand more about the unique benefit of our next Cantigny Forum.

A relevant ? for everyone… with such sweeping & continual change, what doesn’t change for you??

Jun 12

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

 

 

May 27

A cataract operation on my one eye, consumately scary for me, having my right hip replaced,  enjoying my 78th birthday, plus a week of R&R in Vancouver with Barbara celebrating our 25th anniversary, have diverted my energies from this website. Now as part of my rehabilitation time, &  getting back my mobility, I hope to review, update and refresh its content and organization

Let me know what you think, please

preload preload preload