Riding the Roller Coaster of Change
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about roller coasters and how much going through change is like riding a roller coaster. Now, I admit, I am probably not the first person to think change is like a roller coaster, but a recent experience I had at an amusement park led me to think more deeply about this analogy. As many of you know, I was coaching a girls’ basketball team last summer. One of our activities was going to an amusement park. In my mind, this would be exciting for the entire team, but in reality there were very different emotions displayed just from the mention of the word roller...
Read MoreMarvin Washington Speaks to PSD
Marvin Washington shares the keys to overcoming change during the PSD teachers’ breakfast on Aug. 29, 2016. Read the complete article. Photo by Marcia Love.
Read MoreI’ve Been Everywhere, Man.
It has been a while since I last wrote a blog. The reason is, at some point, I had to work. Since the start of the new year, I have taught senior leaders in healthcare, and provincial and federal police; made three presentations to three different Rotary Clubs; produced a Ted Talk; was a keynote speaker for a conference in Jasper, a veterinarians’ association, and a Future Leader’s program; had some work presented at the national ASQ (largest quality organization in the world) conference; and had other work presented at a sport management conference, and a conference in Naples, Italy. Whew!...
Read MoreAssignment 2016: What is your platform?
As 2016 starts, many of us are thinking about our goals for the year. There are so many jokes and memes about New Year’s Resolutions that it is easy to think that making resolutions is a bad thing, but it’s not. It is very healthy to spend some time actually thinking intentionally about what you want, and spend even more time thinking about how to get what you want. I suggest one more step. Think about what is your platform? More about this later. I think by now we understand the terms mission or purpose, vision or goals, and values. Purpose answers the questions why am I here and what am I...
Read MoreWhat are you investing for?
Often when I work with a new or potential client, I hear this question: What is the return on the investment for this training? Asked another way: What savings we will realize if we pay you to come talk to us. While I totally understand these are fair questions, I think they are misguided questions, and regardless of which question is asked, my response is the same: It depends on why are you investing. I know that may sound like I am trying to side step the question, but think about it. If you do not really know why you are doing something, then it is really hard to see or obtain the value....
Read MoreFocus on You
Recently, I was presenting to a group of city managers at a conference. The conference was about the challenges managing cities in today’s environment of everyone thinking they can get more for less, whenever they want. While I have no expertise in how to manage cities, I was asked to provide some thoughts on how to lead in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. My answer might shock you: focus on you. Why do I suggest you focus on you? Because, in the end, that is all you can control. What I often see in organizations is that the company has gotten clearer on its goals while the workers...
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