E.D.G.E. Challenge Course

05/29/2010

For those of us who occasionally entertain the role of "boss" here's a nice blog to remind us of our true duties: put out fires, run interference, and attend to the mundane tasks so our employees can do their jobs. Happy adventures, LJ

Business bloggers at Harvard Business Review discuss a variety of business topics including managing people, innovation, leadership, and more.

05/25/2010

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." -Henry Van D**e

05/23/2010

"A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive." -Walt Disney

05/22/2010

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

05/21/2010

Just finished this book. It has some good evidence-based research in it...along with some inspiring quotes I'll be sharing.

The passion for life lists has spawned an industry that includes thoughtful experts such as Caroline Miller, a life coach and motivational book author, and Dr. Michael Frisch, a positive psychology coach and clinical psychologist at Baylor University. Working together, they have fashioned the most u...

05/02/2010

If you have a few extra minutes, watch this entertaining and provocative TED.com video on the Marshmallow Challenge. It reinforces the importance of team process and facilitation. As Tom Wujec stated, "design is a contact sport.' Enjoy . LJ http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_build_a_tower.html

TED Talks Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" -- a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the aver...

04/21/2010

"A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches-that is the right and priviledge of any free American." -Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness

04/09/2010

PROGRESS=MOTIVATION: Dan Pink, author on motivation, was asked how he keeps himself motivated. He has grappled with this question both professionally and in his personal life. He claims people are motivated when they experience progress. As such he asks a simple question to himself daily: “Am I better today than I was yesterday?” Guess I better go run after all, but that cinnamon roll would make me feel good…

04/06/2010

EMPATHY TRUMPS COMPETITION: Jeremy Rifkin’s new book: "The Empathic Civilization" provides an optimistic, or at very least, hopeful glimpse into our future as a species. It is particularly salient to those of us in leadership and team development as his argument proposes that "The Age of Reason is being eclipsed by the Age of Empathy." Effective collaborative leaders are empathic leaders and readily understand the importance of seeing experiences through another’s eyes. Not to be confused with sympathy, empathy allows for collaboration with the “we’re all in this together” mindset. A recent article in Newsweek further suggested that certain cultures may be better wired (neurologically speaking) to empathy and a sense of community. I don’t think they were New Yorkers….

Amazon.com: The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis (9781585427659): Jeremy Rifkin: Books

03/31/2010

NAME CALLING: Dale Carnegie’s famous quote that the "sweetest sound a person ever hears is the sound of their own name" has been reason enough to learn names. Now research suggests that learning and using names may provide a significant tool in team member commitment. The following HBR blog tells of a study showing that when a surgical team introduces themselves at the beginning of a procedure, compared to those who don’t, enjoy a marked decrease in surgical errors and complications. Moreover, using team member names increases buy-in and commitment to tasks. It should be noted that the reverse can also be true. Mispronouncing a name or calling someone the incorrect name will be demotivating and may contribute to someone checking out of the group. Sorry Janette I called you Janelle last week….
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/02/introductions_are_much_more_th.html?cm_mmc=npv-_-DAILY_ALERT-_-AWEBER-_-DATE

02/04/2010

I’ve been reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (excellent book). In it he uses this Eric Hoffer quote which resonated with me, and should be a caveat for all of us in the experiential education field: "Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." — Eric Hoffer The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements