Here is a link to the interview I did with Francis Rose of Federal News Radio.
Tag Archives: teams
Leadership Speaker for ASTD and Linkage
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be speaking for two of the world’s leading organizations in the training and development field. On July 23rd I’ll be speaking about how Connection Cultures relate to leadership, employee engagement, productivity and innovation in an hour long presentation via Webex to members of ASTD (the American Society for Training and Development). ASTD is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals with 80,000 members from more than 100 countries.
On December 10, I will be at the headquarters of Linkage Corporation near Boston to record an 90 minute presentation on Connection Cultures that will be made available on demand to Linkage clients. Linkage is a global organizational development company that specializes in leadership development. More than 200,000 leaders and managers have attended Linkage programs since 1998.
Culture Change = Compelling Values + Portfolio of Stories
Mario Sundar at Marketing Nirvana just wrote about changing corporate culture with corporate storytelling. I agree that leaders should have a portfolio of stories they tell that bring corporate values to life. In addition, I recommend that leaders clearly articulate their values in writing. The corporate mission, strategy and objectives express what has to be done. Clearly articulated values in writing help make it clear how work is to be done and how it is not to be done.
Here is one of the best expressions of values by a leader that I’ve seen. It comes from the commander of the U.S.S. Montpelier, a nuclear submarine.
The USS Montpelier Command Philosophy
Montpelier is a warship, designed to steam into harm’s way and win. Our flesh and blood bring this ship to life. We are stewards of one of the most capable warships in the history of mankind. These thoughts provide a framework for executing that stewardship and for building the teamwork that will enable us to fight and win in war.
Connection — and Connectors — in Federal Government
Recently I’ve been spending more time in Washington, DC. Earlier this year I spoke at the General Services Administration, the Executive Development Exchange Network (EDEN) and at Senior Fellows and Friends. In the coming months I’ll be speaking at the US Treasury Executive Institute, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Government Accountability Office.
Washington, DC is abuzz with energy, enthusiasm and a “can do” spirit. Some government employees meet on their personal time in groups such as Senior Fellows and Friends and 13L to exchange ideas that make government more effective. They have come up with innovative practices and programs such as Flash Mentoring and FedPitch. The private sector could learn much from these thoughtful civil servants who dedicate their professional lives to a cause greater than self.
Yesterday I had the privilege of joining Martha Dorris, the Deputy Associate Administrator at the GSA’s Office of Citizen Services and AM 1500 Federal News Radio hosts Chris Dorobek and Francis Rose in an hour long discussion about my book, Fired Up or Burned Out, and creating Connection Cultures in Federal Government. Martha is a dynamic leader and an intentional connector who is developing a Connection Culture at the GSA. Chris and Francis are outgoing, intentional connectors too. Their radio programs are thoughtful and encouraging. They inform, educate, inspire and help federal government workers feel more connected. You can listen to our radio conversation by clicking on leadership and employee engagement in federal government.
During this critical time in history when we are rethinking the roles of the government, private and social sectors, government is playing an increasingly important part in shaping our collective future. To this end, President Obama is challenging federal workers to make a difference. He inspires them with a vision of positive change, values their service and contributions, and gives them a voice by seeking their opinions and ideas. And I’m looking forward to spending more time in DC to encourage and advise leaders about how to develop Connection Cultures that will help release the genius of the dedicated individuals who work in federal government.
Speaking at Google on July 28
On July 28 I’ll be speaking about leadership, employee engagement and Connection Cultures at Google’s corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California as part of it’s Leading@Google program. Google will film my presentation and make it available online before the end of July at Leading@Google on YouTube.
What’s New: DC, Yale, Wharton, Korea, AMA, etc.
In addition to my recent posts about speaking at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business and the interview I did that was just published in the award-winning Rotman magazine, produced by the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, here’s a quick update about my recent and upcoming activities.
I’ve been in Washington, DC lately speaking to various groups including Martha Dorris’ Office of Citizen Services and Communications (part of the U.S. Government Services Administration), Kitty Wooley’s Society of Fellows and Friends and Michael Yoka’s Executive Development Exchange Network. I was inspired during my visits to DC by the dedication, energy and intelligence many Federal Government employees have. This may come as a surprise to many but I believe working in government will be one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding workplaces in the years ahead. Part of this comes from President Obama’s belief that government can be a force for good and his appreciation of people who want to serve a cause greater than self. I’m thrilled to be working more in DC. On June 12 I will be a guest on Federal News Radio’s (AM-1500) book club and on July 1, I will be speaking at the Treasury Executive Institute.
Yale-New Haven Health System just hired me to speak to its 450 managers on June 2 at its Yale-New Haven Hospital Management Symposium. This is one of the world’s great hospitals and I can hardly wait to fire their up their leaders and empower them with tools to create a Connection Culture.
I’ll be presenting at the Wharton Alumni Club of Boston on June 4.
My publisher just informed me that Fired Up or Burned Out is being translated into another language, this time Korean. In the last year alone the book was published in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam (in Vietnamese, as you can see from the cover to the left). In addition, the book is now available in Kindle and paperback editions. An audio edition is in the works and I’m optimistic it will continue to be published in more languages over the coming years.
The American Management Association just published an article I wrote about Pixar Animation entitled “Case Study: Pixar’s Winning Strategy of Inclusiveness.”
There are some very exciting additional engagements in the works that I hope to announce soon so stay tuned.
P.S. On the personal front, my daughter Sarah was just accepted at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. A couple weeks back, our whole family flew down to Texas to support Sarah as she tried out to be a cheerleader. So, I’m now the proud father of a TCU Horned Frog cheerleader. Sarah has worked hard and I’m happy and confident that she will thrive at this great school.
Rotman Magazine Interview
Rotman, the award-winning magazine of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, just published an interview I did with them on Connection Cultures, leadership and employee engagement. The Spring 2009 issue also features fascinating interviews with Warren Bennis, Prof. Renee Mauborgue of INSEAD and Prof. Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago. You can subscribe to Rotman magazine or purchase the download by clicking here. Following is the text of the interview.
Darden: A Legacy of Community and Connection
This week I taught a half-day workshop on Connection Cultures, employee engagement, leadership and teams to the graduating seniors of the MBA for Executives program at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business. This is the second year I’ve taught at Darden. After speaking last year, I wrote about my first impression of Darden in a blog post entitled “The Connected Class.”
New Articles on Pixar and Selecting CEOs
Here are two new articles I wrote that will appear shortly in publications in India and the US. As with all of the articles I write they relate to leadership and employee engagement. Email me at mstallard [at] epluribuspartners [dot] com if you have any comments or suggestions. Thanks – Michael
The Competitive Advantage of Pixar’s Environment
By Michael Lee Stallard
At the Technical Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, the Associated Press reported that it wasn’t the host, actress Jessica Beil, who attracted the most attention.
Teaching Connection at GE
Today I taught about Connection Cultures and employee engagement to leaders at GE’s famed Crotonville Leadership Training Center. In the coming weeks I’ll be working with GE to add material from Fired Up or Burned Out to one of GE’s leadership courses. The Connection Culture will help GE attain its desire to be inclusive. And I’m fired up about helping this great organization become even better.
GE is a company I’ve always admired. Previously I’ve written about Jeff Immelt, GE’s CEO, and how he has made inclusiveness one of GE’s values. More recently, I wrote in a post entitled “Warren Buffett: More Than an Oracle,” that Buffett made a multibillion dollar investment in GE. Although the current economic conditions are challenging, like Buffett, I believe GE’s future is bright.