Harvard Business Publishing

A friend of mine who is in a senior leadership role told me about a dream she had last night that seems to be a sign of the times. In her dream, her company asked her to go down to part-time (better than being laid off, right?). She agreed, taking one on the chin for the team. In her dream, she then took another half-time position in different industry and found herself at the bottom, in an entry level job, sharing a workspace with seven other people. She was completely lost. Dreaming and panicked, she thought, "Nothing I know from all my years of experience is relevant here. I have to learn all new things to survive in this place. I'm scared, this isn't fun, and I just don't know what to do." When she told me about her dream, we both realized that this is, indeed, where many of... Keep Reading »

Blame it on advances in technology and communication, globalization, the rise of the middle class, population explosion, global warming, or mismanagement of massive financial institutions. Whatever the cause, for a lot of us, things are very different than they were six months ago, not to mention ten years ago. We have been catapulted toward a future that is radically and fundamentally different than the world we children of the last century grew up in. It's entirely possible that we are living through one of the most dramatic eras in the history of our species. But, like fish don't know they are in water, it's easy for us to ignore the fact that we are swimming through the waters of dramatic change. And these waters aren't calm. There is nothing evolutionary about these changes. We are in the midst of a social revolution. This social revolution calls for personal transformation. We'll... Keep Reading »

Now isn't THAT refreshing! A couple of days ago, in one of his first press conferences post-election, Barack Obama was asked the all important question: "What kind of dog will the Obama family get?" He responded with the dilemma -- they need a dog that won't trigger Malia's allergies, and yet they'd like a dog from a shelter. But most dogs in shelters are mutts, Obama said. "Mutts, like me." I happened to be in an airport when this was broadcast. People were riveted to the TV, no surprise. And we all roared with laughter at his comment. Why? It struck a chord! We're all mutts in America. At least most of us are. A bit of this, a bit of that. A rumor in the family that there's a bit of that too. Me? As far as I know there's Irish, Scottish, Mohawk, Algonquin, English, French, and Swedish (that... Keep Reading »

The eighty year-old farmer. The eighteen year-old waitress. The twenty-two year-old single mom. College students. Firemen. Doctors. Retired steel mill workers. Housekeepers. Teachers. Nurses, secretaries, grocers, carpenters, plumbers and professors. Activists. Pacifists. Protesters. Advocates. Americans. Me. You. Today, millions upon millions of Americans are passionately taking part in the democratic process. Many are doing so for the first time. Many are doing so with hope that their single vote will help to restore confidence, pride, and belief in our leaders. People are talking with strangers on the street, sharing excitement and hope. We're laughing and joking like old friends as we wait in the long, long lines. "I can't wait for tonight!" "Isn't this amazing?" "I never thought I'd see this day." "Maybe now things will change. They have to!" The emotion is palpable. So is the energy, and our commitment to democracy as a path to change. We believe... Keep Reading »

In recent weeks I've written that most of us can't do a darn thing about what is going on in the markets. I've noticed a certain gentleness, mutual support and serenity coloring rueful conversations about what's happening to all of us during this difficult time. People are finding hope and comfort in being in it together. It's nice to see. Heartening. Hope gives us strength to get through. But something's bothering me. We can't just sit around. Hope is not passive. It's active, and it calls for energy and courage. My good friend Father Vladimir Felzmann put it well: Hope = Faith + Hard Work. Yup. He's right. Hope is an experience that allows us to Tap into optimism (we will get through this);Find a feasible vision for the future (No delusions! Be reasonable);Discover efficacy (I, or we, can make this happen!) The faith part of Vladimir's equation covers optimism... Keep Reading »

The great financiers of our time, including George Soros on CNN today, are saying things like "today, the economy is falling off the cliff." They're telling us that we have entered a recession that will be steep (meaning, I assume, extremely painful for everyone). On the other hand, President Bush said recently that "People's attitudes are beginning to change from a period of intense concerns -- and I would call it near panic -- to being more relaxed." How can people possibly be relaxed as we watch our savings disappear? One friend told me over the weekend that he's lost 40% of his wealth in the last few weeks. 40%! He's not a rich man -- just a teacher who has saved all his life. And he is ready to retire soon. Who could be relaxed about that? Or what about the people whose companies are announcing thousands of job... Keep Reading »

Don't you just wish you could be at those meetings in Washington? I mean really. Imagine it. Last week... "Wow, George, I never thought I'd say this, but 'I agree.'""I don't get the math. Do you get the math?""Poor Ben. Alan's skating on this one.""But where will the 700 billion dollars go?""Did someone consult the numerologist? Is 700 really the right number?""I think we should just go home. I'm tired.""I heard they're calling us 'The 700 Club'." And then...Monday... "What the hell is in this thing? It's outta control.""Ok, so I go back to my state/district/people/lobbyists. They're going to hate it. I won't get reelected. I'm done. No way, no how. I am not voting for this." "It didn't pass? You kidding?""The market has a way of putting pressure...Oh geez, it did.""I'm scared." Well. I'm scared too. It's kind of like seeing the future you planned for yourself and your... Keep Reading »

Toxic bosses. We've all seen them. They're screamers, stressed-out micromanagers, volatile, untrustworthy, insecure nightmares to work with. They're everywhere, and they do tremendous harm to the people around them and to their organizations. And it seems that bad behavior is on the rise. Why? Because people are freaking out about the economy. Our economic systems are careening wildly, not following the rules anymore, and it's touching all of us, at home, in the grocery store, and at work. It could get a lot worse, and soon. It's just plain scary. Top this off with the fact that many of us have been working too hard, for too long, and are suffering the effects of power stress and the sacrifice syndrome. And our personal stress is compounded by a truly terrifying backdrop: our planet is in peril. Let me say it another way: our planet is in danger of moving past... Keep Reading »

Most of us can't do a darn thing to change what is happening on Wall Street or in the financial markets around the world. We are at the mercy of macro-economic forces -- that have, by the way, been hovering like a dark, gray storm cloud for some time. What's happening really isn't a surprise. Wise people have been talking about inflated financial markets for a while now, predicting serious and long-lasting repercussions. You've heard the talk: "Too much bad debt...Why did they do it?...Pride goeth before a fall...Greed..." The details of the current situation weren't predictable, but the overall picture was. So what's surprising is that we are acting like it is a shock: we're stunned, terrified, confused, paralyzed, running for cover, whatever. The reason we're gripped by negative and paralyzing emotion is because the macro-economic forces that are normally so distant are crashing down, creating micro-economic disasters that... Keep Reading »

A few months ago I listened to one of the saddest stories I've ever heard. Three of us were having coffee--enjoying a break from a pretty intense team meeting. Somehow, we got on the topic of kids and families, what we do on weekends and the like. Out of the blue, one of the men turned to the other, and said: "Mike, just don't do what I did. My daughter turned 12 this summer--when she came home from camp I took one look at her and realized that my little girl is turning into a young woman! Shook me up, you know? She'll be gone in a few years! So, I decided once and for all that I better spend more time with her, do stuff together. I've been working so much all these years.... You know how it is, the travel, those big projects, that next promotion... Anyway, I've... Keep Reading »