The Square Wheels wagon rolls forward. Not smoothly, but it rolls… There are all sorts of issues and frameworks and anchors to how things really work, but this one should help explain a… Continue reading
At least 25 years ago, I came across this. Never did see a source. But it is an obvious classic insofar as how it describes how things really work in large organizations. I… Continue reading
This is about people and performance, about dreaming of possibilities and it is about the reality of improvement. Dream to Fly! For the FUN of It! Dr. Scott Simmerman is a designer of… Continue reading
I was reading some quotes and saw a quote by Emerson that I thought to reframe around teamwork and the choices we make. Again, I will anchor it to my Square Wheels model… Continue reading
Motivation and engagement are two critical factors for workplace improvement. So, I ask you, “What’s wrong with this picture of how things really work in most organizations?” What choice have probably been made… Continue reading
Every year, Joan does some kind of Christmas Poem around Santa and Square Wheels or Lost Dutchman and this year is no different. It seems like Santa is getting older and losing it… Continue reading
My associate Robin Speculand just sent me an email with some factoidal stuff and some of his really solid ideas on implementing strategy. You can find his website here. I thought that a… Continue reading
Christopher Columbus — there is a lot of controversy over the man and his accomplishments and how history is representing things. Supposedly, nearly everyone knew that the world was not flat in the… Continue reading
Don’t Just DO Something. That just gives you the same old thing, day after day. Stop. Step Back. And Stand There! Take a real look at what is happening and what COULD be… Continue reading
I have always thought this funny since the idea was first shared with me 30+ years ago: The Christopher Columbus Award. So, I had my artist, Roy Sabean, draw up something, which I… Continue reading
A lot of people work hard every day. But sometimes we can also find a way to do things differently. There are often alternative choices. And there are two miles of ditch… Continue reading
…or, “A Desk is a Dangerous Place from Which to View The World!” Ideas are good, but not every idea is a good idea. And a desk is one of the places where… Continue reading
We need to recognize where our processes are constrained and look for ways to make improvements in how things flow. This involves planning and collaboration and communications, key issues for leadership.
Thoughts on teamwork and making progress. Two business slogans used in marketing that are combined with the reality of how organizations really work. Do you think that this represents the worker reality?
This is a simple theme that we use in our thoughts about Teaching The Caterpillar to Fly. You can find a 5-part series of posts and illustrations by clicking on the image. You… Continue reading
Here is my view of the main theme of Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman’s most excellent book on how people think and make decisions. It is a great read. One key point… Continue reading
On issues of progress and improvement, as viewed from being up to your axles in mud and dealing with alligators. One from our Lost Dutchman framework of how to improve teamwork and the… Continue reading
I thought this a solid and simple way of representing the business improvement opportunity that exists for most managers in most organizations:
I saw some slogans for traveling and thought that they made pretty funny captions for Square Wheels One: Performance Management Company sells easy to use toolkits for generating better involvement, engagement and innovation.
I thought these comments were pretty funny, so here they are:
There is this one, too. Balance is critical for good leadership. (And I sent this one out after flubbing an email to a group of customers.)
Leaders have to be a lot of things to a lot of people an awful lot of the time. Balance is one of the keys, for sure. Thought you might like this little… Continue reading
Organizations need alignment in order to make efficient and effective progress on the journey forward. This is how it should look!
Interdepartmental Collaboration is a recognized oxymoron – two words that do not go together. Often, it is simply our policies and procedures and attitudes towards others that generate the result. Consider possibilities… … Continue reading
Sometimes, we get up to our axles in mud and we need to consider that there might be a different way to address issues of performance, rather than doing the same old thing… Continue reading
A lot of what we do is simply about perspective and viewpoint. Good leaders tend to see things differently and look for potential. The butterfly is already in the caterpillar. And caterpillars can… Continue reading
