Articles for category: Initiative

Finding the Right Question

The hardest part of any problem-solving exercise is trying to find the right question to ask. The one that goes beyond the symptoms and looks at the root cause of what is happening and what you need to do to go forward to make it work. In some situations, it’s the question we don’t want to ask, the one we don’t want to acknowledge because changing our question to the right one would be an acknowledgment that we were initially wrong. But you weren’t “wrong”, you were simply figuring out how to get there – and as long as you’re

October 28, 2022

Greg Thomas

What’s your Contribution?

We all know about the group work exercise where only a few people carry the load of the entire group. Where only a few show up from the first day to the last. Where only a few do what is required and go beyond what is asked for the success of the group. Now imagine if everyone in the group was contributing at that level what could be accomplished? That there is the difference between a good team and an amazing team.

The Pot that Stirs

I don’t know what happens when the pot is constantly stirred. Does it actually not cook? I don’t think it will burn, but does it go anywhere? Does it have time to do anything? Can it get better? I don’t know many recipes that say – “stir constantly” – so maybe, just let it sit and see what happens. It takes a lot to let the pot sit and resist the temptation to tinker, to stir, it takes patience and we don’t always have that.

October 24, 2022

Greg Thomas

The Uncomfortable Development

If you want to grow, develop new skills, and figure out what is wrong with the old ones. You’re going to have to get uncomfortable, otherwise, it’ll never happen. Falling down, messing up, making mistakes – these are all uncomfortable acts that we are all resistant too. But when we let them happen, we grow.

October 20, 2022

Greg Thomas

Understanding your Role

Do you understand what your role on the team is? What do you contribute? Where do you create value? What do you do that helps your team directly and those you interact with? What do you make better? How many times have you asked yourselves these questions? Your role isn’t rooted in your title, it’s in what you do and contribute.