Holistic Thinking in a Subsystem World: Collaborating to Create Inspired Visions
During a summer hiking adventure in southern France, I had the opportunity to visit the Point du Gard. This structure is an ancient Roman aqueduct crossing the Gardon River and part of a 31-mile system that once carried water from the city of Uzès to the Roman colony of Nîmes. Built in the first century it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The aqueduct carried an estimated 44 million imperial gallons of water a day supplying baths, homes, and fountains to 50,000 citizens. Amazingly the height drop of the entire aqueduct’s length is only 56 feet, demanding a gradient of 1 in 3,000. What...
Read MoreIs the Workplace a Zombie Breeding Ground?
Read Stephen’s latest article in The Journal for Quality & Participation.
Read MoreThe Importance of Being Grounded
Recently I had the opportunity to attend an address by David Petraeus, retired US Army General and CIA Director. Currently Petraeus is a Partner with KKR, chairman of the KKR Global Institute, and serves three separate universities in various roles; obviously a bright and accomplished individual. And although I found his address engaging, what impressed me most was his sense of firm grounding. He knows who he is. His self-knowledge radiated from the podium. Through good times and bad, wise decisions and stumbles, David Petraeus has a strong sense of self and the bigger world. The source of...
Read MoreThe Power of a Reference Marker…
Read Stephen’s latest article published in the Journal of Quality & Participation, October 2015.
Read MoreExploring the Possibilities
As we in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing the transition from long summer days into autumn coolness, I am reminded of the constancy of change. I welcome the four seasons as the changes in weather produce new exercise routines, social engagements, work patterns, community events and celebrations. Each season seems to usher in a new life chapter. But all change is not the same. Seasonal changes have a pattern, and we like to compare our previous experiences with the repeat of the pattern. How cold or hot is the season compared to previous ones; what is the nature of this seasonal...
Read MoreLeading Cultural Transformation
Read Stephen’s most recent article, Leading Cultural Transformation, published in the January 2015 issue of The Journal for Quality & Participation.
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