#network thinking

Dis!Organize Ep. 48: Commiserate.

Disorganizers have bruises from their fights and muscle from the experimentation and small victories. 

We know how to make things happen and lead the emergent edge of the organizations we serve.

Because we have fallen down so many times (and got back up again) there is little that could happen to a colleague who is trying for change that we have never yet experienced. 

Therefore, be a…

#COVID Diaries Week 19: 5 Data Points From #WFH. EVERYTHING CHANGES! for Workers - Meetings - Managers - Workdays - Networks.

Finally, the data is starting to roll-in about exactly what has changed for the #WFH crowd, other than “everything.”

Microsoft has been chewing on the dataset from one of their large teams, and it has some fascinating insights into how EVERYTHING CHANGED!

1. Workers for the Win.

When everything changes, everyday workers are more likely to be an active participant in the establishment of…

Dis!Organize Ep. 33: Coffee-A-Go-Go. Network effects!

The value of network effects have been proven in workplaces. The more interconnected we are, the more likely it is that projects will succeed, that institutional muscle memory grows.

There are many ways to grow organizational networks, and here’s one experiment!

On your social network or in your office, start a coffee dating service.Random people put their name forward, with the intent to…

COVID Diaries Week 18: How Can I Help? #HBR research about #WFH: employees need MORE and REDUNDANT communication.

Some fascinating HBR research from the front line of #WFH business continuity:

MORE COMMUNICATION, please and thank you. Employees need clarity.

REDUNDANT communication – more channels, more time on the channels. Leaders need to free up their schedule to talk with their teams – strategy, workflows, tactics, check-ins.

Need some leadership advice or coaching?

What about messaging and…

Dis!Organize Ep. 25: Kith and Kin (Outsiders). There are people just like you, trying to do the same work – in other organizations.

Here’s another guarantee.

There are people just like you, trying to do the same work – in other organizations. 

Nothing you are doing is unique (sorry). 

And! Guaranteed! 

Some of these people will be way ahead of you on the journey.

They have the bruises and trips and falls. They have the victories, small and…

Dis!Organize Ep. 24: Kith and Kin (Insiders). Strength in numbers, emotional support, fellow travellers.

Many people will not get you at work – guaranteed. 

They’ll roll their eyes, make some gentle joke at your expense. Maybe you will be politically sidelined.

Two choices:

Time for a new job (yep); or

scan the company for those fellow travellers who do or might get you.

Who has quirks, ideas, musings that sit outside the…

Dis!Organize Ep.6: Meander. A river wends its way this way and that. You should too.

Meander.

It’s a great word. It just sounds right.

I first came across the word studying geography at school. 

A river meanders, gently swerving this way and that; the water slowly removing and depositing the earth of its banks as it moves inexorably to its destination. By doing so, it changes itself.

LINK

People…

COVID Diaries: Week 9 Outreach. Calendarizing. Good Art.

Outreach.

In March COVID times (y’know, back in the day), friends reported that work was crazy, and hours were long. I chilled at home, reading and writing, keeping a low profile.

In the last week, I decided to dip my toe back into the network to see where people’s collective head was at. I am using this downtime to reflect, learn and grow, to prepare. Much of that I can do alone, via the…