http://community.morassociates.com/service/getFeed.kickAction?mediaType=BLOG&quantity=25&as=111754 New blogs from danielle on MOR Associates Community Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:42:24 GMT Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:42:24 GMT abywater@morassociates.com (abywater) abywater@morassociates.com (abywater) KickApps Feed Builder 2010-07-07T18:42:24Z 5 http://community.morassociates.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=111754&sortType=recent 0 http://community.morassociates.com/_Leadership-Lessons-On-and-Off-the-Field/BLOG/2436571/111754.html If you’re like me, your Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz accounts have been inundated with 2010 FIFA World Cup madness since the June 11th opening ceremony. Status updates like “If it aint Dutch it aint much” have consumed my social network realty for quite some time. And I have to be honest -- I haven’t put much stock in this year’s competition and can’t confidently give you a play-by-play of what has been going on. I did, however, come across an interesting article on the subject that provoked me to learn a little more about the teams and the great impact the sport has had on our nation. Dubbed “the most watched TV event ever,” I figured there had to be something I was missing.Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s recent blog post, “World Cup Leadership Lessons,” is a perfect example of how leaders exist under a variety of platforms and have the ability to thrive in a variety of settings. “As a leadership groupie,” she says, “I watch for lessons about the circumstances behind the action, the factors that propel any organization to victory.”Her lessons for leaders are as follows:Your job is to provide resources and support that build the confidence of players in themselves, each other, the team, and the excellence of the surrounding system. Ethics, fair play, mentoring, smooth transitions, continuity, and collaboration should not be luxuries or lip service; they create the margin of victory.The post provides some highlights of the games and details on what a few of the epic sports moments meant to Kanter herself.Some leadership highlights:Fair, transparent, collaborative = winning.Corrupt, chaotic, petty = losing.Success is derived from not just the talents of individuals but the context surrounding them.Keeping these thoughts in mind, what leadership lessons will you practice over the summer months that take you out of the office and into your everyday lives?------------------------------------------------------Kanter’s full blog post can be found here:http://blogs.hbr.org/kanter/2010/07/world-cup-leadership-lessons.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+harvardbusiness+%28HBR.org%29 If you’re like me, your Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz accounts have been inundated with 2010 FIFA World Cup madness since the June 11th opening ceremony. Status updates like “If it aint Dutch it aint much” have consumed my social network realty for quite some time. And I have to be honest -- I haven’t put much stock in this year’s competition and can’t confidently give you a play-by-play of what has been going on. I did, however, come across an interesting article on the subject that provoked me to learn a little more about the teams and the great impact the sport has had on our nation. Dubbed “the most watched TV event ever,” I figured there had to be something I was missing.Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s recent blog post, “World Cup Leadership Lessons,” is a perfect example of how leaders exist under a variety of platforms and have the ability to thrive in a variety of settings. “As a leadership groupie,” she says, “I watch for lessons about the circumstances behind the action, the factors that propel any organization to victory.”Her lessons for leaders are as follows:Your job is to provide resources and support that build the confidence of players in themselves, each other, the team, and the excellence of the surrounding system. Ethics, fair play, mentoring, smooth transitions, continuity, and collaboration should not be luxuries or lip service; they create the margin of victory.The post provides some highlights of the games and details on what a few of the epic sports moments meant to Kanter herself.Some leadership highlights:Fair, transparent, collaborative = winning.Corrupt, chaotic, petty = losing.Success is derived from not just the talents of individuals but the context surrounding them.Keeping these thoughts in mind, what leadership lessons will you practice over the summer months that take you out of the office and into your everyday lives?------------------------------------------------------Kanter’s full blog post can be found here:http://blogs.hbr.org/kanter/2010/07/world-cup-leadership-lessons.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+harvardbusiness+%28HBR.org%29 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:42:24 GMT http://community.morassociates.com/_Leadership-Lessons-On-and-Off-the-Field/BLOG/2436571/111754.html danielle 2010-07-07T18:42:24Z MOR Associates Community If you’re like me, your Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz accounts have been inundated with 2010 FIFA World Cup madness since the June 11th opening ceremony. Status updates like “If it aint Dutch it aint much” have consumed my social network realty for quite some time. And I have to be honest -- I haven’t put much stock in this year’s competition and can’t confidently give you a play-by-play of what has been going on. I did, however, come across an interesting article on the subject that provoked me to learn a little more about the teams and the great impact the sport has had on our nation. Dubbed “the most watched TV event ever,” I figured there had to be something I was missing.Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s recent blog post, “World Cup Leadership Lessons,” is a perfect example of how leaders exist under a variety of platforms and have the ability to thrive in a variety of settings. “As a leadership groupie,” she says, “I watch for lessons about the circumstances behind the action, the factors that propel any organization to victory.”Her lessons for leaders are as follows:Your job is to provide resources and support that build the confidence of players in themselves, each other, the team, and the excellence of the surrounding system. Ethics, fair play, mentoring, smooth transitions, continuity, and collaboration should not be luxuries or lip service; they create the margin of victory.The post provides some highlights of the games and details on what a few of the epic sports moments meant to Kanter herself.Some leadership highlights:Fair, transparent, collaborative = winning.Corrupt, chaotic, petty = losing.Success is derived from not just the talents of individuals but the context surrounding them.Keeping these thoughts in mind, what leadership lessons will you practice over the summer months that take you out of the office and into your everyday lives?------------------------------------------------------Kanter’s full blog post can be found here:http://blogs.hbr.org/kanter/2010/07/world-cup-leadership-lessons.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+harvardbusiness+%28HBR.org%29 lessons, teamwork nonadult false Leadership Lessons: On and Off the Field text blog lessons,teamwork 42 0 0.0 http://community.morassociates.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7520369&as=111754 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/user/defaultImage_160x120_A.jpg false 0 0 2436571 7520369 Member 0 http://community.morassociates.com/_Leadership-Journeys-Lessons-in-Truth/BLOG/2316744/111754.html Two weeks ago, the ITLP 2010 cohort came to Boston for their 2nd session of the IT Leaders Program. This offered another opportunity for me to sit in on the sessions, to connect with another group of leaders, and to walk away with my own learning’s after just a few productive days of discussing change and the importance of the three lenses.My biggest take-away from the session, however, was the notion that every lesson in our lives – personal, professional, educational – stems from the trials and errors of our past. And it is through these trials and errors that we grow into who we are meant to be.The leadership journey exercise, in my opinion, is one of the most influential and purposeful exercises MOR encourages ITLP participants to engage in. Off all the journeys I’ve heard, and from my own that I’ve mapped, life lessons have emerged – lessons in leadership that have shaped who we are and have provided a framework for where we stand. Whether you’re responsible for teaching your mother to read and write at a young age, or you spent your early years in the principal’s office and today, stand as a leader, manager and mentor in your role, you’ve picked up on the pieces of your past and set your sights on the future you want. These lessons, lessons in truth about who we are (and why), are encouraging testimonials. For all the journeys that have been shared, and for those still to be shared, thank you. Know that when you stand in front of the room and reveal an honesty about your past, present, and foreseeable future, people are listening and are truly affected by your story.   Two weeks ago, the ITLP 2010 cohort came to Boston for their 2nd session of the IT Leaders Program. This offered another opportunity for me to sit in on the sessions, to connect with another group of leaders, and to walk away with my own learning’s after just a few productive days of discussing change and the importance of the three lenses.My biggest take-away from the session, however, was the notion that every lesson in our lives – personal, professional, educational – stems from the trials and errors of our past. And it is through these trials and errors that we grow into who we are meant to be.The leadership journey exercise, in my opinion, is one of the most influential and purposeful exercises MOR encourages ITLP participants to engage in. Off all the journeys I’ve heard, and from my own that I’ve mapped, life lessons have emerged – lessons in leadership that have shaped who we are and have provided a framework for where we stand. Whether you’re responsible for teaching your mother to read and write at a young age, or you spent your early years in the principal’s office and today, stand as a leader, manager and mentor in your role, you’ve picked up on the pieces of your past and set your sights on the future you want. These lessons, lessons in truth about who we are (and why), are encouraging testimonials. For all the journeys that have been shared, and for those still to be shared, thank you. Know that when you stand in front of the room and reveal an honesty about your past, present, and foreseeable future, people are listening and are truly affected by your story.   Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:02:45 GMT http://community.morassociates.com/_Leadership-Journeys-Lessons-in-Truth/BLOG/2316744/111754.html danielle 2010-04-27T16:02:45Z MOR Associates Community Two weeks ago, the ITLP 2010 cohort came to Boston for their 2nd session of the IT Leaders Program. This offered another opportunity for me to sit in on the sessions, to connect with another group of leaders, and to walk away with my own learning’s after just a few productive days of discussing change and the importance of the three lenses.My biggest take-away from the session, however, was the notion that every lesson in our lives – personal, professional, educational – stems from the trials and errors of our past. And it is through these trials and errors that we grow into who we are meant to be.The leadership journey exercise, in my opinion, is one of the most influential and purposeful exercises MOR encourages ITLP participants to engage in. Off all the journeys I’ve heard, and from my own that I’ve mapped, life lessons have emerged – lessons in leadership that have shaped who we are and have provided a framework for where we stand. Whether you’re responsible for teaching your mother to read and write at a young age, or you spent your early years in the principal’s office and today, stand as a leader, manager and mentor in your role, you’ve picked up on the pieces of your past and set your sights on the future you want. These lessons, lessons in truth about who we are (and why), are encouraging testimonials. For all the journeys that have been shared, and for those still to be shared, thank you. Know that when you stand in front of the room and reveal an honesty about your past, present, and foreseeable future, people are listening and are truly affected by your story.   nonadult false Leadership Journeys, Lessons in Truth text blog 57 0 0.0 http://community.morassociates.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7520369&as=111754 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/user/defaultImage_160x120_C.jpg false 0 0 2316744 7520369 Member 0 http://community.morassociates.com/_Achievements-Take-Action/BLOG/1927701/111754.html  “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”Max DePree, writer, former President and CEO of Herman-MillerThis quote, forwarded to me by colleague and fellow KickApps contributor, Jim Bruce, is inspirational with what seems to be an enduring caveat of truth. The quote, at least to me, represents the reality of what it is we want, don’t want, and choose to do in our every day lives. This preempts the notion of going out and “doing” – making tangible, measurable efforts towards some goal, whether large or small. During a staff meeting about a month ago, Jim had said something that sparked my interest. He said that when he doesn’t want to do something, he just goes out and does it anyways (simple, I know, but oh-so-important). And while this might not always be practical for all of us, that philosophy has helped carry me through the days over the past few weeks.  It’s a challenge I set up for myself on a continual basis.So here’s my charge to you. When you come across a task or event that you just absolutely do not (will not!) attend or devote effort to, think twice. More likely than not, you’ll feel better for crossing something else off the “to do” list and have increased confidence and motivation for completing the next task.I’d love to hear some examples and success stories!   “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”Max DePree, writer, former President and CEO of Herman-MillerThis quote, forwarded to me by colleague and fellow KickApps contributor, Jim Bruce, is inspirational with what seems to be an enduring caveat of truth. The quote, at least to me, represents the reality of what it is we want, don’t want, and choose to do in our every day lives. This preempts the notion of going out and “doing” – making tangible, measurable efforts towards some goal, whether large or small. During a staff meeting about a month ago, Jim had said something that sparked my interest. He said that when he doesn’t want to do something, he just goes out and does it anyways (simple, I know, but oh-so-important). And while this might not always be practical for all of us, that philosophy has helped carry me through the days over the past few weeks.  It’s a challenge I set up for myself on a continual basis.So here’s my charge to you. When you come across a task or event that you just absolutely do not (will not!) attend or devote effort to, think twice. More likely than not, you’ll feel better for crossing something else off the “to do” list and have increased confidence and motivation for completing the next task.I’d love to hear some examples and success stories!  Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:56:21 GMT http://community.morassociates.com/_Achievements-Take-Action/BLOG/1927701/111754.html danielle 2010-03-02T18:56:21Z MOR Associates Community  “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”Max DePree, writer, former President and CEO of Herman-MillerThis quote, forwarded to me by colleague and fellow KickApps contributor, Jim Bruce, is inspirational with what seems to be an enduring caveat of truth. The quote, at least to me, represents the reality of what it is we want, don’t want, and choose to do in our every day lives. This preempts the notion of going out and “doing” – making tangible, measurable efforts towards some goal, whether large or small. During a staff meeting about a month ago, Jim had said something that sparked my interest. He said that when he doesn’t want to do something, he just goes out and does it anyways (simple, I know, but oh-so-important). And while this might not always be practical for all of us, that philosophy has helped carry me through the days over the past few weeks.  It’s a challenge I set up for myself on a continual basis.So here’s my charge to you. When you come across a task or event that you just absolutely do not (will not!) attend or devote effort to, think twice. More likely than not, you’ll feel better for crossing something else off the “to do” list and have increased confidence and motivation for completing the next task.I’d love to hear some examples and success stories!  nonadult false Achievements Take Action text blog 75 0 0.0 http://community.morassociates.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7520369&as=111754 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/user/defaultImage_160x120_A.jpg false 0 0 1927701 7520369 Member 0 http://community.morassociates.com/_Pull-Over-Your-Life-is-Waiting/BLOG/812475/111754.html Living in the city of Boston certainly has its advantages, but traffic isn’t one of them. As I am about 18 miles from my job (an average 45-60 minute drive through the city), my morning and afternoon commute leaves little to be desired, to say the least. In the past year, the list of angry commuters, prolonged traffic lights, and unnecessary roadwork has lengthened, producing what one would think to be complete and utter insanity. But no. These distractions have actually transformed into tools – tools that have made me more calm, less anxious. Don’t get me wrong, by the time I actually get to work, I still feel like I’ve already worked an hour or two. But, learned lessons along the way have put an emphasis on how to handle the stress, reflect on what’s important, and achieve results with an end goal in mind.It’s no surprise that the material we teach here at MOR is applicable to facets of our everyday life – I just never imagined they were applicable to the mundane congestion of our city streets. While on the road, rather than scream, cut somebody off, pull my hair out (I digress), I’ve actually become quite a reflective person. I think about my day, my life, personal and professional goals; all while droning out the insignificant clamor of potholes and sirens. Would I rather spend one more minute being upset about something I can’t control, or contribute my time to something that benefits me? I ask myself every day.   Living in the city of Boston certainly has its advantages, but traffic isn’t one of them. As I am about 18 miles from my job (an average 45-60 minute drive through the city), my morning and afternoon commute leaves little to be desired, to say the least. In the past year, the list of angry commuters, prolonged traffic lights, and unnecessary roadwork has lengthened, producing what one would think to be complete and utter insanity. But no. These distractions have actually transformed into tools – tools that have made me more calm, less anxious. Don’t get me wrong, by the time I actually get to work, I still feel like I’ve already worked an hour or two. But, learned lessons along the way have put an emphasis on how to handle the stress, reflect on what’s important, and achieve results with an end goal in mind.It’s no surprise that the material we teach here at MOR is applicable to facets of our everyday life – I just never imagined they were applicable to the mundane congestion of our city streets. While on the road, rather than scream, cut somebody off, pull my hair out (I digress), I’ve actually become quite a reflective person. I think about my day, my life, personal and professional goals; all while droning out the insignificant clamor of potholes and sirens. Would I rather spend one more minute being upset about something I can’t control, or contribute my time to something that benefits me? I ask myself every day.   Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:37:42 GMT http://community.morassociates.com/_Pull-Over-Your-Life-is-Waiting/BLOG/812475/111754.html danielle 2009-09-23T14:37:42Z MOR Associates Community Living in the city of Boston certainly has its advantages, but traffic isn’t one of them. As I am about 18 miles from my job (an average 45-60 minute drive through the city), my morning and afternoon commute leaves little to be desired, to say the least. In the past year, the list of angry commuters, prolonged traffic lights, and unnecessary roadwork has lengthened, producing what one would think to be complete and utter insanity. But no. These distractions have actually transformed into tools – tools that have made me more calm, less anxious. Don’t get me wrong, by the time I actually get to work, I still feel like I’ve already worked an hour or two. But, learned lessons along the way have put an emphasis on how to handle the stress, reflect on what’s important, and achieve results with an end goal in mind.It’s no surprise that the material we teach here at MOR is applicable to facets of our everyday life – I just never imagined they were applicable to the mundane congestion of our city streets. While on the road, rather than scream, cut somebody off, pull my hair out (I digress), I’ve actually become quite a reflective person. I think about my day, my life, personal and professional goals; all while droning out the insignificant clamor of potholes and sirens. Would I rather spend one more minute being upset about something I can’t control, or contribute my time to something that benefits me? I ask myself every day.   nonadult false Pull Over, Your Life is Waiting text blog 92 0 0.0 http://community.morassociates.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7520369&as=111754 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/user/defaultImage_160x120_C.jpg false 0 0 812475 7520369 Member 0 http://community.morassociates.com/_GXI-MIT-Graduation-An-Insiders-Perspective/BLOG/483453/111754.html Two coffees, a few pieces of cantaloupe, and a water later, I thought, “I have a lot to learn.” This realization has actually been one I’ve been harboring since beginning my journey with MOR, and undoubtedly, will continue. Occasionally, I have the privilege of sitting in on an ITLP session. Sans tech. background, to say some topics of conversation are over my head is an understatement. Lately, however, I’ve engaged myself in the work, dialect, and tech. lingo that supports so much of what we do (I didn’t want to be a “faker” like David!). Ultimately, though, the end product is about leadership, building relationships, networking, personal and professional development – all areas in which I CAN relate to. That said, I was excited when another opportunity to get involved in a session face-to-face arose at MIT.So last Tuesday, I walked a few “smoots” to the meeting space and sat down for what was the beginning of GXI’s graduation week. I met the faces of those I’ve only known through email, had a chance to listen to the great minds of our own Jack Wolfe and MIT’s Israel Ruiz, and reflected on the leadership journeys that were so honestly shared. The next day came quickly and was not without entertainment. Stories of wingmen, mailboxes, baby blue and khaki dress code flooded the room as Brian and Jim segued into the day’s agenda. The conversation on organizational and political savvy was an enriching one in which we concluded, it is in fact, NOT a waste of time. Thank you, team.Dinner at Taranta’s was a whole new eye-opener as my table did a great job of keeping Lori and I consistently entertained. Somewhere between the antipasti and mezzo pollo I got exposed to a lot more than just university politics. On a more serious note, it was truly touching to see the group together in a lax setting – great friends, good wine, hearty laughs reminiscent of the past nine months. I could tell that ITLP has deeply affected the way in which many of you view and conduct your jobs. And that is a beautiful thing. The next morning was only the end of the beginning. It was time to give thanks and encouragement to our graduates! I love seeing these moments unfold. Between talks from the CIO’s, graduation presentations, and nagging monkeys, it is a great way to tie the program all together. So thank you to everyone who welcomed me into the session last week. I had a wonderful few days and hope to see you all again very soon! Two coffees, a few pieces of cantaloupe, and a water later, I thought, “I have a lot to learn.” This realization has actually been one I’ve been harboring since beginning my journey with MOR, and undoubtedly, will continue. Occasionally, I have the privilege of sitting in on an ITLP session. Sans tech. background, to say some topics of conversation are over my head is an understatement. Lately, however, I’ve engaged myself in the work, dialect, and tech. lingo that supports so much of what we do (I didn’t want to be a “faker” like David!). Ultimately, though, the end product is about leadership, building relationships, networking, personal and professional development – all areas in which I CAN relate to. That said, I was excited when another opportunity to get involved in a session face-to-face arose at MIT.So last Tuesday, I walked a few “smoots” to the meeting space and sat down for what was the beginning of GXI’s graduation week. I met the faces of those I’ve only known through email, had a chance to listen to the great minds of our own Jack Wolfe and MIT’s Israel Ruiz, and reflected on the leadership journeys that were so honestly shared. The next day came quickly and was not without entertainment. Stories of wingmen, mailboxes, baby blue and khaki dress code flooded the room as Brian and Jim segued into the day’s agenda. The conversation on organizational and political savvy was an enriching one in which we concluded, it is in fact, NOT a waste of time. Thank you, team.Dinner at Taranta’s was a whole new eye-opener as my table did a great job of keeping Lori and I consistently entertained. Somewhere between the antipasti and mezzo pollo I got exposed to a lot more than just university politics. On a more serious note, it was truly touching to see the group together in a lax setting – great friends, good wine, hearty laughs reminiscent of the past nine months. I could tell that ITLP has deeply affected the way in which many of you view and conduct your jobs. And that is a beautiful thing. The next morning was only the end of the beginning. It was time to give thanks and encouragement to our graduates! I love seeing these moments unfold. Between talks from the CIO’s, graduation presentations, and nagging monkeys, it is a great way to tie the program all together. So thank you to everyone who welcomed me into the session last week. I had a wonderful few days and hope to see you all again very soon! Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:04:26 GMT http://community.morassociates.com/_GXI-MIT-Graduation-An-Insiders-Perspective/BLOG/483453/111754.html danielle 2009-07-29T16:04:26Z MOR Associates Community Two coffees, a few pieces of cantaloupe, and a water later, I thought, “I have a lot to learn.” This realization has actually been one I’ve been harboring since beginning my journey with MOR, and undoubtedly, will continue. Occasionally, I have the privilege of sitting in on an ITLP session. Sans tech. background, to say some topics of conversation are over my head is an understatement. Lately, however, I’ve engaged myself in the work, dialect, and tech. lingo that supports so much of what we do (I didn’t want to be a “faker” like David!). Ultimately, though, the end product is about leadership, building relationships, networking, personal and professional development – all areas in which I CAN relate to. That said, I was excited when another opportunity to get involved in a session face-to-face arose at MIT.So last Tuesday, I walked a few “smoots” to the meeting space and sat down for what was the beginning of GXI’s graduation week. I met the faces of those I’ve only known through email, had a chance to listen to the great minds of our own Jack Wolfe and MIT’s Israel Ruiz, and reflected on the leadership journeys that were so honestly shared. The next day came quickly and was not without entertainment. Stories of wingmen, mailboxes, baby blue and khaki dress code flooded the room as Brian and Jim segued into the day’s agenda. The conversation on organizational and political savvy was an enriching one in which we concluded, it is in fact, NOT a waste of time. Thank you, team.Dinner at Taranta’s was a whole new eye-opener as my table did a great job of keeping Lori and I consistently entertained. Somewhere between the antipasti and mezzo pollo I got exposed to a lot more than just university politics. On a more serious note, it was truly touching to see the group together in a lax setting – great friends, good wine, hearty laughs reminiscent of the past nine months. I could tell that ITLP has deeply affected the way in which many of you view and conduct your jobs. And that is a beautiful thing. The next morning was only the end of the beginning. It was time to give thanks and encouragement to our graduates! I love seeing these moments unfold. Between talks from the CIO’s, graduation presentations, and nagging monkeys, it is a great way to tie the program all together. So thank you to everyone who welcomed me into the session last week. I had a wonderful few days and hope to see you all again very soon! 11, group nonadult false GXI: MIT Graduation, An Insider's Perspective text blog 11,group 138 0 0.0 http://community.morassociates.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7520369&as=111754 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/user/defaultImage_160x120_D.jpg false 0 0 483453 7520369 Member 0