Most organizations have a “values problem,” but it isn’t what they think it is. The problem isn’t that the values are wrong—Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence are all great objectives. The problem is that these values are nouns. And in the daily pressure of a high-stakes environment, nouns are far too open to interpretation. When we… Continue reading The Myth of the Mission Statement: Why Your Values Need a Behavioural Map
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Values with Impact: Why the “How” Matters as Much as the “What”
In my last post, we looked at the scoreboard: KPIs and Reporting. But if your strategy is the map and your KPIs are the speedometer, your Core Values are the guardrails. Most organizations have values listed on their website or a plaque in the lobby. They tell stakeholders (investors, customers, and employees) what the company… Continue reading Values with Impact: Why the “How” Matters as Much as the “What”
The Line of Sight: How Cascading KPIs Turns Strategy into Front-Line Action
Peter Drucker famously noted that “what gets measured gets managed.” In my previous post, we discussed the Business Planning Process; today, we look at the scoreboard: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Reporting. In sectors like mining and manufacturing, it often feels like everything is “pushed down” from the top. While it’s true that Direction and… Continue reading The Line of Sight: How Cascading KPIs Turns Strategy into Front-Line Action
Execution is a People System: Beyond the Balanced Scorecard
In my last post, I discussed Strategy as the “How.” But how do we ensure that strategy doesn’t just sit on a shelf? We do it through a rigorous Annual Business Planning Process. The most effective organizations I work with use tools like the Balanced Scorecard to translate 3-to-5-year rolling strategies into annual “stretch goals.”… Continue reading Execution is a People System: Beyond the Balanced Scorecard
Strategy: Moving Beyond the “Operational Treadmill”
In my last post, we discussed Direction. Effective organizations share direction publicly by defining elements like Vision (where they are headed) and Purpose (why they exist). But even the most inspiring Purpose can leave an organization spinning its wheels if it lacks a Strategy. While Direction sets the destination, Strategy defines the intentional steps you… Continue reading Strategy: Moving Beyond the “Operational Treadmill”
Charting the Course: Why Direction is the First Principle of Effectiveness
Most people know me as a HR professional and consultant, but here is a lesser-known fact: I served as a Commissioned Officer in the Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) of the Department of National Defence – sea element. In the naval world, “Direction” isn’t a suggestion—it’s a strategic necessity. Whether you are a Sea Captain or… Continue reading Charting the Course: Why Direction is the First Principle of Effectiveness
The Evolution from Capability to Impact
My journey into Organizational Effectiveness wasn’t born out of formal studies, but out of necessity. The earlier part of my Human Resources career was spent in Learning and Development. I had the unique opportunity to build the L&D function from the ground up in four different organizations across vastly different industries. In those early days,… Continue reading The Evolution from Capability to Impact
Management Training Effectiveness: In-house vs. Public Sessions
Recently, a friend of mine, a newly promoted manager, was telling me about the management training that his company has enrolled him in. Once per month for a year, he will attend a half-day workshop, held at a hotel in the region. In what must be a ballroom, there are 25 half-round tables of 6… Continue reading Management Training Effectiveness: In-house vs. Public Sessions
What is Change Resilience and How to Master it
I recently made another career change, launching my own independent consulting business, and a close friend said to me “Lisa you are a master at change resilience!”. She said this because in the last 9 years I have changed jobs 8 times (within 4 companies); due to various reasons such as economic declines, I was… Continue reading What is Change Resilience and How to Master it