Articles/Blog
Autonomy, Teams and Impact
We come together in teams and organizations for many reasons. One over-arching reason is that we can accomplish more together than we can as individuals. We’re often left with the sense that teams are critically important towards greater accomplishments and we are reminded that even the examples of seemingly singular heroes, entrepreneurs and “lone wolf”…
The Art of Possibility – Book Review
In our practice, we believe in the unlimited potential of every leader, so the title of this book – “The Art of Possibility” – really piqued my interest. It was recommended by a friend who is an adjunct faculty member at NYU. This book is one of the required readings of her graduate class, where…
Lead UP – Leadership is not a title
Leading is required in all areas of our lives – home, work, family and relationships – and yet we often forget that leadership is not a title; it is an action. The concept that Emergent calls LeadUP is defined by speaking and influencing from any position or project in which we are involved. The concept…
Ego and Teams
Illness was no doubt the final cause Of the whole urge to create; By creating, I could recover; By creating, I became healthy. – German poet Heine imagines God explaining Creation We come together in teams and organizations for many reasons. One foundational reason is that we know we can achieve certain goals with others…
Power of Eight – A Book Review
The Power of Eight by Lynne McTaggart turns the self-development paradigm on its ear. The book describes a number of scientifically validated studies of the healing power of intention, but more importantly also reveals the mirroring positive impact that the sending of good intentions has on the sender of these intentions. People from across the…
Wearing Emotions on your Sleeve
A common challenge when working with organizations, teams, and leaders for developing more sustainable leadership performance is understanding emotional intelligence. We can define it, and most people know they need more of it, but we are often stymied by the area/competence called “Emotional Self-Control.” When not correctly understood, this competency often makes leaders feel they…
Ralph Simone on leadership: You have to be a life-long learner
Ralph Simone is on a mission to help people become more effective. That mission was recently advanced with an interview by Stan Linhorst of the Syracuse Newspapers, in which Ralph’s leadership and personal life philosophies were explored. Ralph reflects on the impact of life experiences – from newspaper deliveries to sports to Sweetheart Market –…
Search Inside Yourself – A Book Review
Like so many of our clients, I have struggled with meditation practices. It can be challenging to learn how to get our minds to quiet down and simply not think, and when we don’t immediately find success, we label our attempts as “failures.” This cycle of disappointment can often prevent us from wanting to try…
Work-Life Integration
I have always been fascinated with the concept of integration – as opposed to balance – in terms of time spent inside and outside of work. Gandhi’s quote, “We are one indivisible whole,” recently caused me to challenge the artificial separation that the concept of “work-life balance” implies. That challenge was reinforced by an interview…
Team Marvel
What can you do when a team isn’t performing to its potential? High performing teams – the idea that the sum is greater than the combined efforts of the individual parts – sometimes elude even the best and most talented performers and leaders. And tiny tweaks, it turns out, can make all the difference. For…