Organizations are collections of people — people with world-views, values, emotions, and needs. People whose lives and livelihoods are tied up in this thing we call an organization. …

When I’m doing equity, inclusion, and diversity work in organizations, talking about whiteness matters. Why? Because if we don’t, we miss the context and history that has a direct impact on today’s culture. Many of the leaders I’ve worked with are white (and so am I). As white people, we…

I was recently interviewed by students Ban Ishii and Nate Williams in the University of San Francisco’s Organization Development Masters program as part of an annual study they conduct on the state of the industry. It was a fun conversation and I was able to share a lot about my…

I’ve played a leadership role in several small businesses throughout my career and learned plenty of lessons along the way. Small business involves putting on all the hats whenever they’re needed: I’ve been a consultant, designer, bookkeeper, administrator, salesperson, writer, editor, office manager, and more. It’s a dynamic experience in…

For many, the last few years have been a reminder of the pain and violence that result from America’s racist systems and institutions. Black and brown folks feel the greatest impact as they navigate a country designed to undervalue and exclude them. The most visible examples are murder by police…

Have you found yourself stuck in a silo? With no way to see the sky above? You are not alone. As organizations grow, they tend to organize around function, product, geography, or some other delineation. Often a diverse set of values, practices, and personalities lead to silos — teams working…

Many organizations are born with an internal competitive spirit, or it develops over time. If you’re a leader in a culture like this, you might find that at some point, this spirit does not seem to be serving the organization’s purpose. How do you know if you’ve gotten to that…