| |
Family Business Consulting and Organizational Development
Understand Our River Map in Detail
Metaphors are wonderful tools for opening up a lot of information that is both deeply personal, and widely universal. Our River Map depicts the life-cycles of businesses, teams, projects, and so much more. This paper explains each stage, and each of the territories through which the River of Fortune passes. Take a look. At the end, you will find the four critical questions that will help you to travel safely.
Adizes Management Resources
You will immediately notice the similarity between Dr. Ichak Adizes’ model, and my River Map. In fact, a bell curve has been used for many, many years to model the life cycle of individuals, marriages, families, businesses, and so much more. Watch Dr. Adizes’ clip from a larger webinar, and sign-up for his newsletter, “Adizes Insight.”
The American Family Business Survey
Here is the 2007 American Family Business Survey, as conducted by MassMutual, Kennesaw State University, and the Family Firm Institute. It has been five years since the last survey and the trends are clear - more optimism about the future, marginal urgency about succession, more women leaders, higher ethical standards, growing professionalism, more cohesion around core values, and a shift in those who are considered to be the most trusted advisors to the leaders of family owned businesses. This 12-page Executive Summary indicates the trends, and has the statistics to support the directions these 1000 family businesses are taking. As you develop your strategy for the future, compare your West Michigan family business to this sample of family owned businesses from across the United States.
Gazelles. Growing Leaders. Growing Companies.
Verne Harnish is the “Growth Guy” and his book is terrific. If you don’t have a copy of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What you Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm, then now is the time to pick one up. Practical stuff. This is not a book of theory, but of practice. Harnish is famous for his 1-page strategic plan. My good friend Tom Roe put me on to Harnish, and I’m glad he did. I’ve used this material daily. Of course, just like any map, having it in hand and actually using it are two different things. I’m glad I have this map, and I use it.
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter
Dr. David Keirsey developed the “Keirsey Temperament Sorter” – KTS – some years ago and he is a genius! Think about it. Over 40 million people have taken the KTS at about $15.00 each. The KTS is based on the works of Myers and Briggs, and is similar to the official Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator, which is published by CPP, Inc. Keirsey’s website is set up to lure you in. You have to complete the survey before you find out that you have to pay for it. But, if you are looking for a reliable assessment from a time tested source, this is it. And remember, the MBTI is the oldest assessment tool, and so one with a lot of research behind it. It is one of the four assessments I use when conducting pre-employment or positioning evaluations for the businesses with whom I work.
Marcus Buckingham and the Strengths Movement
Dr. Don Clifton started the Strengths Movement some years ago, and then Dr. Marty Seligman really gave it a legitimate presence when he was elected President of the APA. Instead of focusing on psychopathology, the Strengths Movement focuses on human potential and human strengths. I use the Strengthsfinder as it has been developed by the Gallup Organization. Almost everyone I work with takes the Strengthsfinder. Buckingham has led the way in bringing the Strengths Movement into the workforce. He has some good books, and some slick DVD materials.
David Maister and Advice for Professional Service Firms
David Maister has written three good books: Managing the Professional Service Firm, The Trusted Advisor, and True Professionalism. He has a website, as you can see, that has some useful resources, and a place where you can catch his blog. Solid material aimed at Doctors, Lawyers, Counseling Centers, Marketers, Engineers… anywhere you find a professional service firm.
Good to Great – Jim Collins
One of the best business books ever written. That’s my opinion, and probably one that is held by many others. Based on solid research, Collins has distilled down some impressively practical concepts around which greatness is built. Interestingly, as I type this CNBC is reporting that Circuit City has filed for Bankruptcy. Circuit City was one of the few Great companies that surfaced in Collins research, but as time moved on, they got fat and lazy and Best Buy passed them by. The lesson is obvious.
Polarity Management – Barry Johnson
A mark of maturity is the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in one’s mind simultaneously. Polarity Management is an incredibly useful tool for managing dilemmas. I use Polarity Management every day. I teach people how to manage dilemmas, which are unsolvable problems. Get the book!
Harvard Business Review
I’ve subscribed to the HBR since 1996. Frankly, I find about 3 articles a year to be worth their weight in gold. If you add that up, that’s a lot of useful articles. You would find value in other articles, as well. The price is worth it. Every issue is stored on a shelf in my office.
Executive Book Summaries
Soundview publishes these Executive Book Summaries, and I so appreciate the good work they do in summarizing some outstanding books in both written and audio formats. I’ve been subscribing for years. There is a second similar book summary service that I subscribe to, Audio-Tech Business Book Summaries. Both give me a few books a month and I’ve found a number of their summaries to be extremely valuable.
Managing Transitions
William Bridges has sold more than half-a-million copies of his book, Managing Transitions. There are moments in time where change occurs, but then there are seasons of time during which transitions unfold. There are articles available at the website that will help you to manage the transitions that are in your life and in your business. Bridges offers good, practical, common sense advice.
Integral Theory and Practice
Ken Wilber and Integral Theory and Practice
I was introduced to Ken Wilber’s book, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, in 1995. I do not have words that can adequately describe the important and enormous impact Wilber has had on me. One of my 5 strengths on the Strengthsfinder is “Ideation.” I am a thinker. The power of ideas fascinates me. The king of ideas is Ken Wilber. His Integral Philosophy is at the core of my thinking today as I continually strive for a deep and broad progressive spirituality that informs and transforms every corner of my life. Wilber’s books are on my shelf, and I’ve read every one. Start with A Brief History of Everything and then move on from there. AQAL is his model – all quadrants, all levels, all lines, all types, all states. If you want to understand how everything is integrated, read Ken Wilber.
Why our Integral Operating System is Important to You
This 8-page paper offers quotes and commentary. The quotes come from Ken Wilber's book Integral Spirituality, and the commentary comes from me, Andy Atwood. I wrote this paper for the first time before my partner suddenly died of a heart attack. I wrote this version to describe the way I work with some of my colleagues. And, it explains why we are like the Mayo Clinic.
How we use our Integral Operating System (IOS) to communicate with each other when we are working with You.
There is, after all, nothing as practical as a really good theory, and this is the very best "theory of everything" that has ever been produced. People all over the globe are working with Integral Theory in a broad number of disciplines, from the fine arts to the sciences, from business to music, from religion to politics. We alone are working on putting it together for Family Owned Businesses. In these 16 pages, you will find an overview of how we do it. A paper written by Andy Atwood, Laura Young, and Brian Distelberg.
Leadership Agility Coaching
The 5 Levels of Leadership Agility
At what level of consciousness do you operate as a leader? Are you Pre-Heroic, an Expert, an Achiever, a Catalyst, a Co-Creator, or a Synergist? Only 10% of our leaders operate out of the top three levels of consciousness, according to the research behind the book Leadership Agility. Your Stage of Development has a direct and measurable bearing on your agility when it comes to having pivotal conversations, leading teams, and leading your organization. This paper will introduce you to the Leadership Agility model. The 5 levels presented here, are congruent with our Integral Operating System. We coach leaders to evolve so that they have the agility to effectively handle the complex and quickly changing world in which they live, and lead.
Leadership Agility’s Website
This is Bill Joiner’s website. Over time, I expect that it will be built out as more and more people become proponents of Leadership Agility. I read the book, took an online survey, and then Bill emailed me. We shot some emails back and forth, talked on the phone, and then I went to his first Coach Certification Training Program for the Leadership Agility 360. There were 20 other wonderful people there with me in Gloucester, MA, some of whom had traveled from Vancouver, the UK, Ottawa, the Boston area, and me…from Grand Rapids! The 360 is a great coaching tool. Seven or more people (superior, your self, and stakeholders) can complete an online assessment that will identify your level of Leadership Agility, and places where growth and development could happen in 24 skill areas. If you want to learn more, contact me.
My own Leadership Agility Blog
Much of my learning comes from reading, reflecting and practicing. This is where I can reflect out loud on what I have read and practiced when it comes to Leadership Agility. Take a look, and join in!
Articles from Dr. Andy Atwood
The 7 Commandments for having a Challenging Conversation about Accountability at Work
This 6-page paper will give you clear guidance on how to set-up, and conduct, a productive "Challenging Conversation about Accountability at Work." If you are in a supervisory position, you know how difficult these conversations can be. Here is a 7-part model that will help you to craft an effective conversation.
Spiritual Growth and Development
EnlightenNext Magazine and Website
I know that not everyone will find the content in EnlightenNext of interest. Some, quite frankly, will find it highly unusual, maybe even troublesome. Others will find it to be very stimulating. Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher, cultural critic, revolutionary idealist, and the founder of EnlightenNext. I have the very first copy of Cohen’s magazine, and have enjoyed every issue over the last decade. If you want to grow toward a deep spirituality, then there is much here to stimulate the evolution of your soul toward the Oneness that you already are.
Spiral Dynamics
Don Beck and Chris Cowens wrote the book Spiral Dynamics. Their story, especially Don’s, is incredible. Spiral Dynamics presents a unique and wonderfully usable model for how the evolution of consciousness has unfolded over the millenniums, and over your life. From Beige, to Purple, to Blue, to Orange, to Green, to Yellow, to Turquoise, to Teal… and beyond. I’ve taught this stuff locally at Dominican Center, and to a few religious groups. The real expert is Laura Young, and her continual interest in SD Integral is encouraging. She is a rich resource to people in our community who want to learn about the evolution of values, and the rich implications that this process of development has for all of us. Being hugely practical, I recommend Spiral Dynamics to many of the people I work with.
|
