Leading in Times of Recession

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:46:32 -0500

The Power of Choice and Control

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:47:33 -0500

Decades ago, I learned a valuable lesson from the ‘special’ young children I worked with. These were kids from disenfranchised neighborhoods, who by seven years old were ‘labeled’, deemed difficult if not impossible, and in many cases discarded. The lesson I learned was the power of ‘Choice and Control’. Determined to make a difference, and reach these young folks, I improvised all the time. I was willing to try anything.

Leadership

Observe, Discover, Intent, Produce

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:56:26 -0400

These four words, “observe, discover, intent, produce”, capture the essence of leading educators and business leaders who are lauded for their creative leadership. Peter Senge defined this process as characteristics for his U Model (presencing, sensing and realizing). Important to note is the critical attitude, skill and behavior is being present, for without that, you ‘seeing’ is always compromised by habitual ways of being and thinking.

Leadership

Play, Work, Lead

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:24:08 -0400

There is a reason why 98% of two year olds consider themselves to be creative, and only 2% of twenty-five year olds hold onto that claim, and the reason is not their potential, but the external environment that suffocates the natural bias for curiosity, play, and exploration. Unfortunately, our natural bias for creativity is stifled and atrophies over time producing unimaginative adults that are afraid to think and often intimidated by the unknown or different.

Leadership

Leaders Evaluated by What Will Be, not What Is

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:10:34 -0400

Last week, during the second Presidential debate, Barack Obama responded to one of the queries by saying something like, ‘a President must bring the leadership skills to confront what will be, the unknown and even unpredictable events of the future’. This statement resonated with me. Think about it. It is easier to come up with resolutions and remedies for a current crisis.

Leadership

Leaders and Judgment - A Moving Target? I think not.

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:19:11 -0400

There are few that are untouched by the current and escalating economic crisis here in the USA, and abroad. Even the deepest of pocketbooks are paying attention. Even those with the most secure of ‘jobs’ are distracted. To say that things are uncertain would be an understatement. To say that things are predictable would be absurd. Yet, these are the times that leaders in all walks of life must make decisions. And it is at times like this, that the essence of leadership, and judgment, is revealed.

Leadership

It Takes a Village......

Rochelle Mucha — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:22:36 -0400

There is no lack of articles and pundits to remind business leaders that innovation, and thereby, creativity, remain the critical capacities that divide winners from losers in this ongoing, fast paced global economy. Usually, these is a list of ‘to dos’ – what you, as the leader, should do to create an environment that attracts and nurtures creative talent. These attributes include things like: find and hire great talent; tap on employee ideas from every function and level; and enable collaboration.

Leadership

PIXAR, Collective Creativity in Action

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:08:26 -0400

Leadership

Would you play a one-string guitar?

Rochelle Mucha — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:29:37 -0400

You don’t have to be a guitar player to know that a musician would not opt for a one-string guitar, in lieu of the standard six-string instrument ( original article, Virginia Griffin and inspired by Ian Prinsloo, former Artistic Director at Theatre of Calgary). The magic in making music and listening to music comes from the rich harmony of notes and chords. Talented artists mix and mingle the guitar strings to create a range of rhythms and melodies. Fewer strings would compromise the music and render the guitar barren. The six strings of a guitar parallel our six senses.

Leadership

Everyone Shampoos

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:35:48 -0400

There was a time when a ‘beauty salon’ was a noisy, bustling, relatively small space packed with women in curlers, adorned by large metallic hair dryers and lots of chatter. Not anymore. Today, salons are designed to create an experience. Smooth jazz replaces verbal din. Mirrors and chairs are tastefully placed to heighten the senses.

Leadership