ALCEMIS

Importance of Asking the RIGHT Questions

chief-alchemist — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:37:14 +0000

“The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of the wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question” ~ Peter Drucker How much time are you spending in exploring your real challenge, problem or opportunity? How often do you jump from an initial problem to a brainstorming session? Or, […]

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In All Seriousness, Play to Perform with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

chief-alchemist — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:00:29 +0000

I guest blogged for LearningLens, Inc. The topic…LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Yes, play IS good for business. Trade in your stuffy, boring, unproductive meetings for engaging, focused, fun and productive meetings. Engaging teams with the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology during business meetings helps to: Create strategies rooted in shared insights Uncover real wants and needs Align […]

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VIVA SCRIBAVOX™ – Give Voice to the Writings of Life™

chief-alchemist — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 21:15:37 +0000

Give voice to the writings of life. You are invited to participate in a 4-session pilot program that Cindy Wold and I are delivering called Viva ScribaVox™. The words are in there. They float around in your mind, in your heart, wanting to come out. Maybe you have put mind to ink already. Or, maybe you hesitate, […]

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Think Innovatively in Design

chief-alchemist — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:02:28 +0000

A colleague on a LinkedIn group recently submitted this question: “What are some techniques for helping leaders in organizations really think innovatively in the design process?” Here are some techniques I suggested to think innovatively in the design process: A key element of innovation is design for mutual benefit to create value. At the beginning […]

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Future belongs to Design not Communication

chief-alchemist — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:29:23 +0000

I just read an interesting article on the Sustainable Brands website about the importance of designing for meaningful experiences in the context of what consumers (“human beings”) really want. It is the EXPERIENCE we have because of things – not things – that matters. Thus, Steven Johnson advocates that we focus on designing for meaningful […]

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The Power of Networks: Leverage Keyhubs

chief-alchemist — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:21:57 +0000

In 2009 I wrote a review of Linked by Albert-László Barabási for the MN Organization Development Network’s Voices newsletter. I brought it up recently in a meeting about a social network analysis (SNA) tool from Keyhubs because Linked helps to explain the history behind and the power of networks. Click here for the full Linked […]

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Allied Executives 2013 – Panel Mind Map

chief-alchemist — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:36:06 +0000

On March 5, 2013, I attended the Allied Executives 2013 Symposium and Business Expo in Minneapolis – hosted by John P. Palen, Founder & CEO, Allied Executives. I thought I’d share the mind maps I made based on the panel presentations. Panelists include: Bahram Akradi, Life Time Fitness, Inc. Jeanne Crain, Bremer Bank David Gahn, […]

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Customer-Focused Company Culture starts with an Employee Focus

chief-alchemist — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:46:39 +0000

Check out Richard Branson’s comments here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219938 What I found most interesting is his comment that “people who work in a friendly environment that is tolerant of mistakes, and who are empowered to make decisions about how they do their jobs, arrive at the best possible solutions for serving customers.” He also suggests putting your […]

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Creative Leadership for a Complex World

chief-alchemist — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:00:34 +0000

We live in a volatile, ill-defined, ambiguous and complex world where changes seem ever-present. In IBM’s 2010 CEO study, IBM spoke with over 1,500 CEOs from around the world. They identified three themes facing business today: Complexity is here to stay and will likely accelerate in the coming years Their orgainzations do not currently have […]

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Dieter Rams on Design

chief-alchemist — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:22:17 +0000

Check out this Dieter Rams (world-famous designer, I mean architect) interview on Fast Company’s Co.Design: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663906/our-interview-with-dieter-rams-the-greatest-designer-alive-video?partner=co_newsletter A few insights from Rams: Design should be about making our lives a little bit easier and better. His credo: “Less but better.” He advocates that designers report to high-level management, like the Chairman of the Board or the entrepreneur […]

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