What can we learn from the gaming community? Plenty apparently! According to John Seely Brown in a recent video blog, the ingredients include a magical mix of collaboration, curiosity and a questing disposition.

He talks about how athletes, artists as well as business folks can apply this mix to rapidly learn together; improving skills and knowledge while creating pathways for amazing trajectories for learning. He shares stories about his 20-year-old neighbor in Hawaii that is part of a small passionate group of surfing buddies that learn using video camera’s, coaching each other and sharing learning’s with each other and the world to share and develop new skills. New tricks are communicated around the globe within 48 hours!

How would this kind of energy, excitement and results impact your team? Your organization? Our world?

One of my favorite quotes in his video blog is “…tinkering brings thought and action together in powerful and magical ways.” Here’s to all you tinkerer’s — get curious! get together! learn together! share your learning’s! embrace change!

Let me know how you make out……

According to reports on 23 September 2011, researchers in Europe indicated that they had conducted research where subatomic particles called Neutrinos were measured traveling through time, space and mountains, faster than the speed of light -flying in the face of Einsteins theory of relativity.

The potential meaning of all of this? It could upend science as we know it – contrasting Einstein’s theory and requiring a reorganization of many beliefs and theories. Some say, it could be the most important discovery of the century.

The interviews I’ve heard with scientists focused on their inquiry and desire to learn more, consistent with the observation that the field of science is open to change. This is fascinating to me, as many of us, when confronted with an idea or concept that would rock our foundational underpinnings of our field of study, often slip into defending our perspectives and long held beliefs. While the most time tested and fundamental beliefs in science could be upended, much of the science community, while responding with shock and disbelief, are engaging in dialogue, exploring and evaluating the data and process to confirm the findings. The primary response of scientists is that of inquiry; looking into the variables and the metrics, can it be replicated. Bottom line ~ Scientists are open to change!

What if we were to apply this same openness to dialogue through inquiry outside of the scientific community? How refreshing if we were truly open and actively explored others perspectives and paradigms? Instead of holding on tight to and advocating for our own perspectives/strongly held beliefs…. imagine the possibilities of products, processes, services, innovations, and enhanced relationships that could result from openness to new ideas. Openness has been identified as a key characteristic for effective teams (When Teams Work Best, Frank LaFasto and Carl Larson), so what gets in the way?

Making openness happen ~ balancing the beauty of inquiry and the risk of inquiry….

The risk = we might change our mind (and whatever we have attached emotionally to that perspective) or we might be perceived as having been wrong.

The beauty = new ideas, better solutions, increased effectiveness and the possibility of enhanced relationships.

Let’s do it! Let’s check ourselves and explore other’s ideas before pushing ours out there. Who knows? Something new and brilliant may be created!

Please do share your thoughts!

The criteria for the Strategic Planning session included:

• Build upon the inclusive work that began with the leaders
• Must include as many stakeholders as possible – Administration, Professors, Staff, Students, Community, and Board members
• Must continue the transparency that began with open forums, blogs and meetings
• Must provide an opportunity for all attendees to comment during the day on several occasions
• This one day event will be a launching of a continued community-wide strategic planning process over the next 10 months
• Demonstrate student work and achievements to help create the context for designing the future
• Tap the knowledge and expertise of a devoted and tireless design team of internal folks to pull the whole day off

The cool factor – ” Wouldn’t it be cool if we could……

• ….involve those who couldn’t physically attend, connect with people via Facebook and twitter?
• ….network a laptop from each table to a master laptop for capturing brainstorming complete with a prioritized list from each table?
• ….could provide information back to the participants from their collective brainstorming real-time and build conversations upon conversations throughout the day?
• ….strengthen the whole community connected to the school?
• ….have some fun?

In the end, by integrating Experiential Learning, Technology and World Cafe and Strategic Planning methodologies, we did it all! We built relationships, we built marshmallow towers, we built increased knowledge and excitement about the organization and we continued to build the momentum of the Strategic Planning process. Who says you can’t have it all? Looking forward to the next one!

What story do you have about a favorite Strategic Planning event?

Try an experiment ~ Sit back, fold your arms and relax. Get comfortable. Now, look at your arms and hands, notice which arm is over, which is under, are your hands tucked in or out? How does that feel? Most people respond with: comfortable, good, relaxed. Now, unfold your arms and refold them the opposite way. How does that feel? Most respond with words like; uncomfortable, awkward, different, strange, hard. In workshops, by the time I finish hearing several comments, many folks will have unfolded their arms!

Real world application ~ Have you noticed upon returning to a meeting room for the second day of meetings or trainings, that most people sit in the same chair? Have you noticed that when a new person in a new position makes changes without consulting people, a common reaction is to question the change in direction?

Everyday we are presented opportunities for experiencing change, and to notice how we tend to be creatures of habit. We always have choice in how we anticipate and respond.

At times we can have an immediate instinct to hold on tight to what is known. What we know however, is that change often requires different behaviors. The only person’s behavior we can change is our own! SO – when presented with change – at work or life beyond work, it’s helpful to remember, we always have choices about our behavior.

To help us recognize where we are in terms of being ready to make change Daniel Goleman proposes that there are four levels to assess readiness in individuals for making behavior change.

The four levels of assessing human readiness for making change are:

1. Obliviousness or resistance
2. Contemplating change at some vague point in the future
3. Contemplating a plan
4. Readiness to take action

When faced with changes, stop and check yourself. Are you holding on to old perspectives and paradigms that are outdated and resisting? Are you holding on just because the old ways are comfortable. Try holding on to letting go. Anticipate change, make a plan, embrace change, try new perspectives and behaviors that may provide better results!

Let me know how you make out.

Designing Our Future: A NE college was intent on creating an inclusive strategic planning process; inviting students, faculty, staff, board members and community to be involved. Kicking off the year long process was a 1 day kick-off, attended by 250 people, a mix of all previously mentioned stakeholders. Partnering closely with the technology department, Gillis Consulting facilitated a process where participants captured information during each aspect of the day’s discussion, data was collected from all participants, put into themes and provided back to the whole group for the next conversation. This day resulted in a targeted and focused list of ideas that created the foundation for the rest of the year’s strategic planning efforts. In addition, the process sparked a significant increase in interest and
investment in a new strategic planning process.

Coach the Leader: A leader of a team was having significant personnel issues with several staff. Utilizing the MBTI as a tool for understanding self and others, the leader had open and honest one-on-one conversations discussions about commonalities, differences and created strategies for working more effectively in the future. This team found a new camaraderie, resulting in a more effective and efficient workplace with a decrease in turnover.

Working as a Team: An administrative at a NE college had significant distrust, individual lobbying for personal agendas, creating an impossible situation for dialogue. Gillis Consulting consulted and facilitated the team to a newly established team culture that truly was collegial, this struggling team was ultimately able to identify and implement a strategic plan that led to a positive outcome.

Getting Together to Get Back on Track: A history of dysfunction was derailing a high profile strategic initiative with many key stakeholders involved. Key players learned to work together more effectively and began to collaborate in order to move the initiative forward. Within a relatively short time progress was made to leverage their cooperative efforts into new business opportunities.

From Losing to Lucky – a 13th Year Turnaround: After 13 years of consistent financial loss, a small non-profit was in desperate straits, unable to meet basic budgetary obligations. The organization has survived and is enjoying newfound financial strength. The Chair of the Board credits their work with Melisa Gillis as being the single most significant factor in this impressive turnaround.

Stepping In, Then Stepping Up: Newly hired Departmental Manager was hired into a completely dysfunctional working situation. Distrust, defined territories and refusal to communicate was part of the groups culture. After partnering with Gills Consulting, a variety of solutions including coaching, team-building and strategic planning were implemented. With clearly identified roles, common goals, and improved communication, the team was able to gain trust in their new manager and in one another. Productivity increased measurably, while turnover was significantly reduced.

Learn more about our services:

• Leadership Coaching
• Team Development
• Organizational Development
• Change Management

Contact us to learn more about how we can make You. Better.

Workplace situations and environments change. Employees adapt and transition. We partner with you to make both happen more efficiently and effectively.

Change is constant and inevitable, and it happens to all of us. No matter how you define it, if you’re in the whirlwind of organizational change, you feel it. Individual and organizational sustainability in an everchanging world requires both agility and resilience. How you learn to anticipate and respond to change will help determine your success.

At Gillis Consulting, we partner with our clients to create the future they desire by setting their sails to take advantage of the winds of change. Our change management programs and initiatives are designed to provide the skills, tools and experiences necessary to harness the opportunities that can be found within rapidly evolving organizations. We design individual and team experiences that will deepen participants’ understanding of the change process and support self-designed solutions for more effective individual and organizational transitions.

Our services are designed to help you and your employees:

· Discover the true nature or organizational change and individual transition
· Explore the process and power of individual transition
· Understand the critical elements of effective transitional management
· Create an environment that promotes successful change

Managing a change process within an organization is a complex undertaking. Our focus is on partnering with our clients for both their business and personal needs. By helping to strengthen relationships, improve routine operations and envision a desired future, we empower our clients to achieve, grow and succeed – no matter which way the winds of change are blowing.

Learn more about our services:

• Leadership Coaching
• Team Development
• Organizational Development
• Change Management

Contact us to learn more about how we can make You. Better.

At Gillis Consulting, we work with you to identify and apply the magic in your team. Our approach varies with the teams we coach, and includes programs that include everything from simple activities that promote interpersonal understanding to elaborate simulations or role-playing exercises that lead to solving complex problems. We reinforce skills and behaviors that build morale, motivate team members and enable effective communication while creating and supporting the implementation of sustainable team tools.

Our team development services can help your group:

· Communicate better
· Develop, reassess, and integrate its purpose, vision, and mission
· Deepen your understanding of how to work together productively
· Eliminate barriers to efficient, effective functioning
· Solve problems, put forward new ideas and envision the future
· Create specific and concrete plans for reaching a defined set of goals

Every team-building program is created from a tailored needs analysis. We work closely with you to deliver the kind of experience your team needs, and the results your organization requires. Each program we develop is tied directly to your unique business needs. We offer dynamic and impactful activities that have genuine relevance to your team’s dynamics and to actual situations within your organization.

Learn more about our services:

• Leadership Coaching
• Team Development
• Organizational Development
• Change Management

Contact us to learn more about how we can make You. Better.

What kind of leader do you want to be?
What leadership strengths do you already have?
What does leadership mean to you?

The responses to these questions will vary for each person who answers them. Becoming a great leader is more art than science and there is no one path to success. While we don’t claim to have the creative genius of Michelangelo, we do enthusiastically embrace his approach and apply it to our own work. We believe the qualities and skills you need to be an effective leader are already within you. It’s our mission to be the dedicated partner that helps you develop and strengthen them.

At Gillis Consulting, we tailor our services around your vision of the kind of leader you want to be. Partnering with you to carve out your leadership voice and legacy, we provide compassionate, open and honest coaching for leaders at all levels.

Our leadership coaching services can help you:

· Focus on the most important things – knowing and improving yourself
· Develop and sustain effective relationships
· Think strategically – define your leadership vision
· Energize and inspire staff
· Manage cross-functional relationships
· Guide a group in setting and achieving goals
· Improve a group’s performance
· Transition to a new leadership role

Across all of our services, we focus heavily on improving the relationship you have with both yourself and the people who surround you. Our collaborative process includes involving key people within your organization – any sustainable behavior change within a system needs support. Feedback and dialogue with keystakeholders will contribute to sustaining your improved performance.

Whatever your leadership goals are, we’ll help you get there.
Learn more about our services:

• Leadership Coaching
• Team Development
• Organizational Development
• Change Management

Contact us to learn more about how we can make You. Better.