Reflect on your leadership.

Meetings are like the weather; we love to complain about them. Humorist Dave Berry once wrote, “If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings.’”

In the midst of the “Great Layoff,” there is a pervasive sense of anxiety and foreboding in the tech industry. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs and countless more are left behind, asking, “Am I next... And when?” What is the impact on organizational health, and how can companies navigate chaotic times with greater clarity — and compassion? Here’s the truth we always come back to: People matter. How you treat your people will determine your success — or lack thereof.

You may have read books and even feel personally convicted that your company needs to work towards a high level of organizational health. But how can you know if your organization is healthy? What are the right areas to target for greater long-term sustainability and agility?

“Building habits of group vulnerability is like building a muscle. It takes time, repetition, and the willingness to feel pain in order to achieve gains.” Daniel Coyle, The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups

Why don’t we say what we’re thinking when we’re in the middle of a team meeting? There are lots of reasons. But none of them are good ones.

As it is with parents, partners, and pool buddies, the CEO-Board relationship’s success is about much more than just being “good people”. There comes a day when the magic is gone and you’re noticing that things are becoming increasingly tense. When this happens, attentiveness, communication, and courage are non-negotiable.