Lighthouse Organizational Development

When life gives you waves, learn to surf… Growth mindset proves to be a key factor to retain the classroom learning attractive and meaningful while learners are actually not sharing the same "real" room at all. Why to look for some temporary alternatives, just to bridge this era of home-officing, while life is giving you an opportunity to re-think the status quo, move on, and do things differently? In Avast, while working from home for more than 6 months already, we have just finished the core part of the long-run virtual academy for leaders. All day online sessions, that seemed to be one of the boldest elements of the design, turned out to be a good choice, if you use them wisely. And the leaders were amazing - they took advantage of all the possibilities that virtual classes offer, which as a side effect, enabled them to learn how to lead their own virtual team sessions more effectively and creatively. Open-minded people and smart tools show us the new horizons. Kudos to our partners in this virtual adventure Kevin Daly and Tim Bosworth aka “KIM” from Lighthouse Organizational Development. Thank you for surfing with us! #avast #growth #mindset #positiveattitude #opportunity #workingfromhome #homeoffice #leadership #learning #leadershipdevelopment #leaders #kudos #miro

"A rational anarchist believes that concepts such as 'state' and 'society' and 'government' have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals." - Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress Recently, I've been reading "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein, a sci-fi novel about a lunar colony's rebellion. Even though Heinlein has a controversial reputation, I was drawn to the novel's exploration of leadership dynamics, particularly through the lens of "rational anarchism" - a philosophy that prioritizes personal responsibility and ethical decision-making over blind obedience to authority. The concept left me thinking about how it may be relevant in relation to modern leadership styles. In Heinlein's vision, the lunar colonists operate without a central authority figure. They achieve their goal of becoming independent through decentralized decision-making and personal accountability. This approach starkly contrasts common organizational pitfalls, where employees mindlessly adhere to procedures and managers enforce rules without understanding their implications. The colonists' success makes one think about real-world leadership challenges: how to get team members to think critically, take the initiative, and innovate while still keeping the organization together and working towards the common purpose. To tackle this issue, leaders need to create an environment where team members feel comfortable questioning the status quo, innovating, and taking calculated risks. Such a culture not only encourages initiative but also treats mistakes as learning opportunities. By embracing these principles, which are similar to those seen among Heinlein's lunar colonists, organizations can foster a sense of shared responsibility and collective ownership. Ultimately, effective leadership goes beyond authoritative control—it's about creating spaces where diverse perspectives flourish, contributing to the collective success. #LeadershipInsights #PersonalResponsibility #LighthouseOD

Lessons from the facilitator's room #1: The Introvert-Extrovert Challenge So, after facilitating the same workshop twice in the same week, I found myself thinking about how being a facilitator can often feel like being a #leader. Let me dig into it a little deeper. The two scenarios go like this... Team A: extroverts, very talkative and full of questions. Team B: mostly introverts, reserved and quiet. Same content, same preparation, completely different experiences. Walking into Team B's room after such an energetic session with Team A? Talk about a crash course in adaptability that no amount of preaching could've prepared me for. Oh boy, do energy levels matter, or what? As their leader for the day, it was my job to make sure that both groups received the same content, but it was also my job to make sure that I led them through the day in an engaging and enjoyable way. Yes, the participation levels looked different, but you know what, that's okay! As I talked about the importance of knowing your co-workers, it occurred to me that it is not much different than knowing your audience and adapting to their social needs. Would I be lying if I told you that leading Team A through the day wasn't easier in terms of engagement? Very much so! But I'd also be lying if I said that I didn't find myself thinking about how to keep the structure of the workshop intact while having so many comments coming from the group. On the other hand, I definitely wondered for a moment or two if Team B was even in the room because of the lack of bursts of conversation. I had to remind myself that these people are deep thinkers, not talkers. The big takeaway? Whether you're facilitating or leading, one size never fits all. The magic happens when you can read the room and adjust accordingly. #leadershipdevelopment #lighthouseod