By Carol Mase on December 22, 2011
James Carse has written a wonderfully provocative book on the nature of our interactions in the world[1]. His work is particularly relevant now, during the Solstice season, when all seems to pause, reflect, refocus, and, with the increasing light, return to growth and activity. Leadership Quiz - I approach leadership as a game to be [...]
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By Carol Mase on December 1, 2011
Design Thinking is qualitatively different from other thinking styles. Regardless of how you use Design Thinking it communicates in unique ways, weaving together visual, verbal, and kinesthetic knowing. In this way thoughts, ideas, imaginings, AND planning, product concepts, and even goals become NeuroIntegrated® – inviting the whole human system (body, brain, mind, language) into the [...]
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By Carol Mase on November 22, 2011
Understanding collaboration begins with the definition of the word itself. Collaboration requires more than telling each other what we are doing (communication), is more involved than planning our work together (coordination) and it is also different from its most common substitute, cooperation (working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit). The definition I [...]
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By Carol Mase on November 15, 2011
Last week I had the opportunity to hear Thomas Lockwood speak about design thinking at the ODN Conference in Baltimore. His ideas support those of others writing on this topic as well as Cairn Consulting’s Situational Thinking. To start let me reinforce his comment that design thinking is not the same as “design,” the former [...]
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By Steven Ober on October 14, 2011
A few months ago, I wrote a series of posts here entitled “Unleashing the Power of your Story.” I continue to do Leadership Story work with clients and continue to learn. I am also writing a book that will help leaders and others connect to their core through story work. Therefore, I will return to [...]
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By Carol Mase on October 6, 2011
Last week I worked with a group of telecom executives navigating Adaptive Change, change that is complex and unpredictable. During the check-in and check-out the challenge of connecting came up. So, close your door, ignore the phone, and let’s explore connecting. Connecting with others requires that we first connect with ourselves. This means being present [...]
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By Carol Mase on August 25, 2011
In the brick and mortar company leaders had the corner office. In the fast-paced world of the 80’s and 90’s leaders had the most frequent flyer miles. In the virtual business world today leaders need to “show up” wherever and whenever they are needed – OnDemand! so to speak. This requires a new type of [...]
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By Carol Mase on August 16, 2011
When we first step out into the space of Adaptive Change, we are never sure what our experience will be. As we encounter Adaptive Strain, the red line of the organization, we experience Personal Strain, our personal red line. Personal Strain arises from the complex interactions between our emotions, feelings, attitudes, desires, and goals. We [...]
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By Carol Mase on July 12, 2011
Leaders spend a significant amount of time on roles and responsibilities, goal-setting, and determining who is accountable for what. They spend much less time defining the outcomes they desire, negotiating the conditions of satisfaction that will achieve these outcomes, and coordinating the commitments of those who report to them. Yet, by focusing on these three [...]
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By Carol Mase on July 6, 2011
I spent July 4th with my brother – an oil man his whole career. Over the weekend I got a lesson in hydrocarbon geology that seems useful for leaders. Geology of Talent It turns out that gas and oil doesn’t sit underground in huge lakes waiting to be pumped out. Who knew? I thought: dead [...]
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Dr. Steven Ober is a senior executive coach and consultant. He has worked successfully with executives and managers in high tech, business and industry, health care, government, and education. 
Carol Mase, President of Cairn Consultants, is an educator and coach-consultant who has worked worked in global marketing, strategic planning, and large scale organizational change. [Read more ...]