Dear Reader,
Within the span of one month last year, three different people I respect enormously handed me a copy of Chris McGoff's book, The Primes, and said, "You need to read this." One person spoke about the simplicity of the concepts and how easy they are to use. The next person said, "This stuff is brilliant. I tried it and it works." The third person shared that he was amazed by how applicable the ideas are in any group situation, no matter how daunting. I took note! (Especially when I saw that at least one of "the primes" addresses vision!)
On Monday, I'll have the privilege of interviewing Chris about how these concepts, first written on cocktail napkins, help leaders and groups to move from where they are to where they want to be. I can't wait to hear how he thinks about The Primes and how he figures out which one to reach for. Here is a visionary leader who teaches others how to make their visions real.
Please join me for to learn from Chris McGoff, Founder of The Clearing, Inc., a DC-based consulting firm dedicated to supporting change agents as they tackle the most daunting and complex problems facing organizations.
Enjoy the weekend!
Best wishes,
Kate Ebner
CEO Nebo Company |
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Monday, June 4 11 AM Eastern Time On VoiceAmerica Business
The Change Agent: Chris McGoff and THE PRIMES How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem
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Chris McGoff
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Chris McGoff has spent 30 years helping governments and organizations to engender new, transformative possibilities for a better world. He has developed THE PRIMES, a comprehensive approach to helping organizations reach consensus and solve problems of consequence. THE PRIMES are universal and unavoidable patterns of group behavior that emerge whenever people attempt to transform or change systems or collaborate to solve complex problems. Once mastered, THE PRIMES become a force that drives intended outcomes. At the World Bank, Chris helped the organization create a new formula for aid allocation that minimized the problem of corruption and renewed the Bank's power to address global poverty. Chris is the founder of The Clearing, Inc., a management consulting firm that uses THE PRIMES to support large scale problem solving and transformation projects throughout the world. Join Host Kate Ebner to discover this powerfully simple, visionary approach to the most difficult problems you face. More. Be inspired. Missed the Live Show?
Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready via iTunes or RSS feed.
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Leading Change while Holding a Big Vision
Maggie Little, Director, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University
On Monday, May 21, Kate Ebner interviewed Maggie Little, Director, The Kennedy Institute of Ethics on Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Life. The Kennedy Institute of Ethics specializes in the area of bioethics and celebrates it's 40th anniversary this year, making it the world's oldest academic site in the field of bioethics. Forty years ago, the bioethics library at the institute consisted of just one pine bookshelf; today, the Institute is home to the most comprehensive bioethics library in the world.
Maggie Little is leading the Kennedy Institute of Ethics into a big vision as the Institute faces many challenges and changes. Right before Maggie became Director three years ago, the Institute had lost its funding, the financial support that had built the Institute over decades. In the face of this challenge, many leaders might have blanched. Maggie, however, was energized by the challenge of developing and implementing a strategy of funding the Institute in a sustainable way. Three years into her role as Director, she is passionate about the possibilities and continues to work hard to safeguard the Institute's illustrious body of knowledge and 40 years of achievement.
Visioning played a big role in moving into an exciting new stage. Maggie shared, "Achieving our vision is not a linear process, but a creative one. I can't describe the exact finished product as new ideas are always presented. We don't just drop everything we are doing and try each new idea, but we do drop everything we are doing in order to listen and reflect on new ideas. Being open to new ideas throughout the process allows us to adapt our vision along the way."
Throughout the conversation, Maggie and Kate touched on several tips for visioning:
- Translate the vision into a strategy. Once you create the vision, ground it in reality by developing a project plan. The milestones in your plan will help you assess progress toward your vision.
- Describe the vision in the present tense. It is easier to talk about vision when speaking in the here and now. Use language such as, "I am..." and "We are..." rather than "I will..." and "We will...."
- Use powerful questions to help you develop your vision. Ask yourself, "What would it look like if..." and "How can I support that?"
- Give yourself the space and time to envision in detail. Be specific and take the time to think creatively with no limitations.
Listen to the complete interview with Maggie Little. |
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Create Your Vision!
We have designed a quick and easy visioning exercise just for you! You will receive your own personal vision statement immediately upon hitting "submit." To create your vision statement, CLICK HERE.
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Missed the last show?
 Listen to Kate's interview with Maggie Little, Director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University on the 5/21/12 episode of Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Life. This Visionary Leader is a must-listen for any leader who has stepped into an established organization with the assignment to take it to the next level.
Be inspired.
Become inspiring.
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Some good advice...
"Some of the best advice I have been given was early in my career. I was excellent at pointing out problems and things that were not working. I was told 'Maggie, don't just bring the problems - offer some solutions.' This was so empowering."~ Maggie Little
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Recommended Resources
Ethical Breakdownsby: Max Bazerman and Anne Tenbrunsel Companies have poured time and money into ethics training and compliance programs, but unethical behavior in business is nevertheless widespread. That's because cognitive biases and organizational systems blind managers to unethical behavior, whether their own or that of others.
Read about Maggie Little and her life. How Rhodes Scholars Think is an independent project that looks for commonalities in the scholars' childhood and adolescent years and explores going beyond the emphasis on picking the right school district. Approaching the scholars as an archetype, the project also examines how childhood education and parental influence relate to developing character and a life concerned with the betterment of society.
While the research and material develops, this website will feature conversations with the scholars about their lives.
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