The Matrix
If you lead a team in a matrix organization — whether that’s a department or a cross-functional team — You’ll know the feeling: some parts of the organization are just stronger than others. Maybe the CEO built their career in procurement or supply chain, leaving behind a department that now treats cost-cutting as its primary […]
Languages
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and I’m a proud Yorkshireman. In Yorkshire, we have such expressions as “Off t’ pub” (I’m going to the pub) and “reet chuffed” (I’m very happy). These two expressions are often combined: “Am off t’ pub an’ am reet chuffed abart it” (I’m going to the pub, […]
Power Games
Over 20 years ago, I was promoted to Engineering Manager. With this career move, I gained more responsibility — for more people in my team, more customers, and new peers in the cross-functional organization. In our corporate hierarchies, when we gain more responsibility, we also gain more power.I gained more power in terms of deciding […]
Let Love Rule
Yesterday I was one of 250,000 people who marched in Amsterdam in a demonstration for peace and against the genocide taking place in Gaza.It’s only the second time in my life that I’ve felt the urge to join a demonstration. The first was earlier this year when I joined 150,000 people who marched for the […]
Interdependence
When working with teams, I often wear different hats — coach, facilitator, trainer. Shifting skillfully between these roles is essential to support a team’s development. Equally essential is to meet the team where they are. I often think of it like being a conductor of an orchestra — guiding and supporting the musicians while also […]
Team Debrief Session
If you’re gonna talk the talk, then you also need to walk the walk. Right?YES… certainly right at our (family) business. This week we officially launched our Skillful Collaboration website — with coffee, mint tea, water, and cake!And to celebrate, we decided to take our own Team Assessment as the Skillful Collaboration Development Team. I’ve […]
A Snapshot of Collaboration
In my experience, every real change starts with awareness.But is that awareness individual? Or is it collective — at the level of the team? Over the last 30 years I’ve worked with hundreds of teams. Some brilliant, some good, some OK, a few poor, and a couple terrible. Those are my perceptions… but how do […]
Logo Design
Let’s be clear about this… without creativity, there is no innovation.And without innovation, soon enough, there would be no business. So as we launch this new initiative Skillful Collaboration, we’ve also created a brand new logo. This wasn’t an easy task. Skillful Collaboration didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It grew out of the work […]
Reflections and Reflecting
I learn a lot through reflections and reflecting. On my morning walks with Ravi, our beagle, I often pause at the lake in the park. The sunrise, the trees mirrored in the water — it’s a reminder to stop, breathe, and notice what’s there. This week I’ve been doing the same in my work life. […]
Skills and Practice
On Saturday I was coaching my son’s soccer team and getting more and more frustrated. Every time our keeper had the ball, he’d pass it out — and five seconds later, the opposition had it back. This matters in soccer for two simple reasons: Possession is everything. And possession depends on skills. We lost 3–0, […]