I just read about research done by the University of Notre Dame on mergers and acquisitions at U.S. public companies, comparing how often acquisitions occurred before and after the boards of said companies added one or more women. Interestingly, acquisition rates went down 18 percent after a year at firms that had no women on the board but then added one or two. Merger and acquisition spending fell by an average of $97.2 million.
What was the point of the study? It wasn't necessarily about women on a board as such but about diversity. The lead author of the research analysis said that the addition of women to the boards changed the dynamics of the board interactions. Discussions about the challenges of a merger were more likely to occur. This analysis is supported by other research, too. It all points to more in-depth discussions in diverse groups—and thus, better decisions. Having people of different backgrounds on a board, whether that's about gender, ethnicity or race, helps to break up groupthink and homogeneity. I find that fascinating. And believable.
What it underscores for me as an individual, too, is that in my personal and professional decision-making, I want to listen to different voices, gather different views. We all love to hear from people who think like we do and agree with us. But sometimes we need to hear new and challenging voices.
Showing posts with label views. Show all posts
Showing posts with label views. Show all posts
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Monday, November 3, 2014
Obstacles & opportunities
I've said before that how we see things determines how far we can go in life. It makes a huge difference in how much joy, serenity and peace we feel, too.
Educator and author Marsha Sinetar puts it this way, "Life's ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones." It's true. All those obstacles and opportunities mold and shape us, determining goals and values.
"Windows of opportunity." What a good description for the ebb and flow of life. I've heard it said that we wouldn't know the beauty of mountains if we never spent time in the valleys.
Sometimes it's important to just keep our seat belts fastened for this roller-coaster ride we call life. We can't know what's ahead. And it's far easier for us if we are able to accept the ebb and flow rather than fighting obstacles and missing windows of opportunity.
What might change in your life if you saw obstacles as stepping stones? Might it have made a difference in some past event? Do you think it's possible to begin seeing them that way now? What one small step could you take to help you see a current obstacle as an opportunity?
Educator and author Marsha Sinetar puts it this way, "Life's ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones." It's true. All those obstacles and opportunities mold and shape us, determining goals and values.
"Windows of opportunity." What a good description for the ebb and flow of life. I've heard it said that we wouldn't know the beauty of mountains if we never spent time in the valleys.
Sometimes it's important to just keep our seat belts fastened for this roller-coaster ride we call life. We can't know what's ahead. And it's far easier for us if we are able to accept the ebb and flow rather than fighting obstacles and missing windows of opportunity.
What might change in your life if you saw obstacles as stepping stones? Might it have made a difference in some past event? Do you think it's possible to begin seeing them that way now? What one small step could you take to help you see a current obstacle as an opportunity?
Monday, March 11, 2013
Shifting perspective
Perspective is everything, isn't it?
I'm writing this on a snowy day in the Chicago area, almost a week before you'll read it. Because I'm sitting in my cozy office looking out over evergreen trees now frosted in white against which my resident blue jays and cardinals really show up, I'm loving this new snowfall. However, it was only a few years ago that such a snowfall (they predict 10 inches before it ends) would have greatly distressed me because, even on good days, I had a 30-to-45-minute commute (one way) on a very busy tollway. At the very least, snow often doubled that. Today I don't have to go anywhere so I can simply enjoy the beauty.
A few years ago I lost my job. I was devastated then. Now, however, my perspective is totally different—because I've healed, moved on and am in an encore career I absolutely love. So now, from this perspective, I can be grateful for the amazing experiences I had in my 25 years in that former job, the people I met—whose lives touched mine and whose lives I touched—the places I went, the things I learned and the achievements I had. I can celebrate all of that and be grateful. And I can savor where I am right now. My perspective changed. But not overnight.
Sometimes my perspective can be shifted just like that. Several years ago a friend and I were flying out East for a few days of vacation, but our flight there was canceled due to bad weather. I was really upset at first. After I calmed down, of course, I realized there was nothing to do but accept that we weren't going to get where we wanted to be that day. But we could at least check out options and decide what move made sense. I did a little self-talk and changed my perspective to a more positive one. A bad attitude wasn't going to change flight schedules—it would only make me more miserable.
I need to remember that often, shifting my perspective is a process. Sometimes it's a matter of simply choosing to see things differently and being positive rather than negative about a situation. Other times, it's a matter of doing some grief work, letting go, accepting and then moving on.
Do you need to change your view of something today? Please contact me if you feel stuck in doing so.
I'm writing this on a snowy day in the Chicago area, almost a week before you'll read it. Because I'm sitting in my cozy office looking out over evergreen trees now frosted in white against which my resident blue jays and cardinals really show up, I'm loving this new snowfall. However, it was only a few years ago that such a snowfall (they predict 10 inches before it ends) would have greatly distressed me because, even on good days, I had a 30-to-45-minute commute (one way) on a very busy tollway. At the very least, snow often doubled that. Today I don't have to go anywhere so I can simply enjoy the beauty.
A few years ago I lost my job. I was devastated then. Now, however, my perspective is totally different—because I've healed, moved on and am in an encore career I absolutely love. So now, from this perspective, I can be grateful for the amazing experiences I had in my 25 years in that former job, the people I met—whose lives touched mine and whose lives I touched—the places I went, the things I learned and the achievements I had. I can celebrate all of that and be grateful. And I can savor where I am right now. My perspective changed. But not overnight.
Sometimes my perspective can be shifted just like that. Several years ago a friend and I were flying out East for a few days of vacation, but our flight there was canceled due to bad weather. I was really upset at first. After I calmed down, of course, I realized there was nothing to do but accept that we weren't going to get where we wanted to be that day. But we could at least check out options and decide what move made sense. I did a little self-talk and changed my perspective to a more positive one. A bad attitude wasn't going to change flight schedules—it would only make me more miserable.
I need to remember that often, shifting my perspective is a process. Sometimes it's a matter of simply choosing to see things differently and being positive rather than negative about a situation. Other times, it's a matter of doing some grief work, letting go, accepting and then moving on.
Do you need to change your view of something today? Please contact me if you feel stuck in doing so.
Friday, October 12, 2012
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
My oldest grandson, a high school senior, was busy early this fall completing college applications. As part of that process, he wrote an essay on what he's learned from years of working in the family business.
Now I'm a proud grandma just as some of you are, and I think my grandkids are smart and amazing. But I admit that I was quite impressed at some of the things Spencer has already learned. One of those insights really jumped out at me because I saw several examples of the opposite during my years in various workplaces. Spencer wrote that "being a leader isn't about giving orders, but rather about earning the respect of those you're charged to lead and being willing to do anything you tell someone else to do." He wrote about respecting everyone who came to their family business for service, whether it be a company CEO or a taxi driver. Yes, oh, yes!
Spencer is right on. And Aretha Franklin was right when she sang her famous song about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, wasn't she? Respect is so essential in relationships, whether those are with workplace colleagues, customers, friends or family members. It begins with us respecting one another and respecting ourselves! It includes both earning the respect of others and also insisting on it. In other words, our self-image needs to be strong enough that we do not accept disrespect from other people. We do teach others how to treat us by how we treat ourselves—and by how we treat others, too. And we do need to be willing to do what we're asking others to do. Thanks, Spencer, for the good reminders!
Now I'm a proud grandma just as some of you are, and I think my grandkids are smart and amazing. But I admit that I was quite impressed at some of the things Spencer has already learned. One of those insights really jumped out at me because I saw several examples of the opposite during my years in various workplaces. Spencer wrote that "being a leader isn't about giving orders, but rather about earning the respect of those you're charged to lead and being willing to do anything you tell someone else to do." He wrote about respecting everyone who came to their family business for service, whether it be a company CEO or a taxi driver. Yes, oh, yes!
Spencer is right on. And Aretha Franklin was right when she sang her famous song about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, wasn't she? Respect is so essential in relationships, whether those are with workplace colleagues, customers, friends or family members. It begins with us respecting one another and respecting ourselves! It includes both earning the respect of others and also insisting on it. In other words, our self-image needs to be strong enough that we do not accept disrespect from other people. We do teach others how to treat us by how we treat ourselves—and by how we treat others, too. And we do need to be willing to do what we're asking others to do. Thanks, Spencer, for the good reminders!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
"Wake Up, Show Up!"
Author Joyce Rupp in her book The Cup of Our Life gives four reminders for those who use her book. These reminders work well as you face life issues and answer life questions, too. In fact, they are just good for life in general!
Wake up! Be aware.
Show up! Be there.
Shake up! Be willing to rearrange your inner viewpoint.
Start up! Get moving.
How might your life be different today if you followed those four admonitions? Would it help you discover transformation at the end of some crossroad of change you’re currently experiencing—rather than just the grief of change?
When something changes in your life and you aren’t sure which way to go, it’s easy to get stuck in the loss and grief. I’ve certainly been there and done that. That is not to say that you should ignore the loss when you face change-points. Definitely name the losses and grieve them. And then move on.
Start with paying attention
Rupp’s reminders work no matter where you are in your transition or transformation process. You really do begin with awareness. Pay attention. What has happened? What is happening? Where are you now? And where do you want to be? How will you get there?
Once you have an awareness of the issue, be present with it. Live with it. Hold it. Don’t be afraid of it.
Examine your beliefs, views and attitudes about what’s going on. Are they old messages? Perhaps from childhood—or from another relationship or life experience? They may no longer hold true. Some never were true, but we heard them so often that they seemed true. You may just need a new belief or viewpoint. Bust some myths that no longer work.
Set an action plan. Break the plan into bite-sized pieces. And get moving. You will feel so energized and powerful when you make a choice and start moving! If you would like help in working this through, I invite you to contact me for a no-obligation, complimentary strategy session.
Wake up! Be aware.
Show up! Be there.
Shake up! Be willing to rearrange your inner viewpoint.
Start up! Get moving.
How might your life be different today if you followed those four admonitions? Would it help you discover transformation at the end of some crossroad of change you’re currently experiencing—rather than just the grief of change?
When something changes in your life and you aren’t sure which way to go, it’s easy to get stuck in the loss and grief. I’ve certainly been there and done that. That is not to say that you should ignore the loss when you face change-points. Definitely name the losses and grieve them. And then move on.
Start with paying attention
Rupp’s reminders work no matter where you are in your transition or transformation process. You really do begin with awareness. Pay attention. What has happened? What is happening? Where are you now? And where do you want to be? How will you get there?
Once you have an awareness of the issue, be present with it. Live with it. Hold it. Don’t be afraid of it.
Examine your beliefs, views and attitudes about what’s going on. Are they old messages? Perhaps from childhood—or from another relationship or life experience? They may no longer hold true. Some never were true, but we heard them so often that they seemed true. You may just need a new belief or viewpoint. Bust some myths that no longer work.
Set an action plan. Break the plan into bite-sized pieces. And get moving. You will feel so energized and powerful when you make a choice and start moving! If you would like help in working this through, I invite you to contact me for a no-obligation, complimentary strategy session.
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