Blog

^{By Melissa Lamson & Jennie Walker}

Are you a global leader? In the increasingly globalized business environment, employees across organizations often work with teams of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and locations - a recent survey revealed that 89% of employees say they work “at least occasionally” on global teams. The concept and practice of leadership itself has also evolved, transcending hierarchy and role in many organizations to promote accountability, collaboration, and innovation at all levels. So, whether you’re working for a local or international company, as an executive or employee, you’re likely a global leader.
 
Research continues to find that working with diverse groups requires a global mindset – the agility to quickly recognize different beliefs, values, and approaches across cultures and to adapt behaviors accordingly. For example, when I (Melissa) travel to Singapore, I know I need to adjust my sense of time (not...

What does it mean to be a Next Generation Leader? 

Are you a new manager with ambition to help shape your organization's values-driven culture?

A seasoned practitioner who actively mentors colleagues who are earlier in their careers?

Are you a person who is passionate about authenticity and making space for new ideas and voices within the workplace?

Next Generation Leadership is far more than a slogan. Next Generation Leadership is the foundation to our vision as an organization. It's the vision we teach from. It is the framework, with seven distinctive characteristics, on which we have built our competencies we use to develop our programming and content. 

Next Generation Leadership is our  guidepost-directing the way for us and our clients to strive toward. As we enter the last leg of the year, a year with so much growth and change, we at DJA have begun to revisit our original vision framework and are excited to invite you along as we dive deep and explore...

“I care about being a good manager. But I’m just too busy with my real job to deal with everyone’s needs.” 

If that sentence resonates with you, I have bad news…

The bar for what is expected of managers in 2021 and going forward has officially been raised.  In previous years we lauded “leaders”; developing acceleration and visibility-enhancing programs for people who already held positional authority. Management was viewed as less glamorous. Now–and thankfully so–effective and inclusive managerial practices and expectations are being centered. Now, likely more than ever, managers of people are being spotlighted for the unique and incredibly important role you play in so many aspects of your organization’s systems and practices. YOU are the glue, the enabler, the doer, and the first and most consistent point of contact for almost every aspect of your organization. 

Take just one of the many roles that...

Are you sick and tired of zoom meetings? Me, too! It feels like twice as much energy is needed to be in a virtual space; I totally get it. On the other hand, this is the reality many of us are navigating. At least for the near term, we are going to be largely beholden to many more virtual meetings than pre-Covid so let’s figure out how to be as effective as possible. Here’s a suggestion: Turn your camera on. 

If you are in virtual sessions and want to make sure that your ideas, your authentic voice, your unique skills and perspectives are present, you must be fully present. Others in the space need full access to you. Think about it: So much of human communication is nonverbal. There’s power in eye contact, gestures, smiles. It’s also much easier to signal a desire to verbally contribute to an active discussion if others can see you, can see you about to speak or see you pondering a question that may cause them to invite you to share your thinking. ...

Yesterday I was talking with a friend, just checking in on how they’re doing during quarantine. “How have you been spending your days?” I asked. “I haven’t been doing much of anything. There’s really nothing I can do right now,” they replied. Hmmm...I thought. They then asked about how I’m filling my time, that my experience was like their own. I reflected briefly then started, with energy that even surprised me, to name all sorts of things I’ve been doing to occupy my time. “I’ve been really great about meditating every day. Shiloh and I are going for walks and bike rides. I’m reading some interesting books. I designed and launched some new online courses, after of course, panicking like so many other small businesses about our viability. I’ve been working with friends in my community to sew masks and make face shields and get those to healthcare workers and people who are homeless. I’ve been doing...