Finding 2015’s Theme

January 16th, 2015 by Kelly Kienzle

Every January for the last 3 years, I have set aside one weekday to hold an all-day retreat for Open Circle Coaching.  It’s a smallish affair. And one that I likely value more than any other event of the year.  I do it because I want

What is Not a Manager’s Job…

November 11th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

“It is not the manager’s job to prevent risks. It is the manager’s job to make it safe to take them.” Ed Catmull used this maxim to guide Pixar, Inc. through its birth and emergence as one of the most creative and innovative companies of its

Ambition Eventually Wears Out…

September 16th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

“Ambition eventually wears out and probably should. But you can keep your zest until the day you die.” John Gardner spoke these words to a roomful of McKinsey consultants over 20 years ago. He was speaking about personal renewal. He went on to say: “Be interested. Everyone

Where is your choice?

August 7th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

Summer offers so many choices. We can choose to go outside or work from home; choose to wear sandals or flip-flops; or choose to stay out later or not. But is it only the season that gives us more choice? Why aren’t we at choice more

Listen Carefully

June 23rd, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

How many workshops on listening and speaking have you attended in your career? How many books and articles have you read on how to be more effective in your communication skills? If the number is something greater than the number of vacation days you’ve had in

Make Victory Inevitable

May 6th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

Small superhero

“Design and launch a meaningful marketing initiative for 2014.” I wrote that 4 months ago in January. Since then I haven’t done anything meaningful in tackling that goal. It is critically important, requires huge mental energy, and has many moving parts and multiple steps. All of

Do You DDO?

April 3rd, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

A Deliberately Developmental Organization (DDO) is, on the surface, some people’s worst nightmare.  This strategy states that colleagues should be fully transparent about their greatest weaknesses, explicitly state what their developmental goals are, and constantly be working towards achieving them.  Ouch.  Yet underneath this strategy can

An Unlikely Source of Inspiration

March 4th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

I always have cheesy wall calendars.  Every year, I don’t remember until January to buy a new wall calendar.  And then I’m left with paltry options like “Rainbows!” or “Justin Bieber Unleashed.”  And 2014 was no different. Sometime in mid January I trekked to our local

Setting Goals from a Mindset of Success, not Deficiency

February 4th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

Today is February 4 and if you’re already a bit disillusioned and uninspired by your resolutions, here’s a new perspective: Look at all that you do have. Consider your strengths. What are your successes? What do you want to do more of? (Caveat: This does not

Adding “yet”

December 10th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

  “I don’t speak well in front of groups.” “I don’t speak well in front of groups yet.” The difference in the construction of these two sentences is small.  But the difference in power and possibility is enormous. The first sentence shows a fixed mindset of