Pensights
Learn What Drives Organizational Excellence: Become a 2015 Performance Excellence Award Evaluator
Are you interested in learning more about what makes organizations successful? Are you interested in helping other organizations — such as schools, hospitals, non-profits, and businesses — around the three-state region improve their performance? Would you be interested in networking, learning, and sharing with others who feel the same way? […]
14 New Year’s Resolutions for Personal Productivity, Health, Happiness
Research shows that up to 80% of New Year’s resolutions are broken, and that the average date of breaking resolutions is about January 20 (so much of us failed about a week ago!). But if you want a second chance, here are 14 research-based New Year’s resolutions for you to try – tips for improving[...]
CliffsNotes to Excellence: 50 Year-End Tips to Improve Leadership, Organizational Performance
It’s a busy season – shopping, wrapping, decorating, holiday gatherings, baking (well, for some people!), as well as year-end business deadlines, planning and budgeting for next year. So in the spirit of the season – and recognizing that everyone is just a little busier in December – I’m offering a short, reflective column this month:[...]
Leadership’s Role in Sustaining Excellence
Last week, I was honored to participate in ASQ MN Section’s Executive Roundtable, exploring the role of leaders in creating a culture of quality. The day-long forum investigated the links between employee engagement, customer focus, measurement and overall enterprise excellence. Over lunch, I was asked to talk about the role of leaders in creating a[...]
The Principles of Performance Excellence: Baldrige 101-201 Workshops
Feb 10 (Rochester) and Feb 11 (Twin Cities) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm The need to improve your organization’s performance has perhaps never been greater. This “new normal” we’ve been enjoying the last few years has created a renewed need for improvement and systemic change within all organizations: customers expect more, competent workers are growing scarce, and[...]
Perfect Vision: The Power of Leading Indicators
As I finish this article, the Kansas City Royals (my childhood team) will have either just won its first World Series in nearly three decades or come very close in trying. In watching a game a couple of weeks earlier in the playoffs, I was listening to the commentators debating whether KC should leave in[...]
PENWorks 2015
It will be here before you know it! April 27 & 28, 2015
What the NFL Has Taught Us About Ethical Leadership – September 2014 Newsletter
Sept 2014 Newsletter The President's Blog What the NFL Has Taught Us About Ethical Leadership Last week, the NFL completed what might be the worst week in its history. But before I get into it, let me first state this column is not about Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson; it is not about the NFL[...]
Sept 2014 Newsletter
Last week, the NFL completed what might be the worst week in its history. But before I get into it, let me first state this column is not about Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson; it is not about the NFL or sports of any kind; and it is not about morality (though I'll admit morality has an important role here). It's about effective leadership and ethical decision making during times of crisis, two concepts that are critical for ANY organization - and two concepts the NFL blew badly...
PodCast Intro – TEST
This is a test for our intro from the PEN PODCast
What the NFL Has Taught Us about Ethical Leadership
Last week, the NFL completed what might be the worst week in its history. But before I get into it, let me first state this column is not about Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson; it is not about the NFL or sports of any kind; and it is not about morality (though I’ll admit morality[...]
Aug 2014 Newsletter
Aug 2014 Newsletter The President's Blog Chillax: 13 Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress Quick trivia: from what movie does the line "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" come? It comes from the 1976 movie, The Network. Winner of four Academy Awards and with an all-star cast, The[...]