Pensights

1. A Message from the President: Going Slow to Go Fast 2. Forming Additional Roundtables this Fall -- Peer Problem Solving and Knowledge Sharing Groups 3. Quality is Never Going Away: An Exclusive Interview with the Star Tribune 4. Performance Excellence Network Changes Email, Web Address, Breakfast Knowledge Forums 5. Managing Transformational Change: Fall Conference[...]

The phrase “a rose is a rose is a rose” was first written by Gertrude Stein as part of the 1913 poem “Sacred Emily.”  Some three hundred years earlier, Shakespeare offered a similar quote in his seminal Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would[...]

1. A Message from the President: A Rose is a Rose: What's in a (Brand) Name? 2. Six Organizations Recognized for Performance Excellence at June 5 Conference; Nearly 400 Attend 25th Anniversary Celebration 3. Sustainability: A Common Language, A Shared Approach -- Workshop 7/18 (Twin Cities) 4. Forming Additional Roundtables this Fall -- Peer Problem[...]

Next week, the Council celebrates its 25th anniversary, a change in brand name, and an official expansion into the Dakotas.  I think it’s only fitting for us to reflect on how (and why) we got here, as well as how our mission of advancing performance excellence has become so critical for Minnesota, the Dakotas, and[...]

1. A Message from the President: 25 Years of Advancing Performance Excellence -- Happy Birthday, Council! 2. Council's Annual Best Practice Conference: Celebrating 25 Years of Advancing Excellence -- June 4-5 (St. Paul); Lt. Governor to Attend 3. Sustainability: A Common Language, A Shared Approach -- Workshop 7/18 (Twin Cities) 4. Learn What Drives Organizational[...]

“Leaders are never too busy to strive for excellence,” said BG Porter, president of Studer Group at last week’s Quest for Excellence conference in Washington DC. I attend this conference most every year, and I always pick up best practices on what drives organizational performance excellence. This year (since I’m now Tweeting: @LassiterBrian – see[...]

How critical is social networking to an organization’s success?  How important is an organization’s brand?  Those two seemingly different questions collided for the Council just this week, creating considerable insight into just what defines a community.  I think the implications can also translate to your organization.  Let me explain… As many of you know, the[...]

1. A Message from the President: When Forces Collide: Social Networking, Community, & Brand 2. Council's Annual Best Practice Conference: Celebrating 25 Years of Advancing Excellence -- June 4-5 (St. Paul) 3. Seeking Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Expert Presenters for Annual Conference 4. Leading Change for Results that Stick: A One-Day Workshop on Change -- April[...]

What if you were able to measure your organization’s rate of innovation – its ability to build on its knowledge base to grow, increase revenue, and improve productivity?  A professor at the Olin School of Business, Washington University in St. Louis is doing just that: armed with a sizeable National Science Foundation grant (which is[...]

1. A Message from the President: What is Your Organization's IQ? 2. Leading Change for Results that Stick: A One Day Workshop on Change -- April 12 3. 2011 MN Quality Award Event: Celebrating 25 Years of Advancing Excellence -- Hold June 5! 4. Self-Defeating Habits of Otherwise Brilliant People -- Workshop 4/30 (Austin) 5.[...]

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 if you made it this far, you are better than most!).  But if you want a second chance, here are 14 research-based New Year’s resolutions for you to try –[...]

A Message from the President: 14 New Year's Resolutions for Personal Productivity, Health, and Happiness Learn What Drives Organizational Excellence: 2012 MN Quality Award Evaluator Training Feb 21-23 (Twin Cities) 2011 MN Quality Award Event: Celebrating 25 Years of Advancing Excellence &emdash; Hold June 5! Creating a High Performing Team &emdash; PIN 2/2 (Minneapolis) Continuous[...]