Kevin Novak

The Motivation of Manipulating Data and Information to a Desired Outcome Issue 129, October 5, 2023 Some recent headlines have reported disturbing news about respected and respectable scholars falsifying or just ignoring data conclusions in scholarly papers. This is another example of the skepticism many of us have with the shifts in misinformation flooding our inboxes and newsfeeds, compelling each of us to exercise our critical thinking skills. And the examples we’re referring to aren’t even results of AI. It…

Kevin Novak

October 5, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? Issue 128, September 28, 2023 We’ve all been in business situations that are uncomfortable, confrontational, and dysfunctional. Even after spending decades building a career, we can get a curveball that puts us in an untenable position. In our newsletters we seek to surface new ideas and realities of the workplace, always recognizing that the human factor is always of paramount importance and influence. It is our intention to help you and your organization manage change, successfully…

Kevin Novak

September 28, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Preventive and Supportive Questions

Preventive and Supportive Questions Issue 127, September 21, 2023 Chances are when things go wrong it’s because of poor communication. You’d think that we would have figured out by now how to communicate with each other effectively. All the strategy in the world goes down the tubes if you can’t speak it. And managing a team starts and stops with listening and communicating clearly and empathetically. The biggest landmine? Asking questions. Do it wrong and the conversation comes to a…

Kevin Novak

September 20, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

How the European Union Is Ahead on Privacy

How the European Union Is Ahead on Privacy Issue 126, September 14, 2023 It has been over a year since we summarized privacy policy actions (or inactions) that will impact you as well as your organization. Why haven’t we written more on the topic? To be honest, there has been little if any action here in the US at the Federal level despite continued news about incidents that result in negative consequences across our society. While inaction continues at the…

Kevin Novak

September 14, 2023

Ants as an example of system creation out of chaos

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

The Value of Observation Through the Lens of Complexity Theory

The Value of Observation Through the Lens of Complexity Theory Issue 125, September 7, 2023 One of anyone’s life goals is to be a good observer. It’s fruitful to watch how things unfold around us as we try to make sense of the patterns and connections. Almost everything around us is connected, has interdependence, and influences all the parts that comprise the whole of a system. And that includes the systems of society and, of course, our organizations. In that…

Kevin Novak

September 7, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Defining Innovation

Defining Innovation Issue 124, August 31, 2023 Innovation is one of the most hackneyed, misinterpreted, and overused buzzwords in today’s business vocabulary. Ask anyone – including yourself – to define innovation in context of the strategy and operations of doing business in the ever-changing digital economy. You may struggle to define it and asking others will often result in wildly different responses. We did a straw poll to see what the general consensus was on what innovation means. Here are…

Kevin Novak

August 29, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Planning Ahead

Planning Ahead Issue 123, August 24, 2023 With all the data at our disposal, why aren’t we connecting the dots to ensure better outcomes? To be more specific, let’s look at our healthcare system – and you can use it as a metaphor for your own strategic planning. Next Gen Career Shifts Take two trends: the US population is aging and so many next gens are more interested in entrepreneurship and tech startups than medicine as a career. What are…

Kevin Novak

August 22, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Why We Overcommit

Why We Overcommit Issue 122, August 17, 2023 Nike may disagree, but just say no! Let’s take a pause to consider how we make decisions and why we often over-commit. We wrote an entire book, The Truth About Transformation, about the misconceptions surrounding change and transformation. Many think the greatest obstacle to a significant change is the lack of resources or technological finesse. Those are contributing factors for sure, but the single barrier to change is: Us. Individuals. Our leadership,…

Kevin Novak

August 17, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Anti-Perfectionism Is on the Rise

Anti-Perfectionism Is on the Rise Issue 121, August 10, 2023 Recently it has come to our attention, and no doubt yours as well, that some organizations are having a rough go at it stabilizing new workplace models. Hell, society itself seems to be generally on edge finding some new stabilizing normal way to make sense of our ongoing disruptive quality of life. On the one hand in organizations, hybrid models have settled into a norm. On the other hand, many…

Kevin Novak

August 9, 2023

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Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Mid-Summer Checkpoints

Mid-Summer Checkpoints Issue 120, August 3, 2023 It’s been a hot summer for most of us. The political conversation continues to escalate. The war drags on. Inequity and inequality divide us. Next gens still raise their voices with demands and pleas for the planet. But not all news is divisive and frustrating. One fact in the ongoing swirl is that only change endures. It would appear that our marketplaces and societies are settling into new models and realities as we…

Kevin Novak

August 3, 2023

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