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Why Women at Work Remains an Issue

Why Women at Work Remains an Issue Issue 134, November 9, 2023 We’re going to tackle an issue that, in our opinion, should no longer be an issue: gender parity in the workplace. McKinsey in its latest Women in the Workplace study reports, “Over the past nine years, women—and especially women of color—remain underrepresented across the corporate pipeline. However, we see a growing bright spot in senior leadership. Since 2015, the number of women in the C-suite has increased from…

The Future Isn’t Going to Look Like You Think – Ideas and Innovations from 2040

The Future Isn’t Going to Look Like You Think Issue 91, January 19, 2023 Organizations founded on exponential growth are in for a wake-up call. In reverse-trend thinking, some experts believe that good enough is just good enough. Entrepreneurs believe that there are no limits to growth. What do we believe? It requires a deeper look at what is going on in our global population shifts to really understand future growth…or constriction. We wrote about this in our book, The…

What Role Do You Play? – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

What Role Do You Play? Issue 72: Sept 8, 2022 Here’s a real-life scenario. Recently there has been friction and dissension within a management team. Managers are struggling to help manage a disruptive economy, guide strategy in an ambiguous marketplace, rein in a headstrong CEO that is resisting authority, and manage multiple powerplays among members who believe they have all the answers or who are afraid to reveal themselves and what they don’t know. This is not a fictional drama…

2022 Mid-Year Prediction: Unintended Consequences – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

2022 Mid-Year Prediction: Unintended Consequences Issue 61: June 23, 2022 Over the past two years in discussions with clients and the 2040 team, I have continued to raise the point that ” it ain’t over until the lady sings.” Many have already sung with sighs of relief and many more have yet to sing. In either case, the songs increase anxiety and confusion when the last notes are ambivalent, and the outcome is not assured. The Center Will Not Hold…

Attaining Goals: What Holds You Back? – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

What Keeps You from Attaining Goals? Issue 50: April 7, 2022 Any transformation, transition or change requires setting and attaining goals. But does the end justify the means? In other words, do we focus so acutely on the goals we set that we lose sight of whether the goals move us forward to what we aspire to? How do we ensure our goals are worthy and relevant? How often do we mistake a goal for intention?  A goal has a…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: The Power of Positive … and Negative Thinking

The Power of Positive … and Negative Thinking Issue 43: February 17, 2022 What have we been told since kindergarten? Believe in the power of positive thinking! For many, positive thinking is an intuitive attitude reflected in a state of mind and behavior. The optimists, who are inclined to be hopeful and expect good outcomes, live this credo daily. Wake up with positive thoughts and positive outcomes will result. The skeptics, who are inclined to doubt or question any belief…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: How Do You Trust?

How Do You Trust? Issue 42: February 10, 2022 Everyone is talking about who or what to trust, particularly in today’s fractious public discourse. When we decide to trust, we have aligned with and formed an understanding, correlation, and interpretation of the meaning of that trust. We then apply what has been communicated, shared, and internalized to our own beliefs, values, and knowledge … and take actions based on that trust. In Ourselves We Trust Where do we end up…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: How to Use Systems Thinking + Strategic Thinking

How to Use Systems Thinking + Strategic Thinking Issue 40: January 27, 2022 One of the common complaints about the ongoing explosion of startups is that they tout a solution … as it turns out in many instances, to a problem that usually doesn’t exist. We envy their innovation, admire their flexibility and applied agility, but entrepreneurs often don’t look deeply enough to understand if there is an actual problem that their solution seeks to address. It’s not just the…

Ideas + Innovations from 2040: Great Expectations

Great Expectations What is the role of a business leader today? The pressures placed on managers and leaders have grown exponentially with expectations from all stakeholders to lead in a certain way. And that way is what those stakeholders believe is the right way. The leadership arena is complex and risky. Whether you lead a small association or a multinational brand, the skillset required to exceed everyone’s expectations has expanded beyond organizational expertise. As we turn our attention, despite current…

Ideas + Innovations from 2040: Communication Theory

Communication Theory With the increasing influence of digital technologies, we are becoming slaves to our devices – at work and at home. And most of us are unaware of how our behaviors are changing as a result of the proliferation of digital platforms and our near-constant use of them. What’s more, our communication skills and styles are evolving in lockstep with digital systems and processes, often out of necessity, conformance and avoidance of physical interaction. We often don’t realize how…