Kirkus Book Review
April 19, 2022
A leadership consultant explains how certain conversations can transform a business.
Hawkes uses an unusual but apropos word to define the constant change that most business leaders face: “the Swirl.” The term acts as an anchor in an absorbing business book that brilliantly addresses how to cope with the turbulence of change, culminating in “seven crucial conversations” that lead to organizational transformation. Before enumerating and explaining these, the author logically lays the groundwork by first “Framing the Conversation” in Part 1 and then exploring “The Evolution of an Enterprise” in Part 2.
This is Why You Always Get Sucked into Office Drama
By Stephanie Vozza | April 7, 2022
Here’s why we crave workplace gossip—even when it’s best to avoid.The sheer number of social media posts about the Will Smith-Chris Rock incident at the Oscars is proof that it’s hard to resist the attraction to drama—especially when it’s not…
How to Fix a Toxic Workplace: A Podcast Conversation
By Jim Stroud | April 11, 2022
Is workplace drama standing in the way of productivity? Do colleagues fight over petty issues? Are teams more concerned about protecting their territory than getting the job done? Is bad behavior being tolerated? These are just a few of the signs that a toxic workplace is impeding organizational success…
The ‘Swirl’ That’s Impeding Your Company’s Growth
By Richard Hawkes | February 15, 2022
How can you focus on the future when you keep getting bogged down in day-to-day pain points? Seven ways to beat organizational inertia. We’re doing the same things we’ve always done, but it’s not working for us anymore.” “We’re moving…
Podcast – Navigate the Swirl: 7 Crucial Conversations for Business Transformation with Richard Hawkes
HCI Podcast with Jonathan H. Westover, PhD | May 3, 2022
Richard Hawkes discusses Navigate the Swirl on this Human Capital Innovations podcast. Richard explains how the 7 Crucial Conversations can be used to activate purpose and align teams to build highly effective organizations.
Navigating Organizational Growth, Part 1
Activating Purpose: Step one in building high-performing teams
by Richard S. Hawkes | May 2, 2022
How many meetings have you been in that caused you to ask yourself, “Why am I here? What am I doing? What’s the purpose of this meeting? Are we accomplishing anything?” I call this “The Swirl.”
Shared Language: An Essential Skill For Building High Performing Teams
by Richard S. Hawkes | April 14, 2022
Creative tension is essential to high performing teams
The amount of ink that has been spilled in an effort to improve the performance of teams is daunting. And yet, we forge ahead. Why? Because any little advantage in the quality and performance of teams is like discovering a vein of gold in the walls of a business. It yields extraordinary dividends. Here are a few important lessons I’ve learned from observing and creating High Performing Teams (HPTs) over several decades.
Market Potential, Scalability, Sustainability and Performance: The Four Metrics of Competitive Advantage
By Richard Hawkes | March 31, 2022
Sometimes people talk about their business’s competitive advantage like it is a thing or collection of things—see that shiny thing, it is the source of our competitive advantage.
You will hear comments like “our competitive advantage is customer loyalty” or “economies of scale” or “technology” or all three and therefore we should make certain investments or changes. But how do you know that they are right? How do you know that the thing being pointed to is an actual source of competitive advantage?
How to Motivate Teams to Improve Performance
By Richard Hawkes | March 23, 2022
Business Management Daily Back in elementary school, you might have encountered a teacher who made the class an exciting offer. If every student in the room passed the math test on Friday morning, the class could have an extra half hour of recess that…
Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times
By Sara Connell | March 1, 2022
Pay attention to Leadership Impact. A leader’s focus and mindset can be contagious to their team or organization. All outcomes in teams and companies happen in context of relationships. So, team leaders and members should focus on being self-aware and accountable for the impact…