Michelle Kemp

I'm a novice gardener, and this year, I must admit, I'm genuinely proud of my harvest. Abundance has taken on a different meaning when intentionally growing something. But as a Chicagoan, I find gardening bittersweet as the season changes and my harvesting days are numbered. As the weather changes and leaves fall, something else happens: my view opens up, giving me the clarity to clear beds, feed the soil, and prepare for the next gardening season before the ground sees a seed. ...

Lately, I keep hearing the same refrain from our partners: the mission is clear, the plan is set, and still the team can't quite deliver on the goals in front of them. Picture two organizations hitting the same wall from opposite sides. One set an ambitious goal and brought in a capable leader to drive it, but didn’t plan for or budget a team around them to carry out the work. The other downsized a team but kept the same goals, hoping new systems would make up the difference. The starting...

Change in the workplace rarely waits for January. For many organizations, a new chapter begins in the second half of the year: a new school term or fiscal cycle, a team restructuring, a leadership transition, or a shift in strategy or budget. The specifics may vary by sector and situation, but the throughline remains the same: change has arrived, and people are being asked to move with it. When change arrives, leaders are expected to pressure-test the strategic plan and priorities: Is the...