FRAMING AN ISSUE

Productive team discussions require sharing of diverse perspectives and critical thinking. This involves thoughtful preparation and skillful engagement.

Use this document to plan for a significant group discussion or work through a challenge together.
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 THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF GRATITUDE

Recent research studies have concluded that expressing gratitude is associated with improved health and more loving relationships. It turns our attention to what we have, rather than what we don't have. It prompts us to notice what is positive in our lives, which magnifies the pleasure we experience in life.

This Claros Group 3x3 resource offers an opportunity to think about and express gratitude!
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 COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

Effective leaders are able to have conversations that surface and deal with interpersonal tensions and conflicts. Awareness is key. Integrity, humility, and effective leadership are only possible if you acknowledge what is important to you, what’s at stake, and what you hope to accomplish for yourself and the organization.

This Claros Group 3x3 resource will help you engage with people in a respectful and mindful way. Applying it to difficult conversations creates the opportunity for both parties to describe their experience, understand the impacts, explore what is possible, and develop mutual understanding that will strengthen the relationship.
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 END OF YEAR ASSESSMENT

Too often we complete one thing and jump right into the next without taking a breath to assess, let alone celebrate accomplishments. As the year comes to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the year and begin to explore what is next.

The Year End Assessment is a practical tool for reflection and planning. It enables you and a team to make well informed decisions about the future based on an honest appraisal of what happened in the recent past. Use this tool to ensure you connect past practice with future intention.
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 THREE GREAT BOOKS

As professionals, our job is to keep learning so we can share useful knowledge with our clients. We hunt and gather so you can feast on provocative and pragmatic ideas. This year, we want to share with you our top picks for 2011. These three titles challenged and inspired us and we think they are worth your time and attention.
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 IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE BY CREATING
A LEARNING CULTURE

Everything changes. To borrow a phrase from Marshall Goldsmith, "What got you here won't get you there." To help organizations adapt and grow in a dynamic and complex environment, leaders need to understand the landscape, challenge assumptions, and encourage experimentation. This 3x3x3 document describes the leadership behaviors, processes and practices that support a learning environment.
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 MANAGE YOUR TIME AND YOUR LIFE

Many leaders say that “time management” is their biggest challenge. The truth is that we all operate on the same twenty-four hour schedule. That said, how is it that some busy people complete their daily tasks with ease and manage to leave the office with peace of mind, while others struggle to stay on top of their work by working long hours, multitasking, and extending deadlines? These strategies can provide some short-term relief, but they are not sustainable in the long run. Use the attached guide to discover a few practical and sustainable strategies to better manage your time, attention, and energy.
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 THREE BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY CLAROS GROUP FOR 2010

As professionals, our job is to keep learning so we can share useful knowledge with our clients. We hunt and gather so you can feast on provocative and pragmatic ideas. This year, we want to share with you our top picks for 2010. These three books challenged and inspired us and we think they are worth your time and attention.
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 MID-YEAR CHECK-IN: THE WHEEL OF LIFE

It's all too easy for organization leaders to find themselves off balance, not paying enough attention to important areas of their lives. When this is the case, it is time to take a helicopter view of the current situation. The Wheel of Life is a great tool to help improve life balance. Learn more...
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 LEAVING A JOB PROFESSIONALLY

Much has been written about the first 90 days of being in a new job. What about the last 90 days? Whatever your reason for leaving a job, doing it well involves attention to people, politics, and process. Leaving your job with integrity, relationships intact, and laying the groundwork for a smooth transition leave the door open for future opportunities. Learn more...
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 THREE BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY CLAROS GROUP FOR 2009

As professionals, our job is to keep learning so we can share useful knowledge with our clients. We hunt and gather so you can feast on provocative and pragmatic ideas. This year, we want to share with you our top picks for 2009. The three titles below challenged and inspired us and we think they are worth your time and attention. Learn more...
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 LEADING IN TURBULENT ECONOMIC TIMES

Leaders’ words and actions set the emotional tone in an organization, especially in times of fear and uncertainly. Use the attached tool to learn the five specific strategies leaders can use to enhance their effectiveness during turbulent economic times. Learn more...
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 GETTING CLEAR: STARTING WITH THE END IN MIND

Do you find yourself working on HOW to do something without first identifying WHAT it is you truly want? Use the attached tool to get clear about what you want before jumping to a solution. Learn more...
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 JUMPSTART TEAM SUCCESS: CREATE A TEAM CHARTER

When a group first forms, there is minimal trust, no shared goals, no history of past performance, and roles are unclear. Despite this lack of clarity, members are eager to jump into the task at hand. The single most critical success factor in high performing teams is having a shared understanding of why a team exists and what it is trying to accomplish. Learn more...
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 A LEADERS' GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING PEOPLE

Are you curious about how you can help your employees grow and improve their performance? Would you like to learn a simple and useful strategy for creating development plans for your direct reports? The attached guide will show you how you can help people perform at their best. Learn more...
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 THE LEADER'S ROLE IN COMMUNICATING ABOUT CHANGE

Are you unsure about how to communicate about change? Would you like to prevent resistance and encourage support for change in your organization? Use the attached tool to learn what and how to communicate as you support people through change. Learn more…
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 GIVING EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK

Do you postpone or avoid giving feedback because "it's just never the right time or place?" Use the attached tool to plan how to set the context, deliver the message, and follow-up to reinforce behaviors you want to encourage. Learn more…
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 CREATING BALANCE

Do you constantly feel torn -- trying to meet the challenges at work, address the needs of your family, and take care of yourself personally? Is it really possible to achieve balance in life? Find out what keeps us from achieving balance and learn specific remedies that promote harmony and balance in our lives. Learn more…
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 HOW TO HAVE A GREAT MEETING

Do people leave your meetings saying things like, "that was a good use of my time; I can't wait to get together again with this group?" If the answer is yes, you probably don't need to read this document. If not, this document will tell you the ten reasons meetings fail and how to ensure successful, productive, and enjoyable meetings.
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 DELEGATION

"I can do the job better and faster than anyone else!" Do you know the other nine reasons why leaders fail to delegate? This document will tell you what they are, how to overcome them, and what it takes to empower individuals to act independently.
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