Changing People’s Behaviors to Activate Strategies at Scale Super Bowl commercials. They’re 30 seconds long and cost $8 million. Yet there is plenty of willingness by companies to pay this
I keep seeing the same pattern across organizations. It’s not a lack of strategy. It’s not a lack of ambition. And it’s not a lack of investment. It’s execution. Leadership
I have the privilege in my role of facilitating more than 20 strategic planning and alignment sessions a year with various senior teams, and the even greater privilege of raising
This is part of a series of articles written by Aastha Minocha (Principal, Health Transformation) and John Schantz (Managing Director, Strategic Accounts) focused on the topic of Strategy Activation. Part
Zealot is a strong word, but over the last 25 years, I’ve become obsessed with understanding how to help organizations activate their growth strategies and help people achieve their full
This series of articles is focused on the topic of Strategy Activation. It is based on conversations that Aastha Minocha (Principal, Health Transformation) and John Schantz (Managing Director, Strategic Accounts)
Your pride is lying to you. It’s telling you things like, “I know what I’m doing,” “I’ve heard that before,” and “I’ve been there, done that,” when actually, you have
I know this sounds drastic coming from someone who wrote a book on the art of engagement and who has said many times, “The things that get measured get done.”
In my experience, strategy is about building new enterprise capabilities – new capabilities that, when brought to market, can unlock new revenue streams, help optimize cost, and drive margin expansion.
The purpose of strategic planning is not to make plans. It is to change the way that we think and act. If newly formed visions and strategic plans are intended
You can increase the candor, authenticity, and generation of innovative ideas in your meetings if you truly focus on the art of thinking together. William B. Isaacs, author of an
At the risk of dating myself, I’ll share that when I was in high school, the wildly popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer was coming to an end. If
At the “campfire!” For centuries, humans have gathered around campfires to share food, drinks, and stories – stories that compel us to connect, empathize, learn, and reach higher. They have
Hundreds of books have been written about leadership and high-performance teams, but rarely do they adequately address the art of great decision-making. But one very important aspect of governance for
The pattern is everything. In the movie The Imitation Game, a young woman makes a joke about a pattern in the code she intercepts from a particular German radio operator.
A number of years ago, when Clemson University’s football team was in the College Football National Championship game, I caught a pregame story about head coach Dabo Swinney. As I
Any organization that wants to change, transform, or grow beyond market rates requires, first and foremost, a high-performance senior team. When the next-level-down leaders of many organizations are asked what
It’s a tale as old as time: Your strategy is crafted. The leaders who designed it toast to their collective brilliance. But then it sits in a folder on a
Layoffs suck. They really, really suck – most obviously for those whose livelihoods are affected. People put their trust in their employers and make personal sacrifices only to be told,
Many organizations take advantage of the holiday season to celebrate their employees, but companies with excellent culture celebrate and engage their employees year round. When people feel appreciated and connected
The brutal reality that should concern anyone leading a team or an organization today is that 60%–90% of all strategies are never brought to life. They just don’t materialize. The
At this point in our careers, we’re likely well-versed in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). According to Oxford Language, a Key Performance Indicator is “a quantifiable measure used to evaluate the
It’s no secret that organizations have put extra emphasis on change, change management, and change adoption. For over 100 years, change management has been studied, observed, and hypothesized. From the
When we started Root more than 30 years ago, we really didn’t know where our adventure would take us. Our future was a work in progress. The journey took many
How is your organization doing when it comes to growth and change? If you’re succeeding, consider yourself one of the lucky ones because it has never been more challenging for
The last three years have felt like a decade of their own. With a global pandemic, political polarization, economic pressure, and increased government regulation, one can never be certain what
At this point in our careers, we’re likely well-versed in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). According to Oxford Language, a Key Performance Indicator is “a quantifiable measure used to evaluate the
It’s no secret that organizations have put extra emphasis on change, change management, and change adoption. For over 100 years, change management has been studied, observed, and hypothesized. From the
When it comes to retaining employees, one of the most effective tactics an organization can leverage is offering people access to compelling learning and development initiatives. Employees recognize that training
Recently Accenture released a report, The Human Paradox: From Customer Centricity to Life Centricity, detailing the current mindset of consumers. After surveying over 25,000 people across 22 countries and conducting
Accountability may be the single most common response when leaders are asked to define the one aspect of their organizational culture that they would like to change. Leaders often comment
Have you heard of a flea circus? Well believe it or not, in the mid to late 1800s, the flea circus was a popular attraction, particularly in England and Germany,
Since co-founding Root, I’ve spent the last three decades with a front row seat as organizations around the world plan, define, and attempt to activate their strategic futures. Our teams
Retaining great employees has never been as important or as challenging as it is in 2022. A recent Harvard Business Review article revealed that 30% of new employees have left
We spend a great deal of time with frontline team members in our work in retail, hotels, and restaurants. Many of these team members are new to the workforce and
I’ve interacted with dozens of executive teams in my career, and it always happens. The seven, 10, or more men and women on the executive team each have an IQ
Did you know that learners forget 70% of training content within 24 hours and nearly 90% of what they learned after a month? Sad, but true. Accenture’s report Meeting the
It’s the start of 2022, and we’re still living through a global pandemic. One impact of this in the business world has been a steady stream of job resignations. In
So you’ve hired new people during The Great Resignation. Congratulations—you are now the “better culture” your new hires were seeking. Can you live up to the hype? What makes a
Over the past two years, leaders have been put to the test. They’ve had to keep their organizations afloat amid challenges no one saw coming. Executives everywhere have been forced
According to a Harvard study, 85 percent of professional success comes from people skills. Therefore it’s a logical conclusion that one will have a very difficult, if not impossible time,
When we started Root 30-plus years ago, we really didn’t know exactly where our adventure would take us. Our future state was a work in progress. The journey took many
I recently came across several articles discussing how Generation X is being perceived as “unhireable” amid this Great Resignation. According to a CNBC article, “Rapid digital adoption during the pandemic
As a consultant to organizations that span all industries and have employees based on every continent around the world, I’ve witnessed my fair share of leadership successes and mistakes. I’ve
My last post covered how organizations must adapt to the needs and wants of today’s employees, because what worked in the past to attract and retain talent won’t be effective
Hi, again. In our first blog in this series, we talked about why unconscious bias training efforts are often considered to be a complete waste of time and resources. Then,
The workplace has changed considerably in the past year. Many leaders, myself included, have seen great things come out of what appeared to be a worst-case work scenario. And despite
Unconscious bias training doesn’t work. That’s the headline for over 400 studies and numerous postings, articles, and presentations. Yes, some training is better than others, to be sure, but after
One year into the pandemic, we’ve done the unthinkable. We’ve pivoted our businesses practically overnight. We’ve survived different and difficult work conditions, strained living conditions, and restrictions on our movements
Leaders in 2021 are facing a major challenge: how to keep their teams engaged and pushing forward despite the tidal wave of change the global pandemic has set in motion.
My sixth-grade science teacher, Mr. Davis, was a bit eccentric, which made for some great quotable moments. Often, as we started a lab assignment, he would declare, “Take your time,
By now we’ve all realized that the world can’t just stop. We must keep plodding forward in our work and in our everyday lives, which can admittedly be a challenge
Over the last twenty years, my organization has had numerous opportunities to watch and participate in change efforts that have engaged the hearts and minds of people to deliver great
Most aspiring leaders want to have an impact, possibly be recognized as an expert or guru, and maybe even be toasted at a company or industry event for making a
Strategy without execution is meaningless. Execution without engagement is impossible. Jim Haudan Sounds pretty profound, doesn’t it? When you read the words, and look closely at their meaning, they’re so
I’ve been working since I was 16 years old. Now, as a 33-year-old woman, I’ve advanced my career and earned the financial rewards that come with hard work and business
In my experience, strategy is about building new enterprise capabilities – new capabilities that, when brought to market, can unlock new revenue streams, help optimize cost, and drive margin expansion.
You can increase the candor, authenticity, and generation of innovative ideas in your meetings if you truly focus on the art of thinking together. William B. Isaacs, author of an
Hundreds of books have been written about leadership and high-performance teams, but rarely do they adequately address the art of great decision-making. But one very important aspect of governance for
The pattern is everything. In the movie The Imitation Game, a young woman makes a joke about a pattern in the code she intercepts from a particular German radio operator.
A number of years ago, when Clemson University’s football team was in the College Football National Championship game, I caught a pregame story about head coach Dabo Swinney. As I
Any organization that wants to change, transform, or grow beyond market rates requires, first and foremost, a high-performance senior team. When the next-level-down leaders of many organizations are asked what
It’s a tale as old as time: Your strategy is crafted. The leaders who designed it toast to their collective brilliance. But then it sits in a folder on a
Layoffs suck. They really, really suck – most obviously for those whose livelihoods are affected. People put their trust in their employers and make personal sacrifices only to be told,
Many organizations take advantage of the holiday season to celebrate their employees, but companies with excellent culture celebrate and engage their employees year round. When people feel appreciated and connected
When we started Root more than 30 years ago, we really didn’t know where our adventure would take us. Our future was a work in progress. The journey took many
A few months ago, I listened to a very successful CEO talk about how he rapidly grew his organization. He said, “With every decision we make, I ask, ‘Will this
The following is an excerpt from How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive, a book in which diversity and inclusion
As I was beginning my professional career 30-plus years ago, I also spent four years as a high school football coach. Not far removed from playing myself, I found it
Maybe it’s because we’re of a certain generation, but we clearly remember a time walking through labyrinths of cubicles and seeing motivational posters on the walls. You know the ones
Over the past 20 years, we have seen a proliferation of diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts in organizations. In some cases, the efforts have paid off. Take Apple, for instance.
There is nothing better than working in an organization that has a great culture. According to Deloitte, 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe that nurturing a distinct culture
I recently read an article in Fast Company about burying the term “work-life balance” and embracing “work-life fulfillment” instead. I don’t disagree. I’ve never heard someone say, “I have great
The following is an excerpt from Erica Kewsin’s Bring Your Human to Work: Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Design a Workplace That is Good for People, Great for Business, and Just
Great Mondays: How to Design a Company Culture Employees Love lays out the six key components of company culture—Purpose, Values, Behaviors, Recognition, Rituals, Cues—illustrating their connection to one another and
As an organization is getting ready to face any type of change, leadership creates a strategy and gets ready to roll it out. They think about the challenges that will
The following excerpt—from Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear, a new book by the founder of Menlo Innovations, Richard Sheridan—is written to help leaders
A Guide for Personal and Professional Decision-Making January marks my one-year anniversary with Root Inc. As I reflect on the day I received the call to lead the Food &
The following excerpt from The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson discusses the topic of psychological safety and shares
“Do your people feel good about the ways your organization contributes to the community?” This Great Place to Work question doesn’t ask the employee to rate how well they believe
Does everyone in your organization have the opportunity to get special recognition? I really value this particular question on the Great Place to Work survey, because I am always enlightened
In your culture, are managers approachable and easy to talk to? This question from the Great Place to Work (GPTW) institute highlights the importance of leadership approachability in workplace culture.
On September 30th, Rich Berens and I were invited to a meeting at the White House focusing on how to create sustainable business practices that are good for stakeholders and
The cover story of the April 2016 Harvard Business Review (HBR) issue carried the headline, “You Can’t Fix Culture,” which challenged traditional views on corporate culture. That same month, the
“Bright spots” does not equal best practices. We sat down with research managers Kari Terzino and Sam Need for a behind-the-scenes look at the process and methods Root uses to
In 1993, Nobel Prize-winning Israeli psychologist Daniel Kahneman and American social psychologist Barbara Frederickson, along with two other noted psychologists, authored a paper providing evidence of what is known as
At this point, we’ve spent months dealing with COVID-19 and most businesses have reopened in varying degrees. Along with this, we’ve seen a variety of health and safety policies put
Three out of four Americans have had their health care use disrupted due to COVID-19. Caution over patient and provider safety has resulted in delayed care and canceled visits that
I’ve been a road warrior for the past 30 years, traveling three to five days a week, domestically and internationally, to consult with clients and speak at events and conferences.
“Contactless” or “touchless” experiences are the new normal in several industries today. Banking, retail, food service, hospitality, and health care organizations are all finding new ways to deliver superior customer
The age-old handshake needs to be reinvented. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shaking hands or giving hugs when you greet someone is likely a thing of the past. This pandemic
With advancements in technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), the customer experience landscape is rapidly changing. Instead of needing live contact center agents to answer every call
Several years ago, I was part of the executive team at a technology company. My role, leading our customer experience team, gave me a unique insight into just how easy
The importance of problem-solving in customer experience: from me, your customer An open letter to the waitress who rolled her eyes at me and gave me a lecture last week.
You know what happens when you book a flight from DTW to SFO with about a week’s notice? You end up in a middle seat. Luckily, because I’m a high-ranking
How many of you really watch the airplane safety video? For the last few years, I can honestly say I’ve watched them a bunch. And, no, I’m not a nervous
When we talk about customer experience (CX), most of the time we’re talking about the experiences that customers have with businesses, also known as business-to-consumer (B2C) experiences. We’re talking about
Research shows that consumers make 70% of their purchases based on how they’re treated. And – scarily for you – they’re more than twice as likely to share stories (and
I teamed up with my colleague Bridget Stallkamp for this post. She’s a people-related insights guru and a wise friend who, like me, is on a quest for better customer
I finally saw Hamilton in New York City after trying for over a year to get tickets. It was, as billed, simply amazing. And if you read my blog post,
Patient experience is a significant topic in the healthcare world. According to HealthLeaders Media, 84 percent of healthcare leaders rank patient experience among their top three priorities. And over the
How I Learned About the Best Croissants and Moroccan Food in Queens In early February, I wrote about the powerful micro-connection I had with an agent at Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport.
What happened when the agent told me, “I’ve checked your bag to Jamaica” When I ask people why they love Starbucks, Chipotle, Zappos, or any other CX stand-out brand, they
Changing People’s Behaviors to Activate Strategies at Scale Super Bowl commercials. They’re 30 seconds long and cost $8 million. Yet there is plenty of willingness by companies to pay this
I keep seeing the same pattern across organizations. It’s not a lack of strategy. It’s not a lack of ambition. And it’s not a lack of investment. It’s execution. Leadership
I have the privilege in my role of facilitating more than 20 strategic planning and alignment sessions a year with various senior teams, and the even greater privilege of raising
This is part of a series of articles written by Aastha Minocha (Principal, Health Transformation) and John Schantz (Managing Director, Strategic Accounts) focused on the topic of Strategy Activation. Part
Zealot is a strong word, but over the last 25 years, I’ve become obsessed with understanding how to help organizations activate their growth strategies and help people achieve their full
This series of articles is focused on the topic of Strategy Activation. It is based on conversations that Aastha Minocha (Principal, Health Transformation) and John Schantz (Managing Director, Strategic Accounts)
I know this sounds drastic coming from someone who wrote a book on the art of engagement and who has said many times, “The things that get measured get done.”
In my experience, strategy is about building new enterprise capabilities – new capabilities that, when brought to market, can unlock new revenue streams, help optimize cost, and drive margin expansion.
The purpose of strategic planning is not to make plans. It is to change the way that we think and act. If newly formed visions and strategic plans are intended
You can increase the candor, authenticity, and generation of innovative ideas in your meetings if you truly focus on the art of thinking together. William B. Isaacs, author of an
At the risk of dating myself, I’ll share that when I was in high school, the wildly popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer was coming to an end. If
At the “campfire!” For centuries, humans have gathered around campfires to share food, drinks, and stories – stories that compel us to connect, empathize, learn, and reach higher. They have
Hundreds of books have been written about leadership and high-performance teams, but rarely do they adequately address the art of great decision-making. But one very important aspect of governance for
The pattern is everything. In the movie The Imitation Game, a young woman makes a joke about a pattern in the code she intercepts from a particular German radio operator.
A number of years ago, when Clemson University’s football team was in the College Football National Championship game, I caught a pregame story about head coach Dabo Swinney. As I
Any organization that wants to change, transform, or grow beyond market rates requires, first and foremost, a high-performance senior team. When the next-level-down leaders of many organizations are asked what
It’s a tale as old as time: Your strategy is crafted. The leaders who designed it toast to their collective brilliance. But then it sits in a folder on a
The brutal reality that should concern anyone leading a team or an organization today is that 60%–90% of all strategies are never brought to life. They just don’t materialize. The
How is your organization doing when it comes to growth and change? If you’re succeeding, consider yourself one of the lucky ones because it has never been more challenging for
Leaders have dedicated themselves to solving the mystery of employee engagement for years. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the matter, pushing the hybrid workspace to the forefront, giving leaders more
Recently Accenture released a report, The Human Paradox: From Customer Centricity to Life Centricity, detailing the current mindset of consumers. After surveying over 25,000 people across 22 countries and conducting
The internet is ablaze once more with a buzzword: quiet quitting. As business publications catch up to the TikTok phenomenon, you can now read about the trend everywhere from Forbes
Accountability may be the single most common response when leaders are asked to define the one aspect of their organizational culture that they would like to change. Leaders often comment
Gallup tells us that the success of an organization’s change “depends on their employees’ ability to adapt. Worn-out, anxious people have limited capacity to absorb information about change, much less
While talking with many HR and DE&I leaders, I’m hearing a reoccurring theme: You’re tired and frustrated because the leaders and managers (internal customers) you serve are not buying in
Have you heard of a flea circus? Well believe it or not, in the mid to late 1800s, the flea circus was a popular attraction, particularly in England and Germany,
Since co-founding Root, I’ve spent the last three decades with a front row seat as organizations around the world plan, define, and attempt to activate their strategic futures. Our teams
73% of NBA players are Black. Currently, 50% of NBA head coaches are Black. 58% of NFL players are Black. To start next season, 9% of NFL head coaches will
I’ve always been a late adopter of new technology. I resisted smartphones for years because I didn’t want to have constant access to email or social media. Now, if I
Several years ago, I was part of the executive team at a technology company. My role, leading our customer experience team, gave me a unique insight into just how easy
We’ve all experienced it before. A new piece of technology is introduced that’s designed to make the workforce faster, smarter, and more efficient. After months of planning and painful integration,
Root, part of Accenture, brings deep expertise in Strategy Activation. Working across industries, Root uses unique visual tools and methods to engage all levels of an organization and align, implement, and sustain strategies for accelerated results.
HOW WE HELP
We co-author comprehensive experiences with our clients to align on, activate,
and sustain strategies.
HOW WE HELP
