This book focuses on how-to develop support for change in your organization, including leadership, sponsorship, manager conviction and buy-in from everyone involved, essential ingredients for creating a diverse, inclusive environment---one that reflects the marketplaces and communities of the 21st Century. Includes organizational self-assessment tools to help you determine where you are now, what you can do action strategies and ideas for what and how to gain acceptance of the need for change in your organization's leadership, culture, involvement, the business, strategies and measures, staffing and development and ownership. Also includes inspiring personal stories from executives from HP, IBM, U.S. Army, Mars Exploration Program, Lowell Area Schools, Leap Wireless International and best-selling Australian author, Catherine DeVrye, as well as an action planning guide and a call to action. Twenty-five illustrations; two-color format. Designed for anyone with the responsibility of setting an example and leading change in your organization.
My newest book, Putting Our Differences to Work: The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance is a **2010 Axion Business Book Award Winner** - BRONZE | Human Resources and Employee Training. I'm also the author of ACTION DIALOGUES: Meaningful Conversations to Accelerate Change (Portable boxed book/cards)
My life and work has included a mix of fortunate twists and turns and some undeniably great opportunities for which I remain grateful. By worldly standards, this all opened the way for me becoming an author, and founder, president, and CEO of the Leadership Solutions Companies, an award-winning woman-owned enterprise since 1990, specializing in custom leadership, organizational, and virtual communications solutions.
It's been an interesting journey. Here are a few highlights that have made it rewarding...
* One of my passions has been becoming pioneer and innovator of people-focused leadership-employee communications in virtual space, including creative uses of Web 2.0 technologies, and other social media. This was a differentiator in our work and growth as a company.
* Formerly, I had a distinguished leadership career with IBM Corporation for over than twenty years, which gave me a solid value-based foundation for the work that has followed way beyond what I ever imagined. It was a memorable 1st career filled with opportunity and promise.
* I remain deeply grateful that Frances Hesselbein, author, president and ceo of Leader to Leader Institute (formerly Peter F. Drucker Foundation), who has been my mentor, teacher, role model, and friend since I was a young leader with IBM. My book, Putting Our Differences to Work, includes insights and stories from my treasure-chest of lessons learned from her. Visit the Knowledge Gallery at the Global Dialogue Center to listen to my interview with her: http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/exhibits/frances/index.shtml
* My newest book, Putting Our Differences to Work: The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance (Berrett-Koehler 2008)is one am very proud to share. It is both a personal and practical guide for leaders and innovators at every level. It changes the prevailing rules of how to think, behave, and operate in the twenty-first century. Most of all, it has great real-life, first person stories and practical tools, processes and tips to apply what you learn. I see it filled with highlights, post-its, underlines as a reference for anyone wanting to lead at any level.
* HONORS: My work and newest book are featured in futurist Joel Barker's 2009 film, "Innovation at the Verge." Joel wrote the foreword for my book and we also collaborated on two chapters in the book on INNOVATING at the verge. What I didn't expect is that Joel also surprised me by creating a special VIDEO BOOK PRIMER about the my book, because he wanted to tell more about it than his film allowed. SEE BELOW. Joel talks more specifically about the value of the book to leaders and innovators in the twenty-first century, gives a mini-innovation lesson, and takes you on a personal tour inside the book. SEE THE VIDEO BOOK PRIMER BELOW my picture.
* EXPANDING MY GLOBAL REACH...
In 2004, I founded Leadership Solutions Companies' first online entity, the Global Dialogue Center (GDC). This distinctive virtual gathering place for people throughout the world has an intentional focus on leadership, professional, and personal development. It has been an expression of passion for the value of social media in connecting us around the world. The Global Dialogue Center is built on the belief that by thinking, questioning, exploring ideas, and talking with one another, we can become better leaders in our organizations, communities, and in our families --- creating a better world.
Our company commitment to expand opportunities for inclusion throughout the world was the inspiration behind the Global Dialogue Center's 2005 addition of Women in the Lead, a unique resource center for women. In 2006, GDC again expanded its offerings to include the Global Dialogue Center Online CONFERENCE CENTER, providing an array of opportunities for conversation, creative problem-solving, professional development, and INNOVATION in virtual space.
Follow me on...
Facebook: http://profile.to/debbekennedy/
Linked-In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/debbekennedy
Twitter: @debbekennedy and @onlinedialogues
Learn more...
http://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/about-debbe.html
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com
Contact me...
http://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/email-us.html
