Leadership, teamwork, democratic workplace
My blog on a star performer( in my eyes) who morphed into an alienated follower (AF), has me reflecting on how that happened. How did someone I valued and relied upon turn into an oppositional follower? Answering that question took me back to my “I quit!” blog of a few years ago.* Was it me…
A week ago, a friend invited my wife and me to a Czech pub, Sveiks, Švejk! Ads proclaim the restaurant is inspired by the ‘Good Soldier Šveik’, the not so “simple”, good-humored, hero of the epic novel, The Adventures Of Švejk. That restaurant inspired me to revisit and then revise extensively my 2015 blog…
Three times now I’ve seen the Oscar and Golden Globe winning film, the enigmatic Flow/Straume. The last was an exceptional event with a full symphonic orchestra! Caption: At the Riga Arena, May 23, 2026, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra performed the film’s score, composed and conducted by Rihards Zaļupe. Since I’m always on the lookout…
Teamwork rituals from the basketball team to the work team which are discussed below: Sportsmanship, win or lose. Free throws/penalty shots. Subbing out. Circling up. Helping hands, Communication-Talking and Information hoarding. I understand there are readers whose least favorite class was PE (gym) and who cringe at any linking of sports to the workplace. Bear…
In January 2014 an unprecedented cultural event involving 30,000 people took place in Riga, Latvia. I wrote about it with photos in a 2014 post, “The Spontaneity of Well-Meaning Crowds”*. What was the event?: The “Grāmatu draugu ķēde” (The Chain of Booklovers) which moved some 2000 gift and duplicate books, hand over hand in a…
I’ve written of roosters and wild turkeys to illustrate human behavior, especially in the workplace. While humans display compassion more than most in the animal kingdom, there are times when we are less than compassionate in how we treat the less able or the strange. I have another story. This one is about how a…
Recently, I blogged that the “Glue Player” (GP) or Glue Guy (GG) is a new management phrase derived from basketball and baseball. The term describes someone in a team “who holds everything together, often without seeking recognition for their efforts.” GPs have other attributes: they “lead from behind.” They let the stars shine while making…
A Bear, a Fox, and an Opossum were attacked by an inundation. “Death loves a coward,” said the Bear, and went forward to fight the flood. “What a fool!” said the Fox. “I know a trick worth two of that.” And he slipped into a hollow stump. “There are malevolent forces,” said the Opossum,…
In Eastern Europe, during communist rule, a befuddled tourist found himself on a city bus without a ticket. As happens, the bus police boarded, demanding to see tickets. The tourist, along with a few villainous looking individuals was escorted off the bus. “The fine is 5 kopecks,” said the guard. “Plus 15 kopecks for…
“Glue Player” (GP) or Glue Guy (GG) is a recent management phrase borrowed from basketball and baseball usage dating back to the late 1970s. The term describes someone in a team “who holds everything together, often without seeking recognition for their efforts.” GPs have other attributes: they “lead from behind.” They let the stars…