Weekly Posts and Insights

Change Champions, Bystanders and The Toxic Few
Culture, Leadership, People Matthew Harrington Culture, Leadership, People Matthew Harrington

Change Champions, Bystanders and The Toxic Few

We explore the dynamics of change within communities, framing stakeholders into three distinct roles: Change Champions, the Toxic Few (Resistors), and Bystanders. We use the Change Bell Curve to emphasize the importance of focusing energy on engaging Change Champions and winning over Bystanders, while not wasting efforts on the entrenched resistance of the Toxic Few. By understanding these dynamics and leveraging effective communication strategies, communities and organizations can navigate change more successfully and foster a culture of growth and adaptation.

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Dissatisfaction with Status Quo and the Case for Change: Part 1
People, Leadership, Culture Matthew Harrington People, Leadership, Culture Matthew Harrington

Dissatisfaction with Status Quo and the Case for Change: Part 1

The Change Formula, a tool introduced recently, emphasizes the necessity of Dissatisfaction (D) with the status quo for meaningful change to occur. Dissatisfaction stems from various sources within communities or organizations, such as performance gaps, external pressures, cultural misalignment, and leadership issues. Addressing dissatisfaction is crucial as it can lead to resistance, decreased morale, missed opportunities, and hindrance to organizational growth. Real-life examples illustrate the importance of recognizing dissatisfaction and driving change, whether it's transitioning to a team-based organization, expanding regionally for impact, or adapting to evolving EMS models.

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How Do We Drive Change in our Communities
Leadership, Culture, People Matthew Harrington Leadership, Culture, People Matthew Harrington

How Do We Drive Change in our Communities

Have you ever found yourself wanting to implement some kind of change either in your community or at your place of business and realized you didn’t have the support to make it happen? Over the course of the next 3-4 weeks, we will explore each element of the Change Formula creating a pragmatic, directly applicable model you and your team can now start to follow when implementing change.

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Friday You
People, Culture Matthew Harrington People, Culture Matthew Harrington

Friday You

Uncover the importance of embracing your own 'Friday You.' Delve into the significance of carving out moments of relaxation and spontaneity amidst the hustle of daily life. Join us on a journey of introspection and celebration, as we unravel the magic of Fridays and the timeless lessons they impart.

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Adapting Together: Exploring the Change Curve in People and Communities
People Matthew Harrington People Matthew Harrington

Adapting Together: Exploring the Change Curve in People and Communities

Understanding the emotional journey of change can help individuals and communities navigate transitions more effectively. By recognizing and addressing the various stages of grief, from shock and denial to acceptance and integration, we can foster resilience, promote collaboration, and ultimately thrive in times of change.

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Creating Helpfulness In Community by LEADing
People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Creating Helpfulness In Community by LEADing

When we are called to provide hope, humanity, humility and helpfulness through LEADing. We must first Look around and pay attention finding moments and opportunities to empathize. Empathize by perspective taking, being non judgemental, recognizing emotion, communicating and practicing mindfulness. Acknowledge the truth of the current situation. Decide what actions need to be taken (if any).

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Fostering Humanity in Community Leadership
People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Fostering Humanity in Community Leadership

As communities (both at work and in life) grapple with shifting values and ethics, steering away from a shared sense of humanity, the perilous path of individualism and vested interests looms. This phenomenon of individualism finds its roots in a focus on personal feelings and self-actualization, championed by great minds like Emerson and Thoreau. However, I would argue that in order to find ourselves, we have lost each other. The antidote to strict individualism lies in the love of humanity, a force that transcends self-interest and places communal well-being at its core.

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Creating Pragmatic Hope In Your Community
Culture, People, Leadership Matthew Harrington Culture, People, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Creating Pragmatic Hope In Your Community

Hope can be a faint glimmer on the distant horizon. It can keep us moving on the journey of community, belonging and love. Hope is a way of thinking - a cognitive process - or as C. R. Snyder called it a trilogy of: goals, pathways and agency.

Yes, hope is also based in emotions and can greatly inspire us to reach the highest heights, however its core is in ‘function.’  We experience hope when we can set realistic goals, when we can stay flexible and develop alternative pathways, and when we believe in ourselves or “agency.”

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