Category: intentionality

leadership dot #5063: backing out

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A colleague was lamenting that volunteers kept backing out of a service project she was leading. One had a sudden illness (obviously a good reason to decline), but others were rescinding their offers for reasons that existed when they first said yes. One realized it was the same date as his son’s wedding! Another had a vacation booked already. Both seem like dates they should have remembered.

It was one of my biggest frustrations when I made an offer to candidates and was turned down. I heard things like: “It’s too far away” (even though our campus hadn’t moved since they applied), or “my spouse doesn’t want to move” (a conversation that should have happened before the application).

It can be easy to say yes with good intentions, but it’s better to say yes intentionally and mean it.

leadership dot #5062: first step

October 1, 2026September 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A frequently overlooked part of any project is the initial thinking that is required to determine exactly what the project entails. It’s much more fun — and seemingly productive — to jump in and start doing, but the entire process will go more smoothly if it is well thought out from the start.

Instead of asking someone to implement an event, assign their first task to outline the program’s parameters.
Rather than expecting someone to write copy for a brochure, ask them first to think about the purpose of the piece.
Instead of assigning someone to assess your programs, start by having them consider what elements should be assessed and how you may collect the data.
Rather than jumping in and reorganizing a system, make your first step thinking about the desired outcome.

The initial stage of most work should involve a few hours of concentrated thinking. Assign the planning stage with the same diligence and time commitment as any other tasks in the project.

leadership dot #5061: merger

September 30, 2026September 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Businesses and nonprofit organizations have recently undergone many mergers, consolidations, and buyouts. All of these raise questions about culture and how the transition to the new configuration will be managed.

It’s important in the early stages to define the intended outcome. Is entity A absorbing entity B, and the smaller entity is expected to adopt the procedures and processes of the buyer? This happens when a big bank buys a smaller branch, and the identity of the small bank disappears.

Or, are A and B combining to create a new option C, with a new structure and name? This happened when a neighboring school district realigned its facilities and merged two high schools into one new United High.

Whether it involves a multi-million-dollar conglomerate or a few small departments in the same organization, clarifying the goal is essential. The alignment won’t be easy, but proactively orchestrating the transition is much better than the consequences of ongoing misalignment.

leadership dot #5057: involvement

September 24, 2026September 23, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Employee engagement sounds like a lofty goal, but there are simple ways to help employees become more involved in the organization.

Three examples:

Our local Dairy Queen allows team members to create a “Treat of the Month” and share their concoction. It spotlights an employee and can drive additional sales as people are tempted to try the new treat.
Bookstores often display featured selections recommended by their staff, thereby engaging them in the organization and, hopefully, also increasing sales.
An organization recently rebranded and allowed its employees to choose the final logo design and the new apparel to accompany it.

None of these efforts required an expense; instead, they offered opportunities for genuine participation. Help foster a sense of belonging for your team by asking for input and crafting ways that they can share in the work.

Screenshot from Rhomberg Dairy Queen

leadership dot #5055: balcony

September 22, 2026September 21, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A strategy recommended for leaders leading adaptive change is to get on the balcony rather than the dance floor (see dot #1181). Having an overview of the situation allows them to gain perspective and assess the full system instead of seeing only one part in their current view.

The Detroit Police Department understands the importance of this overview and creates a literal balcony to achieve it. The Department uses special police lift stations at special events where crowds gather. By having officers high above the action, they can more easily assess a situation and direct help where it is most needed.

Soccer players create a metaphorical balcony, relying on their center midfielder and goalie to have a holistic view of the field and to share their perspective with the rest of the team. Other players may be focused on the ball and immediate play in front of them, but the center mid’s role is to see the whole field and relay strategy to their teammates.

While implementation requires hands-on engagement, assessing strategy requires a hands-off perspective that only comes from stepping out of the narrow fray. Find ways to create your own balcony before you jump in and act based on a limited view.

Source: Balcony/dance floor concept from Leadership on the Line by Heifetz and Linsky.

leadership dot #5045: playlist

September 8, 2026September 7, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

With the midterm elections fast approaching, many organizations are engaged in get-out-the-vote efforts or campaigning for candidates. Much of the work is behind-the-scenes grunt work, but to make it more palatable, people often do the tasks in groups.

Signs of Justice encourages volunteers to host a party and invite several friends to write postcards during the gathering. They sent supporters an email with party tips and even included a Spotify playlist of inspirational music to enhance the festivities.

Whether you are involved in political action or doing a routine task elsewhere, consider involving a group in the effort. A pizza and a playlist can make a dull job much more enjoyable.

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leadership dot #5042: firsthand

September 2, 2026September 2, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A school district community task force has been meeting for several months, and most meetings are held in a different school building. We build a brief tour into the agenda, allowing people to see the facilities and hear from the principals. We did this even in a non-air-conditioned building (in July!) to experience the difference climate control makes for the learning environment.

Long after the task force concludes its work, I think our rotating meeting schedule will help community members carry with them a better understanding of the district facilities and their needs.

I am a big believer in rotating meeting locations. When I worked at a college, each of my senior staff meetings was held in a different spot on campus. People whose organization has multiple buildings can utilize that variety to meet other colleagues and stimulate creativity. Even those who have limited office space can meet outside or at a neighboring organization.

Get outside the conference room and experience something firsthand.

leadership dot #5041: as designed

September 1, 2026August 31, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The home improvement store Menards is known for its frequent “11% Rebate on Everything.” It’s a good gimmick that seems to get people into the stores.

It works well for Menards — but think about it from the consumer perspective. They make people save their receipts and postal mail them in with a rebate form. This creates a double barrier that undoubtedly reduces the number of rebates they provide. The next barrier: the rebate now comes “disguised” as junk mail. If I hadn’t seen a warning about this online, I would have tossed it, thinking it was nothing but a sales flyer. And finally, people need to save the paper rebate they inconveniently cut out of the oversized flyer, remember to bring it, and use it in the store, likely making even more purchases — so the cycle continues.

Menards could just reduce its prices by 11%. They could offer a cash rebate instead of a merchandise credit. They could allow for electronic submission of receipts/rebate forms. They could provide the rebate electronically or as a card, making it more portable and likely to be used, or at least mail the rebate clearly marked as such. But Menards has designed a system that accomplishes exactly what it is designed to do — increase sales and reduce redeemed rebates.

Any time you see something that isn’t working, look at the system and consider who benefits from it as is. More than likely, it means the system was intentionally created that way.

The only indication that the rebate is inside this folded and glued-together advertising flyer is a small corner notice

leadership dot #5028: this

August 13, 2026August 12, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Consistency is a key element of establishing both your personal and professional reputation.

If you want to be known as someone who is on top of things, you not only meet the report deadline, but you also show up on time for the parent-teacher conference. Those trying to be seen as innovative provide creative suggestions in a meeting and also experiment with fashion choices. The little things integrate to form a holistic picture of your “brand.”

A big fail in this department is the sign (below) in a fine jewelry store. Instead of being consistently high-end and image-conscious, this store negated that impression with a handwritten sign on a piece of bent cardboard. I’ve seen flea markets that give more attention to their signs.

If you send signals that you are “this” or “that,” the overriding takeaway is that you are the least desirable trait. To earn a solid reputation, you need to be “this” consistently.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #5025: cadence

August 10, 2026August 9, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I have been very surprised by the number of people who applauded my decision to write dots only on weekdays instead of every.single.day. I really hesitated to do that—feeling like I was letting myself down more than others—but the positive commentary was unforeseen.

I think there is something to learn there—that often, we impose more burden on ourselves than necessary. Sure, you can’t tell your boss that you are no longer going to fulfill a major responsibility, but I’ll bet there are tasks or steps along the way that you put there. At home, there are likely duties you take on that others would not care if you stopped doing or did less frequently.

Everyone is so busy. It has become the chorus of our lives, recounting all the things we did and how frantic our pace is. Take a lesson from the dots and step back on something. Maybe that’s biweekly meetings instead of weekly. Ordering in every Friday instead of cooking. Quarterly reports rather than monthly. Quality doesn’t have to suffer if the cadence changes.