P&P Blog
The P&P Blog contains advice from Cathy Perme and Amber Peterson on a wide range of topics including leadership, process improvement, organizational change, conflict resolution, strategic planning, team building, and more.
Leadership Lessons for the Year of the Ox
Here we are, 11 months into the pandemic (at least in terms of the US shutting down), and we are still not certain when or even IF life will get back to “the way it used to be.” So, it’s time to assess: what “bad” habits did we drop last year which should be left in...
Sticking Close to the Bucking Horse
Often when working with organizations in the process of change, I encounter what I like to call “a bucking horse.” This is a person or group that seems to resist change loudly and forcefully and generally makes life difficult for those who are tasked to lead it. For...
Meaning-Making to Move You Forward
Check out this "pop-up conversation" in which Amber describes what "meaning" is and how meaning violations play into our lives. She suggests several questions, as well as "The 4-Room Apartment" by Claes Janssen, as ways to assess and make meaning of where you are...
Build Anchors to Stabilize Now, and Beyond
In this "pop-up conversation," Amber describes how our anchors, or the vital regularities in our routines, can help stabilize us during this stressful time. Models referenced include the Tripartite Theory of Meaning from George & Parks (2016) and Finite &...
Even Distanced, We Still Have Purpose
In this "pop-up conversation," Amber defines purpose and explains how vital it is to all of us, especially those who have lost jobs during COVID-19 or have been living in isolation. Amber proposes using "The Decision Map" from Human Systems Dynamics Institute to...
Uncertainty – Hard to Live With, Necessary to Thrive
In this "pop-up conversation," Amber talks about uncertainty - what it is, why we need it, and how we can learn from it! A comment from Brené Brown proposing that we "stitch a new garment" during the world's struggle with COVID-19, and using the "Adaptive Action...
What I’ve Learned about Surviving Economic Busts
These are such scary times, both personally and professionally, that the easiest thing to do would be to crawl into a shell and stay there until everything sorts itself out. Unfortunately, life goes on and so must we, as we maneuver through this pandemic and...
Navigating Grief During COVID-19
In this "pop-up conversation," Amber shares what she has learned about the grieving process, how it applies to many (if not all) of us right now, and options for processing our grief. Featured are the Kübler-Ross grieving cycle, Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant...
Taking a Lesson on Vulnerability
In this "pop-up conversation," Amber discusses Brené Brown's book Dare to Lead and her research on vulnerability. Vulnerability is interpreted by many as "weakness;" however, it is an opportunity for unparalleled human connection and happiness. Listen in to learn...
Post-Traumatic Growth: Evolution from Crisis
In this "pop-up conversation," explore Post-Traumatic Growth and Resilience with Amber. She calls on the work of various research groups and academics to explain what Post-Traumatic Growth is, how it is achieved, and how we can all increase our resilience coming...
The 4 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make in Strategic Planning
I have been facilitating strategic planning for the past 30 years in organizations large and small, and seen the spectrum of success – from organizations that actually transform themselves, to those that eventually “go away” (out of business, merged) due to inability...
Make Tough Conversations Easier
The path to good leadership is fraught with frustrations and tough decisions. But does it have to be so hard? Is there a way to bypass some of the pain and stress associated with having difficult conversations with your staff? In short, yes, and it takes some solid...
Focusing… and Dealing with Competing Needs
Welcome to the world of 24/7/365 – where the average leader and professional are constantly available via their smart phones, the piles of work are higher than ever before, and everyone is judged on how well they accomplish it on a timely basis. As I write...
Raising All Boats
Truth be told, I could have been a hell of a union organizer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio unions were part of my everyday life. Most kids in my neighborhood had at least one family member in a union. And in fact, those unions were essential to the health...
Keep Calm in the Storm – Simple Strategies
You're at your desk and a coworker comes by with their half of a project. The finished product falls short of your expectations... Your immediate response is fueled by emotions instead of calm inquiry and you instantly regret your quick reaction. Does this...
Organizational Courage – Part 2
What does organizational courage demand? In part one of my two-part post, I introduced the notion of organizational courage and shared my thoughts on what it is and provided some framing. In this post I will share practical strategies and action steps you can take to...
Creating a culture INSIDE that builds public trust OUTSIDE
Culture, specifically the culture within your department, is everything when it comes to building public trust. The social capital of your organization is built upon the trust of the public. This is especially true in law enforcement, where employees are...
Organizational Courage – Part 1
On a recent bright Minnesota morning, tucked into one of the thousands of conference rooms across the state, a management team sat somberly. Several weeks earlier they had participated in a meaningful retreat with key employees and clients, rediscovering and...
Worried about Retention?
Worried about retention? Four simple (and) proven things you can do to beat the odds It is a common belief that in order to achieve success, one must do the hard work alone; only after accomplishing this solitary victory will a person “be happy.” Well, if there’s...
On Being Humble and Generous – Part 2
“A person may be as nobly endowed as Duke Chou, but that isn’t enough to inspire admiration if they aren’t humble and generous.” The Analects of Confucius (8.11) According to Confucius, a good leader is both humble and generous. What does that mean in today’s world?...
On Being Humble and Generous – Part 1
“A person may be as nobly endowed as Duke Chou, but that isn’t enough to inspire admiration if they aren’t humble and generous.” The Analects of Confucius (8.11) According to Confucius, a good leader is both humble and generous. What does that mean in today’s world?...
Working for a Leader I Trust
As a consultant, my name is impacted by the leaders with whom I work. That’s because as a consultant I have no power to act. I do have influence based on my knowledge and skills, and the point of hiring someone like me, who is outside of the organization, is to get an...
Leading in “The Year of the Dog”
Feb 16, 2018 begins the Chinese Year of the Dog. Dogs are loyal, generous, and protective. Given all of unrest in the world right now and the lack of civil discourse in the US and other places, what does the Year of the Dog call us to do as leaders? Remember that...