Category Archives: Meetings

 Innovating Our 2024 Program!   

Hello OD Visionaries and Innovators!

As we set our sights on crafting 12 exceptional ideas for 2024, we recognize the need to explore hundreds of suggestions. The more diverse our pool of ideas, the more refined our final selection will be.

To facilitate this, we’ve set up a Google Form for your advance contributions. Then on November 9 we’ll be holding a dynamic session on Zoom, where discussions will be animated and collaborative. Additionally, our Mural platform will serve as the space where these ideas will converge and evolve.

Please join us on November 9th 2023 for a session designed to be swift, interactive, and fulfilling. We’ve optimized the process to make your participation smooth and efficient.

Get Involved:

  
Schedule for Thursday Evening November 9:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Internal & External 
Communities of Practice:
State of the Art  

What are today’s best practices for vibrant Communities of Practice?

The last few years have seen communities of all types shift from primarily in-person to primarily virtual.  More recently we’ve seen a mix of virtual, hybrid, and too many in-person opportunities for any one person’s calendar.  In our October session we will:

• Explore current CoP best practices
• Consider the impact of psychological safety and other factors on participation
• Use an interactive case study to look at implications for ourselves

Please join us on October 12 for some introspection and inspiration!

Facilitator:  Terri Adkisson      {see Bio below}          

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening October 12:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Facilitator BIO  —  Terri Adkisson

Terri Adkisson is a fractional executive and business consultant, specializing in strategy, operations, innovation, and taming complexity. She holds an MBA from UT Austin, is a co-author of two books on virtual facilitation, and has worked with organizations in over 20 industries. Terri helps people see things that aren’t there yet but should be, resulting in profitable innovation and change.  www.TerriAdkisson.com

Escaping the Burnout Cycle:
A Systemic Approach   

[Note:  New title and presenter!]

Burnout has been talked about for decades. But here’s the real head-scratcher: Despite the recent investment in workplace mental health, burnout seems to be on an ominous rise. This dynamic session will give Organizational Development practitioners a framework for how to combat the prevalence of burnout with a multi-level approach that addresses burnout at the systemic root causes.

This framework includes both generating and evaluating solutions that can be put into action, leading to norms that promote the long-term well-being of employees. Get ready to consider what you can do to help organizations escape burnout and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable work environment.

Please join us on September 14 for a highly interactive meeting. We are hoping to gain a treasure trove of systemic knowledge that equips us to navigate the complexities of Burnout within our organizationals.

Other Reading: Addressing employee burnout: Are you solving the right problem? | McKinsey

Facilitator:  Kelly Berte, McLean & Company   {see Bio below} 

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

  
Schedule for Thursday Evening September 14:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Facilitator BIO  —  Kelly Berte 
          
Kelly Berte is a Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, with McLean & Company. She brings energy to translating scientific concepts to real-world application for HR leaders, promoting human-centered change that helps organizations support their people to be at their best.

Prior to joining McLean & Company, Kelly worked in a variety of cross-functional HR roles, building her expertise in holistic wellbeing, engagement, change management, leadership development, and HR operations. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Promotion from the University of Iowa, as well as a Master of Science degree in Organization Development and Leadership from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Is “Systems Convening” the new OD?  
(A Knowledge Café)    

Have you heard of “Systems Convening (A crucial form of leadership for the 21st century)”?  Is it another name for OD, or maybe a new way of thinking about OD?  Well known experts Bev and Etienne Wenger share the principles of “Systems Convening” and many stories in their new book, which is available for free download here: Systems-Convening.pdf (wenger-trayner.com).

In our August ODNet meeting we will explore this interesting question:  Is “Systems Convening” simply another name for OD, -OR-  is it more closely related to leadership, -OR-  is it something entirely different?  Please glimpse through their book for 15-20 minutes and then let’s convene our DFW ODNet community to discuss!

We will use the novel Knowledge Café approach, where John will first offer a brief background and a few thoughts/questions.  Then we’ll follow the Knowledge Café process to host three rounds of small group discussions, followed by a full group discussion and reflection.

Please join us on August 13 for this interesting discussion and to experience the Knowledge Café process.

            
Provocateur/Facilitator:  John Hovell, STRATactical International   {see Bio below} 

         
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening Ausust 10:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Facilitator BIO — John Hovell  
          
As a leader in the convergence of Knowledge Management (KM) and Organization Development (OD), John Hovell is the Managing Director and co-founder of STRATactical International. He is a practitioner, speaker, and author in OD/KM strategies and their application to current challenges. He is on the team creating a new international discipline known as Conversational Leadership.

John volunteers as the corporate lead for the award-winning annual ‘STEMmerday’ event where thousands of participants engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math related learning activities. He serves on several advisory boards including the International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Psychotherapy, International Knowledge Management Institute, Training Industry Quarterly, and Synergy Development and Training. John may be best known for his Conversational Leadership framework and the practice of “C-Groups”.

Meeting the Challenge of BURNOUT   

Burnout is an occupational phenomenon that results from chronic workplace stressors that have not been successfully managed.  Research on burnout has identified the value of fixing the job, and not just the person, within six areas of job-person mismatch.

Improving the match between people and their jobs is the key to managing the chronic stressors, and can be done on a routine basis as part of regular organizational checkups.  Better matches enable people to work smarter, rather than just harder, and to thrive rather than to get beaten down.

Here is a short video preview by Kelly.

Please join us on July 13 for this timely and thought-provoking discussion!

Speakers:  Dr. Christina Maslach, University of California, Berkeley
      and  Kelly Berte, McLean & Company    {see Bios below} 

      
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening July 13:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIOs:  
          
Christina Maslach, PdD, is a Professor of Psychology (Emerita) and a researcher at the Healthy Workplaces Center at the University of California, Berkeley.  She received her A.B. from Harvard, and her Ph.D. from Stanford.  She is best known as the pioneering researcher on job burnout, producing the standard assessment tool (the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI), books, and award-winning articles.

Her latest book is The Burnout Challenge:  Managing People’s Relationships with their Jobs (2022). The impact of her work is reflected by the official recognition of burnout, as an occupational phenomenon with health consequences, by the World Health Organization in 2019.  She has been honored with multiple awards, both academic and public, including an award from the National Academy of Sciences for scientific reviewing (2020), and her inclusion in Business Insider’s 2021 list of the top 100 people transforming business.

Kelly Berte is a Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, with McLean & Company. She brings energy to translating scientific concepts to real-world application for HR leaders, promoting human-centered change that helps organizations support their people to be at their best.

Prior to joining McLean & Company, Kelly worked in a variety of cross-functional HR roles, building her expertise in holistic wellbeing, engagement, change management, leadership development, and HR operations. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Promotion from the University of Iowa, as well as a Master of Science degree in Organization Development and Leadership from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

 Presence Talk:  
Gateway to Metaphysics of Organizational Development

Note: For the first time in 3 years we are meeting HYBRID (in-person and virtual)! 

What do we mean when we say an employee is absent from work? There is a vast literature related to this single question. Here are some terms bandied about, as well as investigated: psychological withdrawal, presenteeism, turnover intentions, job commitment, and engagement.

There is a continuum from absence to presence. The shallows of the Internet, techno-stupor, the virtual workplace, the scourge of telepresence, and the faddish bauble of artificial intelligence pushes us toward absence. But what pushes us toward presence?

This session takes the perspective that most conversation and approaches miss the deeper meaning of presence and its central role in workplace spirituality. The question of engagement and absence rests on the surface layer. Dig deeper and find a whole lot more cooking underneath.

We will work and play together in our own presencing, with large group discussion, breakouts, polling, and spontaneous bursts of nowness.

Participants will learn an integral model of presence that Dr. Bennett uses in his OD practice. Registrants are encouraged to visit www.presencequest.life and download and read the free ebook “The Connoisseur of Time” at dl.bookfunnel.com/444146y1ye.
              

Speaker:  Dr. Joel Bennett, President, Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS)     {see Bio below} 

 (Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening June 8:  (CT)    
   –  6:30  Networking and Food!  (+virtual setup)
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros / Program  
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Meeting Ends

Meeting Location: University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room*
SB Hall: 2925 Gorman Dr,  Irving, TX 75062
  (SB Hall is #34 on the UD Campus Map)      [Lat/Long Nav]

Cost:   $10 for in-person (free for hybrid)

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIO:  
          
Dr. Joel Bennett, Ph.D., is president of Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm that specializes in evidence-based wellness, resilience, mental well-being, and catalyzing healthy work cultures from the inside out.

OWLS clients include corporate, private, nonprofit, local and federal agencies. OWLS has received close to $5 million in federal research grants to assess, design and deliver workplace wellness programs. Dr. Bennett is the author of over 30 peer-reviewed research articles, and he has authored or co-authored eight books.

   The Intrapreneurial Organization:
A New Workplace Imperative   

Workplaces today are more complex, requiring higher levels of agility, adaptation, innovation, and creative problem-solving. This imperative is fundamentally redesigning the worker-employer relationship.

People are generally re-evaluating their relationship with work and the kinds of organizations in which they are willing to work.  Employees seek employers who will support their learning and development needs, professional growth, and career aspirations. Consequently, new models of work are emerging where employees are being seen less as ‘resources’ that must conform to rigid role descriptions within rigid organizational structures, and more as whole humans who have depth and range of talent, ideas, emotions, experiences, and aspirations with which they can make unique contributions to the organization.

Enter the Intrapreneurial Organisation!  In this interactive presentation, Dr. Irena Yashin-Shaw will shine a light on the characteristics of the intrapreneurial organization and the practices that nurture an intrapreneurial culture. This new model of organizational design discovers and liberates the talent within its ranks, and transforms ordinary employees into exceptional intrapreneurs.

Please join us on May 11 for this thought-provoking discussion!

Speaker:  Dr. Irena Yashin-Shaw, Founder & CEO, Global Intrapreneurs Institute  {see Bio below} 

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

 Schedule for Thursday Evening May 11:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIO:  
          
Dr. Irena Yashin-Shaw is the Founder and CEO of The Global Intrapreneurs Institute, an online educational institution dedicated to unleashing human potential, empowering intrapreneurs, and transforming organisations to thrive in the new world of work. She is a master educator, professor, adjunct fellow, author, speaker and entrepreneur who has dedicated her working life to liberating talent through learning and development.

With a PhD in creative problem-solving, a Masters in Adult Education, a Bachelor of Arts, and a teaching degree she brings a unique combination of deep, academic knowledge, real-world entrepreneurial experience, and skilled education practice to her work, which is to harness the vast reservoir of untapped talent within workplaces. Her mission is to empower people to use their creativity and intrapreneurial talent to solve complex problems which create value in their organisations and beyond.

  Persistent Uncertainty:
How Will We Thrive in the Digital Age  

As we transition from the Industrial to the Digital Age, several forces converge to create unprecedented challenges for business leaders. Lenwood Ross will lead an interactive discussion on three pressing concerns:

1.   Nothing is more important than the global talent crunch. Korn Ferry projects the skilled labor shortage across the largest developed economies to exceed 85 million workers by 2030, with the U.S. experiencing the worst of these shortages. How will organizations compete for talent and grow?

2.   Many business leaders believe technology is the answer to complex problems. Next year, Gartner, Inc. projects worldwide IT spending to exceed $4.6 Trillion. Technological advancements in generative AI are all the rage. But will more technology help us get more done or create more for us to do?

3.   Finally, we can’t talk about what’s next without discussing climate change. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has reported that the world is approaching a dangerous temperature threshold. What good is a robust global economy if the planet is uninhabitable by the end of the century?

With these factors in mind, we’ll discuss what it will take for organizations to thrive in the coming years.  Please join us on April 13 for this timely conversation.

Speaker:  Lenwood Ross, CEO, Accelery Inc.      {see Bio below}

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening April 13:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIO:  
          
Lenwood M. Ross is the Founder and CEO of Accelery, Inc., a collaboration accelerator helping senior executives and their organizations build the skills they need to thrive in the innovation economy. Lenwood is a digital and social media strategist and innovator.  Forbes Insights calls him a visionary “with a formula for a new DNA for talent development, management, and ecosystem creation.”

Before launching Accelery, Lenwood transitioned from corporate attorney to entrepreneur. He is an experienced advisor to C-level executives and directors through his work as a senior corporate attorney for a Nasdaq-listed publicly traded company and AMLAW 100 law firms. Lenwood earned a postgraduate degree in digital business with distinction from the Emeritus Institute of Management. He earned his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and his BA from Yale.

 Tips for a Brain Healthy Workplace:  
   Maximize Your Mental Energy     

The frontal lobe is like the brain’s CEO – it’s responsible for executing essential leadership skills such as decision making, problem solving, and innovation. You may be surprised to find that many of your daily habits hinder the frontal lobe’s efficiency. How can you better operate in your environment to steward your mental energy and support your frontal lobe? By dropping toxic habits and applying cognitive strategies you can become a more innovative thinker and stronger leader for years to come.

Learning objectives:

• Understand how daily habits can be helpful or harmful for your mental energy and brain performance.
• Understand how to proactively structure your day to increase focus and ignite innovative thinking.
• Learn how to minimize information overload and recharge your brain throughout the day to build cognitive endurance.

Please join us on March 9 for this energizing discussion, led by an expert in her field!
        
Speaker:  Dr. Julie Fratantoni    {see Bio below}

     
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

  
Schedule for Thursday Evening March 9:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

       
Speaker BIO:  
          
Dr. Julie Fratantoni  is a cognitive neuroscientist at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is Head of Operations for The BrainHealth Project™ – a ten-year, longitudinal research study seeking to define, measure, and improve brain health and performance across the lifespan. She leverages behavioral science and science communication to make neuroscience approachable and to create tools that help you become proactive about your brain health.
             

Wisdomary Leading:  
A Fundamental Shift in Understanding
the Nature of Leading and Leadership   
  

There is one innocent yet fundamental misunderstanding about who we truly are that almost every one of us has. That misunderstanding causes us to be unhappy, to feel a lack of meaning and purpose, and is the basis for conflict.

What is that misunderstanding?  We believe we’re separate, independent individuals, when in fact we are all part of the same humanity.  Wisdom traditions have been offering this for thousands of years; science now concurs.

When we embrace and embody this knowing as leaders, we dramatically reduce wasted time, energy, creativity and productivity due to internal conflicts, posturing and need for control. Then innovation, agility, psychological safety and high performance become free to be experienced and expressed.

The talk of wisdom workers and the wisdom economy reveals that our collective consciousness is sensing that wisdom is key.

Please join us on February 9 to begin to dissolve five illusions that keep us from knowing the nature of reality and to explore through self-inquiry the five insights that open us to our inherently wise selves. We will end with Q&A and discussion.

Speakers:    Peggy O’Neal, JD     {see Bio below}

     
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

  
Schedule for Thursday Evening February 9:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

       
Speaker BIO:  
          
Peggy O’Neal has been coaching leaders in multi-national organizations throughout the world for more than 35 years after practicing law for 12.  She is a Certified Integral Master Coach, and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas.

She is the author of two chapters in the Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation, the first book on cutting-edge theory and practice on small- and large-scale transformation. She was an Assistant Attorney General and Arkansas State Purchasing Director for Bill Clinton when he was Attorney General and Governor, respectively, and served in President Clinton’s administration in the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

In 2017 she immersed herself in the study of wisdom traditions, nondual teachings and the corresponding science.

She now guides people to see beyond the illusion of separation (which is what limits us) and to free themselves to live authentically and effortlessly as they serve their highest calling.

Rebuilding Social Capital by Building
and Nurturing an Inspired Teams Culture  

As we return to physical workplaces it’s clear that the pandemic has eroded connections among people. For this reason, many CEOs believe that the lack of serendipitous interactions has negatively impacted the social capital necessary for greater collaboration and innovation.  Yet most still prefer to work remotely, despite remote workers feeling more isolated.

So how might we navigate the tension between what CEOs want and workers’ desires?  Dr. Steven Wolff and Audrey Wyatt will lead an interactive discussion on the three dimensions of social capital: structural, cognitive, and relational.  We will also learn a systematic approach to rebuilding social capital in any environment, including remote, hybrid, or in-person, using the Inspired Teams Framework.  Finally, we will discover how building an Inspired Teams Culture directly produces psychological safety.

Please join us on January 12 as we kick off the new year with this timely discussion!

Speakers:    Dr. Steven Wolff and Audrey Wyatt     {see Bios below}

     
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening January 12:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIOs:  
        
Audrey Wyatt  —  As the founder of Leaders and Lifters, LLC, Audrey partners with leaders to build cultures of psychological safety, breakthrough performance, and innovation. The goal is to help teams navigate unprecedented problems with collective joy. Audrey has worked as both an Entrepreneur and an Intrapreneur, including Corporate Controller at BizNet Software and Marketing Communications Manager at DB&A, a Management Consulting firm located in Dallas, Texas.  Liberating her heart and mind to dream and execute on all cylinders, Audrey is harnessing and leveraging her diverse experiences to help organizations build unstoppable cultures using the Inspired Teams framework.

Dr. Steven Wolff is the co-founder and Chief Culture Office of AgileEI. He has over 20 years of experience researching teams and helping them significantly improve productivity. To meet the challenge of the Digital Age, Dr. Wolff has created a fusion of his Team Emotional Intelligence framework, originally published in Harvard Business Review, with principles from Agile. The combined framework, called Inspired Teams, not only creates a high-performance, collaborative team but also helps Leadership/Project Teams meet the challenge of execution speed and the need to generate innovative ideas that disrupt the status quo. Dr. Wolff has assisted forward-thinking Leadership Teams around the globe who were ready to move out of their comfort zone, make the fundamental shifts needed for success in the Digital Age, and achieve breakthroughs in performance.
          

Annual Networking/Social Meeting
and “Gold Elephant Book Exchange”

Note: For the first time in 3 years we are meeting in person! 
(Apologies to our loyal remote followers – we will be back on Zoom in January.)

Meeting Goals:
  – Connect: get to know one another better – personally & professionally
  – Learn: share knowledge informally during the book exchange
  – Enjoy: fellowship + creative responses (and humor) of the game

Please bring a gift-wrapped book that is meaningful to you — perhaps a book from your own library to ‘pay it forward’ or one from a second hand bookstore. Don’t spend a lot of money – it’s the thought that counts!

The game will be similar to a traditional white elephant gift exchange — each person in turn will unwrap a book or ‘steal’ one that someone else has already opened. Unlike ‘white elephants’ (which are often useless), the books are ‘gold elephants’ that will contain some unique nuggets of wisdom when opened (or stolen) by the right recipient! Discovering those golden nuggets will be part of the game as people talk about the books they give (and the ones they get)!

Handout/Procedure for the ‘Gold Elephant Book Exchange’

Presenter / Facilitator: Jim Jameson

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
  –  6:30  Intros / Networking / Food
–  7:00  Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *

    SB Hall:   2925 Gorman Dr,  Irving, TX 75062   
    SB Hall is #34 on the UD Campus Map      [Lat/Long Nav]  

Cost:   No charge for members ($60/year).  $10 for guests.

Facilitator BIO:   

Jim Jameson is currently “semi-retired” from his various consulting roles and is exploring new avenues.  His professional mission has been to improve the success rate of technology adoption projects, working mainly in the areas of Business Analysis, Change Management, Collaboration, and Knowledge Management.  He believes that focusing on the people side of technology change is the key to improving ROI on transformational ‘IT solutions’.

Jim earned an MS degree in Information Systems and post-grad certificate in Knowledge Management, both from George Washington University in DC.