Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

As I said in my last post… Diversity means difference, and there is nothing more universally human than difference. Difference has consequences. Rolling a boulder up hill is very different from rolling the same boulder down hill because gravity has consequences. Similarly, thinking of and approaching difference as an obstacle, a problem to be fixed,   [Read More…]

So I have been blathering on and on about beliefs and equality in my last few posts, and I would now like to continue said blathering. I see two great challenges in pursuing greater equality: 1- People that do not want, or believe in, equality. I used to think that this was a pretty small   [Read More…]

This is easily one of the more common question that I get. Whether I am talking about authenticity, diversity and inclusion, creativity and innovation, social media or social capital…this is one of the questions that always shows up. I use to have several soft, mushy, sympathetic answers for this question. I use to say things   [Read More…]

“Let me give you a word on the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all absorbing, and for the time being putting all other tumults to silence.   [Read More…]

This report, generated by Institute For The Future for the University of Phoenix Research Institute: “…analyzes key drivers that will reshape the landscape of work and identifies key work skills needed in the next 10 years. It does not consider what will be the jobs of the future. Many studies have tried to predict specific   [Read More…]

Who you are connected to matters in a whole bunch of ways. New research into the nature and the role of networks of relationships has demonstrated that there are correlations between our physical fitness and the physical fitness of those around us; our likelihood of divorce has similar correlations; and even the vitality of our   [Read More…]

One last post about privilege. In a situation of discrimination or inequality there are four roles that you can play. You can be the target, you can be the perpetrator, you can be a bystander or you can be a leader. Privilege often times helps us find our way into the wrong role. I used   [Read More…]

Intersections baby, its all about the intersections.  Robust, dynamic, chaotic intersections of different perspectives, different heuristics, different experiences and interpretations…this is what feeds an organizations ability to: share information make meaning from information make high quality decisions solve problems create and innovate Pretty important stuff. And they are all influenced by our ability to disagree   [Read More…]

I think that there are two kinds of organizations. Living ones and dying ones. We seem to have this idea that organizations, especially large ones are around forever, or at least for a very long time, but they are not.  With few exceptions, organizations have a pretty short lifespan. A big part of what gives   [Read More…]

In an effort to get a little leaner and meaner, I have recently started running again.  This weekend we went to visit my parents on the family farm, and I got out for a run while we were there.  I ran four miles around the square “section” that they live on and while doing so   [Read More…]