Welcome to Lisa's blog!

I had a meeting today with my wonderful professor, David, to brainstorm some ideas. He was a great, receptive listener, and mid way through our conversation I felt extremely out of sync because I realized that he was in the seat that I usually occupy.

It felt awkward as soon as I thought about it, and happily, we discussed it and the boundaries that we need to maintain. Upon reflection, I realized that it’s good to be in the other chair from time to time. It makes us better when we return to our regular seat.

One of the big adjustments to academic life is the change in pace. You can work just as hard, but the energy is different because of the nature of the work. I’m re-pacing in order to get in the groove.

Most of us in this doctoral program are accustomed to being at the front of the room, so of course, it has been interesting to watch how our group dynamics unfold as participants, not as facilitators.

It’s natural to assume a role within a group – some are more formal; others more informal. So far, my role has been that of observer. I’ve been interested in who speaks up a lot, what they say, and why they’re saying what they say.

Part of why I’ve taken on the observer role is that I’m absorbing the complex language and theories of adult education. This is still foreign to me, although familiarity frequently springs to the surface as I recognize the underlying principles that I use in my work.

In any case, the continuing evolution of our roles will be fascinating since we’re in such an intimate learning situation for an extended period of time. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this.

I will have eight credits after this three-week immersion. My fellow students are interesting, diverse, and cautious. I wonder how dramatically our behavior will change by the end of the week.

I’m especially pleased that two of my three instructors came from the business world. They make the linkages between what we do day-to-day and what we’re studying. I was in classes for over 8 hours today, and I can honestly say that I’m energized rather than exhausted.

Adult learning is one of the few growth areas in the economy, and today’s experiences have reinforced my decision to take this big step.

I’m a student again. Yes, I’m enrolled in a doctoral program at Columbia, and tonight was the beginning. This program is in adult learning and leadership, and I want share some of these experiences as I temporarily step out of my day-to-day work world, and enter the ivory tower.

20 of us will share this journey for the next two years, at which time we’ll begin work on our dissertations. I’ve been excited (and anxious) leading up to today, and now that I’ve met my cohort, I know that it’s going to be a good experience.

It has been over 30 years since I was in school, and it’s an understatement to comment about how different things are today. I invite you to stay tuned as I write about my three-week immersion, which begins tomorrow.

An acquaintance is entering new territory. As CEO of a company that is being sold, he finds himself at what could be conflicting personal and professional crossroads. Although he’s a little foggy about the future, I was struck by how excited he is about exploring new opportunities.

He has been researching new businesses, where he can leverage what he did with his prior organization. He’s looked into auditing classes. He’s sort of thinking about taking a vacation, but doesn’t seem too excited about that.

The point is, he’s taking action. He’s not wallowing in the uncertainty of the transition.

If you feel like you’re wallowing right now, take some action. It will help you move forward.

Read about how to use this time to position yourself for the other side of the recession in this week’s issue of our e-zine, Executive Insight Tip of the Week.

I met with a friend who is struggling about whether to stay with his firm or start looking for another job. His fear is that his company is going to go out of business (a very reasonable thing to be afraid of!). On the other hand, his industry is tight-knit, and he doesn’t feel comfortable about a discreet job search staying confidential.

The situation is more complex because he is a key rainmaker, and has contributed substantially to the growth of the firm. Although he has no ownership in the company, he has pride in what he has accomplished and is loyal to the owners.

Ultimately, he knows that he needs to do what’s best for the future of his family. No one can advise him what to do; he needs to carefully weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.

What I did recommend, however, was that he make a decision – and stop second-guessing himself. If you’re in a situation like this, make the decision, and periodically reevaluate. Obsessing over indecisiveness is what causes the pain.

I finished an executive coaching engagement with a client today. He is new in his position, and our work focused on the transition into his new leadership role, in particular his managerial effectiveness.

As we wrapped up today, I asked him if there was anything more he wanted to discuss. He responded that all he wanted was leadership support, open communication and feedback from his senior leaders.

Given the workload and demands placed on everyone today, we expect our new leaders to “get it quickly” and step into their roles with the managerial savvy that comes with seasoning. Experienced leaders sometimes need a not-so-gentle reminder of the importance of mentoring new leaders.

I had a routine check up with a doctor today and upon walking into the office, learned he had retired. I knew that he was retiring eventually because he had brought a younger man into the practice last year. What I didn’t know was that the transition had actually happened.

Apparently, letters had been sent to patients several months ago, including an invitation to a farewell gathering.

Clearly, the intent wasn’t to ignore me – I’m sure my letter got lost in the mail – but I felt like something big had happened and I was the last to know. After a 25 year relationship, I arrived at the office to find out that someone else was my doctor.

I’m sure that the new doctor is competent and high skilled, but that isn’t the point.

• Why didn’t the he send a letter welcoming me to his new practice and say that he was looking forward a relationship?
• Why didn’t the receptionist say something when I called to make the appointment?
• Why didn’t the nurse say something when she took my vitals?

We know that one touch isn’t enough. It takes time and effort to acquire new clients, and when succession occurs, the cost of making the transition work well is much less than the cost of losing prior clients due to careless oversight.