The Byrnes Blog

I have always been fascinated by what makes people, and cultures, tick. I want to know what matters to both the individual and the community they spend their time in. This could be their personal community or their work community. What creates sustainable, healthy, momentum? Bear with me as I explore two, seemingly, opposite stories that I believe have a connection. The first story began in 2008 when Dan Beuttner published a book called “ The Blue Zones ”. He was part of a pa

If you were to look back on your life right now, however long you have lived, would you say you have lived a good life? What does ‘a good life’ mean to you? A while ago I started conducting interviews with people over 80 years old. The project is called ‘5000 Years of Wisdom”. I asked them what advice they would offer someone younger about five things – love, work, family, change, and forgiveness. The project took hold and soon it was suggested I ask those in their 60’s, 40’s

I wrote about change previously, but as we enter this new year, I am hearing more and more stories from businesses and leaders about how change feels different these days. That is because it is  different. I can recall the days in business when in a certain quarter of the year we would map out our strategic plans for change that would occur the next year. In Q2 we would identify what we wanted to change. In Q3 we would pressure test and align the impacts and run the scenarios

Executive presence is a desired term, meaning it is often associated with more senior roles (hence ‘executive’) and the ability to effortlessly influence others. Who wouldn’t want that? When I am approached by clients who said their boss told them they need more executive presence, what often will follow is a slight pause and then, ... “what is it?” They know they need to go get it, but they don’t know what ‘it’ is. Sometimes it is easier to recognize when it is happening tha

“Do you have a minute?” A question I often hear from clients and colleagues when they are in the middle of implementing a business solution and have hit that point when the project feels like it’s dragging its feet, the team is hesitating or confused, the business is sensing risk, or clarity is needed. The question is often followed by “I think we need to bring in change management now”. After a good discussion we arrive at what can  be done at this stage, but it is also reco

There is a scene from an old movie, Shakespeare in Love, where one of the theatre actors is pressuring the theatre owner on the arrival of Will Shakespeare’s next play, badgering him with questions which finally ends with the exchange  …… ·       Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. ·       So, what do we do? ·       Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out w