Month: January 2024

WFED 410 – Leader Communication Blog

The spotlight or secret of this article emphasizes the indispensable connection between great leadership and effective communication, distinguishing between being a great communicator and merely a talker. It underscores that the key to skillful communication goes beyond traditional academic teachings, focusing on subtle elements that prioritize others over oneself. This trait is rare, but so beautiful when witnessed in great leadership.  Another importance skill of external awareness and the ability to connect emotionally with the audience is shared. It stresses the paradox that many organizational problems stem from poor communication, urging leaders to become exceptional communicators by adopting principles such as trust-building, personal engagement, specificity, and a servant’s heart (my favorite). The overarching message is that true leadership requires a heightened sense of situational awareness and a commitment to meeting the needs and expectations of those being communicated with. Something we should all be striving for.

WFED 595A – Blog Reflection 1

My field project has been underway for a number of months now, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about professional ethics regarding this project. Influence, conflict of interest, evaluation, and accountability have been top of mind for me.

Influence: OD interventions as a whole involve influencing organizational change. Ethical issues have arisen when I navigate power dynamics, especially if my influence is perceived as coercive or if certain groups within the organization are disadvantaged. As my project has progressed, the data has challenged me to ensure that I am telling a truthful data story and supplementing my influence with the additional qualitative data I have gathered.

Conflict of Interest: It is not uncommon that OD practitioners navigate potential conflicts of interest. Balancing the interests of the organization, its employees, and the OD consultant requires careful ethical considerations, and this has been a struggle for me with this project. I was once in the seat of many of those I am serving, so I have an extra element of “passion” for this topic which can easily be seen as a conflict of interest. I have asked my sponsor to “check” me to ensure I am staying fair and even.

Evaluation: Gathering data, assessing the effectiveness of OD interventions and evaluation of that criteria has the potential to be tricky, especially depending on who is evaluating it. The perception of the data and the knowledge behind the evaluation has provided me with some bumps in the road with some senior leaders.

Accountability: Once I overcame building trust around evaluation with the leadership team, I have come across elements of accountability concerns, especially with attributing success or failure, and ensuring leadership and coaching accountability. I am diligently striving to influence and coach leaders to “do the right thing” as they see the results of this project, and then also coaching the senior leadership team to ensure accountability.

WFED 585 – Introduction

Hello all –

I am Lynda Commale – 50 years old with two kiddos. My daughter Katherine is 23 years old, working for Veeva Systems and living in NYC. It is tons of fun to visit her – I have a couch to sleep on and have visited her multiple times. Recently went to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with her – I am a HUGE Josh Groban fan (he is the lead). My son Joseph is 20 and a junior at Delaware Valley University studying Agribusiness and Livestock – his dream is to own a livestock farm one day.  I live in Chester Springs, PA and have worked at Vanguard for over 17 years, mostly in Advice leadership. My current role is a Senior Coach of Continuous Improvement – very relatable to this program.  I am in my final semester of the program (taking 3 classes) and am super excited for the collaboration and learning ahead. Looking forward to the spring term. Wishing you all the best!

WFED 410 – Introduction

Hello all –

I am Lynda Commale – 50 years old with two kiddos. My daughter Katherine is 23 years old, working for Veeva Systems and living in NYC. It is tons of fun to visit her – I have a couch to sleep on and have visited her multiple times. Recently went to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with her – I am a HUGE Josh Groban fan (he is the lead). My son Joseph is 20 and a junior at Delaware Valley University studying Agribusiness and Livestock – his dream is to own a livestock farm one day.  I live in Chester Springs, PA and have worked at Vanguard for over 17 years, mostly in Advice leadership. My current role is a Senior Coach of Continuous Improvement – very relatable to this program.  I am in my final semester of the program (taking 3 classes) and am super excited for the collaboration and learning ahead. Looking forward to the spring term. Wishing you all the best!

WFED 595A – Introductions

Hello all –

I am Lynda Commale – 50 years old with two kiddos. My daughter Katherine is 23 years old, working for Veeva Systems and living to NYC. It is tons of fun to visit her – I have a couch to sleep on and have visited her multiple times. Recently went to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with her – I am a HUGE Josh Groban fan (he is the lead). My son Joseph is 20 and a junior at Delaware Valley University studying Agribusiness and Livestock – his dream is to own a livestock farm one day.  I live in Chester Springs, PA and have worked at Vanguard for over 17 years, mostly in Advice leadership. My current role is a Senior Coach of Continuous Improvement – very relatable to this program.  I am in my final semester of the program (taking 3 classes) and am super excited for the collaboration and learning ahead. Looking forward to the spring term. Wishing you all the best!