Is Commitment to Change underway or even on the way?

Interestingly, transition is not change. We're still in a state of transition in the United States and won't leave the transition phase until we've committed to change. Of course, change needs to be defined as “of extraordinary quality, ability, or distinction” not “exceptional in degree or intensity”

I would love to hear the three “must have” qualities/traits that you would want in a leader

If you had the chance to hire your boss or your parent or any leader, what would the three most critical traits/qualities be?

I am looking forward to your thoughts.

My ideal leader would have the following traits. Someone who:

1. is a moral visionary
2. has the ability to influence others toward that vision
3. builds a high trust environment
4. has humor within limits

How is a successful project characterized?

Project success is characterized fully by how the client/customer defined the performance measurements before the project started. The client/customer may see if the project was finished within the scheduled timeframe, under budget, whether new opportunities were created, or if the company vision has been met. They may also ask if they’ve arrived at a new product/service penetration or if the company is more stable/solvent because of this project.

Regardless, the client/customer defines success.

When receiving feedback…

1. Be non-defensive
2. Listen quietly until the sender has completed the message
3. Seek clarification by testing for understanding, that is, restate the sender’s message using effective listening skills: “So what I hear you saying...” or "It seems like...Is that right?”
4. Acknowledge the sender’s intentions by saying, “I can see how important this is to you.”
5. Thank the sender and invite their help or continued support

What in the heck is Absorptive Capacity and how do you start increasing it?

Wikipedia defines Absorptive Capacity as the “ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends”. Let me say from experience that the best indicator of future assimilation and application of information is past performance of how that new information has been assimilated and applied. You must spend a considerable amount of time/money on Research & Development to develop extensive KM (Knowledge Management) systems and build a database of easy-to-retrieve information. This includes all information...not just new information.

What you don’t recognize, you can’t assimilate (sounds like the Borg on Star Trek)…and what you don’t assimilate, you cannot apply

Does a leader, parent, boss motivate better with a carrot or a stick?

First of all, it's a little old-school to understand motivation in terms of a carrot, stick, or a combination of the two. Gallup has produced 12 questions, from their book "First Break All The Rules", that measure "engagement", which is a truer test of how to motivate to produce results. Improve "engagement" and improve results. The questions range from “I know what’s expected of me…” and “…I’ve received recognition or praise…” to “I have a best friend…”. This is a business book, but could be used in any leadership position to fully engage the people following.

Do socially responsible organizations have a greater possibility of creating conscientious employees?

This goes back to the “nature vs. nurture” debate. Socially responsible organizations do have a greater possibility of creating conscientious employees if you agree that conscientious employees are nurtured into that state by the organization. The other side of the argument says that employees are already conscientious and are only attracted and retained by socially responsible organizations. Regardless of which camp you’re in, socially responsible organizations have more conscientious employees because behaviors grow in environments that support that certain behavior.

What do you do when someone blatantly insults you?

"Be kind to your enemy and thereby heap burning coals upon their head". It came from an old Egyptian process where they would gain confessions from their enemies by placing a funnel-type device on top of their heads and telling them that they "better confess" or the coals would get poured. The saying now means that if you're kind to your enemy, they only have themselves to deal with and when deep self-evaluation causes their own problems to be brought to light, confession occurs.

You can be kind but firm, if someone insults you falsely in front of other people, by saying, "you know that's not true" with a smile. You may want to play your cards closer to the vest outside of your circle of friends and not admit when you're insulted. The pain of the insult will subside, but admitting that you've been insulted to an enemy allows them to see a weak point...and that never ends well.