Ava S. Butler https://www.avasbutler.com/ Organizational Development Consultant and Leadership Coach Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:46:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 Inclusive Facilitation for Social Change https://www.avasbutler.com/inclusive-facilitation-for-social-change/ https://www.avasbutler.com/inclusive-facilitation-for-social-change/#comments Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:46:19 +0000 https://www.avasbutler.com/?p=519 From fsg.org:https://www.fsg.org Facilitating inclusive meetings is a vital skill that can transform ordinary gatherings into effective and empowering experiences for everyone involved. Especially when working toward social change, fostering inclusive spaces is essential to ensure that the voices, perspectives, and needs of all individuals are acknowledged and actively included—particularly for voices that are often left […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/inclusive-facilitation-for-social-change/feed/ 1 The Elements of Decision Making https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-decision-making/ https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-decision-making/#comments Mon, 08 May 2023 22:58:14 +0000 https://www.avasbutler.com/?p=511 “I’d like to think that people make decisions rationally, but it seems more complicated than that.  What do I need to know?” When I joined Gemini Consulting in 1995 (now Capgemini) I learned tons of tools and strategies to enable transformational change.  One of the many I still use repeatedly is the model of the […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-decision-making/feed/ 1 Holiday traditions must change as your loved one’s cognition changes https://www.avasbutler.com/holiday-traditions-must-change-as-your-loved-ones-cognition-changes/ https://www.avasbutler.com/holiday-traditions-must-change-as-your-loved-ones-cognition-changes/#respond Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:36:56 +0000 https://www.avasbutler.com/?p=508 You all know me as an organizational development consultant and leadership coach. Some of you also know that because of my dear husband’s Parkinson’s and Lewy body Dementia, I am an advocate for those causes and provide advice and support to care partners who are less far in their journey than I am. The holidays […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/holiday-traditions-must-change-as-your-loved-ones-cognition-changes/feed/ 0 12 ways my dear husband’s dementia has taught me to be a better consultant https://www.avasbutler.com/12-ways-my-dear-husbands-dementia-has-taught-me-to-be-a-better-consultant-2/ https://www.avasbutler.com/12-ways-my-dear-husbands-dementia-has-taught-me-to-be-a-better-consultant-2/#respond Wed, 25 May 2022 21:15:25 +0000 https://www.avasbutler.com/?p=505 It was this day in 2010 that my husband, Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson.  We thought everything would be ok,  just a little tremor.  Ha!  It was an adventure full of love, drama, joy, gratitude, pain and grief. Richard passed away in March of 2017.   In honor of the milestones and memories,  I repost 12 […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/12-ways-my-dear-husbands-dementia-has-taught-me-to-be-a-better-consultant-2/feed/ 0 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2021 and Beyond https://www.avasbutler.com/9-trends-that-will-shape-work-in-2021-and-beyond/ https://www.avasbutler.com/9-trends-that-will-shape-work-in-2021-and-beyond/#respond Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:08:01 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=502 As an organizational development consultant, I think in systems and look for trends that will impact short and long term organizational success.  This Harvard Business Review article provides excellent observations that I find helpful in working with my clients on their most pressing strategic issues.  Executive Summary: While 2020 was the most volatile year in […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/9-trends-that-will-shape-work-in-2021-and-beyond/feed/ 0 Grieving and Post-Traumatic Growth https://www.avasbutler.com/grieving-and-post-traumatic-growth/ https://www.avasbutler.com/grieving-and-post-traumatic-growth/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2020 22:46:50 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=497 The long term consequences of this tumultuous time on individuals, organizations, and communities are not yet known.  Negative experiences can spur positive change, but not always.  The pandemic, systemic injustice and other traumas can give way to post-traumatic growth but not without attention and effort. Harvard Business Review’s July-August magazine had two excellent articles on […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/grieving-and-post-traumatic-growth/feed/ 1 Predictable Surprises https://www.avasbutler.com/predictable-surprises/ https://www.avasbutler.com/predictable-surprises/#respond Tue, 24 Mar 2020 21:26:48 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=492 My colleague Bill Welter, owner of MindPrep Resource Center recently shared the six characteristics of predictable surprises, from the book Predictable Surprises: The Disasters You Should Have Seen Coming and How to Prevent Them, Bazerman and Watkins, 2008. They are: 1. That leaders knew a problem existed and that the problem would not solve itself. 2. […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/predictable-surprises/feed/ 0 The Elements of Good Judgement: How to Improve your Decision Making https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-good-judgement-how-to-improve-your-decision-making/ https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-good-judgement-how-to-improve-your-decision-making/#comments Tue, 04 Feb 2020 23:39:57 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=490 Making sound decisions is core to every leader’s (every human’s) ability to succeed.   This excellent HBR article by Sir Andrew Likierman is a must read. I love his practical advice and final thoughts: Leaders need many qualities, but underlying them all is good judgement. Those with ambition but no judgement run out of money. […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/the-elements-of-good-judgement-how-to-improve-your-decision-making/feed/ 1 The role of empathy and experimentation in collaboration https://www.avasbutler.com/the-role-of-empathy-and-experimentation-in-collaboration/ https://www.avasbutler.com/the-role-of-empathy-and-experimentation-in-collaboration/#respond Sun, 08 Sep 2019 16:45:03 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=485 Heather Hiscox, co-founder of Pause for Change, has written an excellent article on the role of empathy and experimentation in collaboration.  Her insights are essential for all organizations considering collaborating in new ways, and will significantly increase their levels of success. https://www.nonprofitcenters.org/roleofempathy NOTE: If you would like to receive e-mail notification when I post additional […]

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]]> https://www.avasbutler.com/the-role-of-empathy-and-experimentation-in-collaboration/feed/ 0 Sometimes the best advice comes from children https://www.avasbutler.com/sometimes-the-best-advice-comes-from-children/ https://www.avasbutler.com/sometimes-the-best-advice-comes-from-children/#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:36:45 +0000 http://www.avasbutler.com/?p=483 Before I left on my last business trip, I gave my favorite 8 year old a hug and asked her what superpowers she would like to give to me for my travels.  Nevaeh is very clear that she has superpowers and is happy to share them. She thought for a moment, opened her arms and […]

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