Partnering Resources News

How to Be A Change Leader

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:22:10 -0800

Sixty plus people listened in today at the Project Summit in Burlington, MA for a talk on how to be a successful change leader. Not only did we have a lot of fun (the people next door told us they could hear us laughing), we identified practical methods people can use to create change in organizations.

The techniques we discussed are based on Grenny, Maxfield, & Shimberg’s excellent article, "How to Have Influence" in the Fall 2008 issue of MIT Sloan Management Review.

The slides are posted on SlideShare.

Becoming a Change Leader (Yes, You!): What You Need to Lead Your Organization to Achieve its Change Goals

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:56:00 -0800

PMs are on the front lines of organization change. Yet the statistics on change are dismal. McKinsey Quarterly reported that only 38% of leaders believed their recent transformation effort was better than somewhat successful. And the project success rates (coming in on time, within budget, and to scope) are lower than anyone would like. Clearly, there's room for improvement.

On October 25, Maya Townsend of Partnering Resources will lead a session called "Becoming a Change Leader (Yes, You!): What You Need to Lead Your Organization to Achieve its Change Goals." In this engaging, participatory session at the 2011 Boston ProjectSummit, participants will learn what it takes to break away from the pack and become a successful change leaders.

For more information, including schedule and registration details, see the Project Summit website.

It's OK to Eat Alone if You're A High-Performing Introvert

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:51:23 -0800

80 women from the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association convened on July 19, 2011 to learn about the Art and Science of Networking. The task: figure out how to use science to reduce the awkwardness of traditional networking and to network strategically. The session received rave reviews. To get the inside scoop on the session, see The Boston Herald article.

Networks at Play in the 2011 Pfeiffer Annual: Consulting

Tue, 10 May 2011 12:42:34 -0800

For the last 40 years, the Pfeiffer Annuals have provided consultants with the latest thinking, approaches, and techniques in the field. Research and Markets, the world's largest market research resource, has just added the Annuals to their online offerings. Partnering Resources is proud to have been featured in the 2011 Consulting Annual with the "Networks at Play" activity. More information can be found here (weblink).

Your Turn: Did the Change Work?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:39:00 -0800

It's your turn to make the decision. In this 1-page case study, the new Executive Director of a nonprofit organization needs to decide how well his change initiatives have been implemented and what his next steps should be. You have information about the change initiatives and data about how people collaborate. What would you do if you were in his shoes?

Your Turn: Who's at Risk?

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:38:00 -0800

It's your turn to make the decision. In this 1-page case study, a nonprofit organization needs to find the rising stars among its volunteer pool and identify who's at risk for being over-burdened. You have the volunteer structure and the volunteers' work patterns. Who do you think is at risk?

Your Turn: Who Should be the Next CEO?

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:36:00 -0800

It's your turn to make the decision. In this 1-page case study, Jerry is retiring and needs to decide who he will groom to be his successor. You have his organization chart and data about how people collaborate. Who will you choose to be the next CEO?

Free Team Communication Activity

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:29:00 -0800

"Networks at Play" is a short experiential activity that introduces participants to the concepts of hidden social networks and of critical connectors. It's a fun, fast way to help participants understand how information flows in teams and how networks affect effective communication. We're proud to announce that "Networks at Play" was just published in the 2011 Pfeiffer Consulting Annual. For your free copy, click here (PDF).

"Who Trumps How" Posted

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 07:00:00 -0800

Interested in learning more about social and organizational networks? This short, on-demand online show will give you the basics about networks: what they are, why they matter, and how high performers use networks to help them succeed.

"Succession Gone Wrong" Posted

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:59:00 -0800

Companies are exposed to significant risk when leaders step down unexpectedly. Yet 80% of companies are not well prepared for their CEO's departure, according to the Corporate Leadership Council (2004). Others have succession plans, but fail to create a smooth transition because the plan is faulty or not well-executed. This brief presentation how hidden networks influence succession planning and hold the keys to success.

"The Nature of Networks," from Talent Management Magazine

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 06:55:00 -0800

Professional networks within and across organizations can directly impact the success of change initiatives. But to what extent, and why? This article in Talent Management magazine answers these questions.

Networks for Nonprofits

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:18:00 -0800

There's been a lot of buzz about network analysis in nonprofits. But what can it really do for you? This short article answers frequently asked questions about network analysis in nonprofits, such as:

What types of questions can be answered by a network analysis?
What are the requirements for a successful study?
What does the organization receive as a result of participation?

Read "Nonprofit Network Analysis" (PDF).

Success Factors for Lasting Change - On BOLD Business

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:49:14 -0800

"Success Factors for Lasting Change" posted on BOLD Business, the Official Blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization

This article explains the success factors for organization change efforts. If an organization puts these factors in place, it greatly increases the likelihood of success.

Free Activity: Speed Coaching

Thu, 20 May 2010 13:11:00 -0800

How can 40 people share expertise in meaningful ways in just 30 minutes? With speed coaching, of course!

This staple from our training programs helps people gain real-time assistance with on-the-job challenges. It's been used successfully in the financial services, pharmaceutical, insurance, technology, and education industries. This article tells you exactly how to replicate speed coaching in your organization.

Check it out if you need an innovative, easy way to:

• Break the ice during community of practice meetings.
• Help people clear their heads and focus before beginning a meeting.
• Solve small problems at the beginning of project team meetings.
• Build relationships among acquaintances and strangers.

Slides Posted from "The Hidden Web: Inside the Informal Networks that Drive Project Performance"

Wed, 12 May 2010 05:32:37 -0800

These slides, from a May 11, 2010 presentation to the Project Management Institute Central Massachusetts Chapter, explain what PMs can do to boost project success rates through use of networks.

From the session description:
Influencing without authority is one of the hardest skills to acquire. Yet there is a powerful tool that can help PMs understand how to influence effectively. Underneath organization charts and process maps are hidden informal networks: the webs of relationships that underlie all organization activity. People activate these webs in order to solve problems, gain expertise, and innovate. For years, we have known that these networks exist, but haven't had the tools to leverage them properly. Today, thanks to advances in mathematics and technology, we now have the ability to scientifically identify, map, and analyze networks.

In this lively, interactive session, PMs will learn how to identify, nurture, and leverage these informal networks in order to boost project success rates. We'll look at the science underlying informal networks and influencing with authority. We'll review recent findings that show the connections between human network management and project performance. PMs will leave with a greater understanding of the practical steps they can take to use networks to improve project performance.

Case Study: Measuring the Intangible

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:40:00 -0800

There are many ways to evaluate culture, collaboration, employee morale, team performance, and the impact of restructuring. But it's difficult to measure all five at once without over-stressing the organization. The National Braille Press successfully used organization network analysis to evaluate its progress and identify simple but effective improvement actions. Read this case study to find out how they did it.

NEHRA Event: Accelerating Time to Productivity: Using Network Science for Rapid On-boarding

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:00 -0800

Best-in-class on-boarding programs can achieve significant improvements—up to 50%—in time to proficiency. How do they do it? Research shows that best-in-class programs are more likely to help new hires form the connections they need to be successful.

In this lively, interactive session, featured at NEHRA's Spring Conference, we will explore how network science helps us identify and create on-boarding programs that accelerate time to productivity. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the connection between informal networks and staff success on the job. We’ll assess how well our current on-boarding and integration programs incorporate informal networks. Participants will leave with concrete, actionable next steps for leveraging informal networks and accelerating time to productivity. To learn more, visit NEHRA's conference site.

PMI Central Massachusetts Event: Inside the Informal Networks that Drive Project Performance

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:12:38 -0800

Influencing without authority is one of the hardest skills to acquire. Yet there is a powerful tool that can help PMs understand how to influence effectively. Underneath organization charts and process maps are hidden informal networks: the webs of relationships that underlie all organization activity. People activate these webs in order to solve problems, gain expertise, and innovate. For years, we have known that these networks exist, but haven't had the tools to leverage them properly. Today, thanks to advances in mathematics and technology, we now have the ability to scientifically identify, map, and analyze networks.

In this lively, interactive session, PMs will learn how to identify, nurture, and leverage these informal networks in order to boost project success rates. We'll look at the science underlying informal networks and influencing with authority. We'll review recent findings that show the connections between human network management and project performance. PMs will leave with a greater understanding of the practical steps they can take to use networks to improve project performance.

For more information, visit PMI's website.

Partnering Resources Welcomes New Client MIT

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:08:11 -0800

Partnering Resources is pleased to welcome MIT's Information Services & Technology division as a new client. MIT's IS&T department advances MIT's core mission--to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century--by maximizing the value of information technology in their work. Partnering Resources is helping IS&T set direction for FY2011 and beyond, engage employees in change, and integrate a new leader into the organization. We're delighted to work with such a talented, committed group.

PMI Mass Bay Event: Leveraging Informal Networks to Improve Project Success Rates

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:33:33 -0800

The statistics about project success are daunting: too many fail to finish on time, within budget, and according to scope. Only 5% of change initiatives are completed on time and with minimal disruption to the organization, according to Gartner. Clearly, traditional tools are not enough.

Every organization has hidden networks of relationships that employees use in order to get work done, make decisions, and solve problems. These networks have been largely ignored, but hold the keys to improving performance and accelerating change.

On January 21, 2010, PMI Mass Bay Chapter members and guests will learn how PMs can use hidden networks to improve project performance. Members will receive the results from recent research that identifies which informal network techniques actually improve project success rates.

To learn more about the event, visit PMI Mass Bay Chapter's website.

"Welcome! Now Work" hits SlideShare's Top Tweet List

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:59:00 -0800

"Welcome! Now Get to Work..." is a brief presentation that outlines best practices in new hire on-boarding. It includes discussion of socialization and networks -- key elements of successful new hire integration processes. The presentation made SlideShare's Top Tweet list and was featured on its front page on October 27, 2009.

"Leveraging Social Networks to Accelerate Change" presentation at the Midwest Talent Management Forum

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:00 -0800

The Talent Management Forum features a day of sessions on compensation, onboarding, leadership development, case studies, and more. Maya Townsend is presenting "How Work Really Gets Done -- Leveraging Social Networks to Accelerate Change" on September 25, 2009. The conference will be held in Madison, WI.

Partnering Resources welcomes new client Merrimack Pharmaceutical

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:09:00 -0800

Partnering Resources is pleased to welcome Merrimack Pharmaceutical as a new client. Merrimack is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies for the treatment of autoimmune disease and cancer. Together, we're developing a leadership development program that will help senior and mid-level leaders refine their direction setting, planning, execution, and alignment skills.

High Performance Team Workout: Partnering Resources introduces new service designed to boost team performance

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:06:00 -0800

The group has six months to come together and accomplish something challenging. Maybe it’s designing and rolling out a new project management methodology worldwide. Perhaps it’s pulling off the first large-scale user conference in the company’s history. Or maybe this group needs to create the next breakthrough product for the company. The stakes are high and failure is not an option.

Partnering Resources helps you transform individuals into a cohesive, high-performing team. Partnering Resources’ High Performance Team Workout leads your mission-critical team through a facilitated, proven process that gives your team what it needs to succeed. Read more about how we do it.

What It's Like to PM: Industry exploration at the Project Management Institute

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:58:00 -0800

Crossing industries can be daunting. The hope is that the learning curve will be small and new hires will quickly become a valued member of staff. The worst case scenario: the milieu will be so different that the new hire never learns enough to contribute and, after struggling, leaves to find a new job.

On July 14th, Maya Townsend of Partnering Resources will facilitate a Project Management Institute chapter meeting that will help project managers (and PM hopefuls) understand how project management operates in different industries. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with subject matter experts, ask questions about what it's really like to work in specific industries, and network with peers. Click here to view the slides from the session.

“Recipe for Social Media Success” published in Mass High Tech

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:55:00 -0800

Entrepreneur Paul Trevithick says, “We always get the technology right and the sociology wrong.” In other words, we’re great at installing new software and hardware solutions. But how often do we implement solutions that people never use to their potential? This article, published by Maya Townsend and Partnering Resources Associate Amin Marts in Mass High Tech, provides tips for getting your social media strategy right.

Boosting Quality through Networks

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:05:00 -0800

Join Maya Townsend and members of the American Society for Quality in Worcester on June 18, 2009 to learn how we can use hidden networks in quality and improvement efforts. This fast-paced, interactive session gives participants information on how they can leverage this important, underutilized organization asset. Click here to view presentation slides.

Partnering Resources welcomes new client National Braille Press

Thu, 28 May 2009 10:16:00 -0800

Partnering Resources is pleased to welcome the National Braille Press as a new client. The National Braille Press is a nonprofit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and embossing services. Partnering Resources will assist NBP by helping map internal communication and collaboration patterns and by identifying areas for improvement.

Networks linked to change success according to new study

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:10:00 -0800

A joint study sponsored by the Northeast HR Association and Partnering Resources finds new links between networks and change success.

"Leveraging Human Networks to Accelerate Learning” Featured in Chief Learning Officer Magazine

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:51:00 -0800

"Making change truly sustainable over time requires real learning from a trusted source. That's why leaders don't need to talk to everyone in their organization to achieve success. If the right 5% believe in your message, then everyone else will, too." (Network analysis pioneer Karen Stephenson) Check out this article, published by Chief Learning Officer, to learn how companies can leverage that critical 5% to accelerate learning and change. The article features a case study from New England's Merrimack Pharmaceutical that shows how they successfully used networks to improve learning in the organization.

Partnering Resources Leads “Capitalizing on Hidden Networks” for NEHRA’s Advanced Practitioner Series

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:09:00 -0800

"How Work Really Get Done: Capitalizing on Hidden Networks" professional development workshop offered through the Northeast HR Association. February 24, 2009.

Partnering Resources Featured by Worcester SCORE Chapter

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:18:00 -0800

Partnering Resources Featured by Worcester SCORE Chapter

Partnering Resources presents “Network Power!” at the Organization Development Network Conference in Austin

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:09:00 -0800

Network Power!: How Organizations Can Benefit from Growing and Harvesting Informal Networks. Organization Development Network National Conference Session, October 21, 2008

Partnering Resources Case Study Featured by OD Network

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:16:00 -0800

The case study describes how Partnering Resources helped the new CEO turn around a software company to position it for business success.

Founder Maya Townsend Keynotes Gartner EXP HR Summit

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:11:00 -0800

Founder Maya Townsend Keynotes Gartner EXP HR Summit: "How Work Really Gets Done: Capitalizing on Hidden Networks."

Partnering Resources Becomes Exclusive East Coast Provider of NetForm Organization Network Analysis

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:20:00 -0800

NetForm is a CIO Top 100 Leading Innovation Company that supplies an innovative, practical, web-based organization network assessment tool. Built on mathematical algorithms developed over 30+ years of research and work with 400+ companies, NetForm gives organizations an easy way to measure, analyze, and visualize their social capital.

Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Founder, Joins OD Practitioner Editorial Board

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:13:00 -0800

Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Founder, Joins OD Practitioner Editorial Board

Founder Maya Townsend’s Article on IT Priorities Translated into Portuguese

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:19:00 -0800

Founder Maya Townsend’s Article on IT Priorities Translated into Portuguese

Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Founder, Elected Zumix Board President

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:14:00 -0800

Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Founder, Elected Zumix Board President

Partnering Resources Founder Discusses Entrepreneurialism in BostonNOW

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:26:00 -0800

Partnering Resources was featured in BostonNOW in an article on entrepreneurial growth. Partnering Resources received mentoring support from SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, when just starting out. In this article founder Maya Townsend talked about the support provided by SCORE when Partnering Resources was in its infancy.

Maya Townsend Receives Center for Creative Leadership Certification

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:22:00 -0800

The Center for Creative Leadership is an internationally recognized resource for understanding and expanding the leadership capabilities of individuals and organizations. Its 360° leadership assessments are among the most highly regarded, researched, and used tools in the world. Partnering Resources founder Maya received certification through CCL to incorporate their 360° assessment tools (BENCHMARKS, Executive Dimensions, Prospector, Skillscope, and 360 By Design) into her practice.

Partnering Resources Article Featured in Antioch Doctoral Program

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:25:00 -0800

Partnering Resources is delighted to announce that Maya Townsend's article, "Lessons from the Field: Applying Complex Adaptive Systems Theory to Organizational Change," is being featured in Antioch University's Organization Development doctoral program.