Business Second Opinion

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Get a…Business Second Opinion Rigorously Examining Sources and Effects of Business Practices. Learn to read between the lines and peep behind the curtain on where business ideas come from and what their effects are likely to produce as a result. Predict effects before you buy! Question before you ad…

Carol Sanford


    • Oct 4, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 101 EPISODES

    5 from 20 ratings Listeners of Business Second Opinion that love the show mention: business, content, time, carol sanford.



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    Latest episodes from Business Second Opinion

    S5 Ep196: The How and Why of Culture Change - Archive 5.4.21

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 32:39


    We look at 3 paradigms of culture in the workplace. The Authority Centered, the Empathetic Centered and the Developmentally Centered. What they look like and produce in business outcomes.

    S5 Ep195: Development of Humans as Self-Directed Whole Beings - Archive 7.6.21

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 27:55


    We have no institutions or infrastructure in any organization that intentionally and rigorously develops whole humans. We see the need for training the functional skills, even behavioral skills, but not the management and development of being (choosing who I am at any moment of situations) or development of our will (what we seek to serve and take on that demands we extend beyond current motives.)

    S5 Ep194: Family is Not a Good Metaphor for a Workplace - Archive 8.3.21

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 39:34


    What happens when the Family culture announced downsizing. AirBnb shows us what not to do.

    S5 Ep193: The How and Why of Culture Change - Archive 6.21.21

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2022 35:44


    Purpose is a very hot topic. At the level of a person's purpose and being a purpose driven organization. Learn why they may not be the best way to get direction or determine your best contribution

    S5 Ep192: Mission! Visions! Purposes! How to Bring Deep Meaning Into Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 34:57


    Today we looked at Missions and their role in motivation and keeping teams on course. We look at the effects of external management and motivation and how it is the real challenge, not getting the right kind of external method in place.

    S5 Ep191: Stop Training Leader Competencies! Start Developing Leadership Capability

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 35:39


    Today we look at how we look at Leadership Competencies, where people are assumed to need external management and we work to make it good leadership. We offer a non-hierarchical approach where everyone learns and uses leadership capabilities. None of the solutions offered in the MIT article, when have been tried in every downturn, will make any difference. We share what will.

    S5 Ep190: Why We Stay & Why We Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 35:42


    Today we look at how we look at The Great Resignation,  where people are resigning to change jobs, create their own startup or do contract work for more freedom or meaning. None of the solutions offered in the MIT article, when have been tried in every downturn, will make any difference. We share what will.

    S5 Ep189: Serving Customers' Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 38:45


    Today we look at how we define our ideal customer and consumer and organize our decision making to offer the best product or service, or both. Go from seeing buyers as things, to types, to singular beings that have values and life purposes.

    S5 Ep188: Work Design for Development

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 38:45


    Once in a while, we see new ideas about the Future of Work and how to design work. Most designs are moving from traditional command and control to a Do less Harm paradigm and making it a better place to work. e.g. get rid of supervisors. It is rare to have articles or ideas on learning as a result of work Design in the Do Good Paradigm. Carol's third book, The Regenerative Business: Redesign Work, Cultivate Human Potential, Achieve Extraordinary Outcomes offers better path. So, prepare yourself to question all your good deeds again.

    S5 Ep187: Hope in the Face of Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 30:23


    We look at a ‘do good' paradigm idea of how to deal with uncertainty. To overcome depression and anxiety and ignite hope. But we discover that visioning a better future has bad side-effects for social systems and planetary health. Thank goodness there is a better way to do all three at the same time.

    S5 Ep186: Managing Mental Energy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 33:13


    It is not a matter of the Quantity as our critiqued article from MIT Sloan Review proposes. It is the Quality of thinking that matters. Interestingly, when we have better quality and are managing from multiple levels at the same time, we can gain energy. It is counter intuitive but known to be true for decades. And the Quantity and effectiveness of decisions and actions is exponentially improved.

    S5 Ep185: Identity Crises- MANAGING Life Changes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 31:41


    This episode is helping us think about how our identity gets lost, confused or we can get panicked in times of personal, work or global change. And what to do about it.

    S4 Ep184: First Principles of Regeneration - Archive

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2022 40:28


    In this episode of Business Second Opinion, Carol Sanford gives a business second opinion on principles of regeneration in the business world.

    S4 Ep183: Models and Frameworks? What if the Difference and Why It Matters - Archive

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 25:15


    Examining Article Strategy Needs Creativity by Adam Brandenburger, March April 2 2019. Four Cs of Creativity. Contrast, Combination, Constraint, Context. We got deeply into the effect of constructing Models from activity and why Living Systems frameworks start in a place that serves innovation which gives more effective utility to customers than abstract processes.

    S4 Ep182: Is Your Culture Built on Counting or Caring for Customers and their Lives - Archive

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 29:41


    A Critique of Creating a Data Driven Culture. Why it focuses on the wrong approach to culture (data and counting that undermines innovation and financial effectiveness. Plus an alternative, A Caring Culture for customers and they key aspects.

    S4 Ep181: Regenerative Lens on Bias: Racism, Genderism, Ageism… - Archive

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 32:57


    We used the core aspects of a Regenerative Paradigm to examine racism and why it is a problem of capability, culture and consciousness. And what we can do if we switch paradigms. We will see different things, interpret them in a new way and design from a different lens.

    S4 Ep180: Immorality of Philanthropy - Archive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 36:36


    Philanthropy is seen as a Good Thing. What if it is really shutting the barn door after the horse is out. Or cleaning up after the problems are created, often by the people and system who created the mess. What would be a better way?

    S4 Ep179: Evolving Personality Traits

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 41:54


    This episode uses a Harvard Business Review article on leadership flaws and failures. They offer suggestions on mitigating these flaws. Of course, we critique their diagnosis and solutions and give better alternatives from a regenerative and developmental philosophy

    178: Future Proofing and Non-displaceability Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 27:30


    This episode is using an October 2021 Harvard Business Review article on Future Proofing your business from disruptions. How to prepare for skills in people and get the right talent is not a sufficient answer. We offer six practices that are shown to make a business non-displaceable.

    177: Future Proofing and Non-displaceability Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 28:06


    This episode is using an October 2021 Harvard Business Review article on Future Proofing your business from disruptions. How to prepare for skills in people and get the right talent is not a sufficient answer. We offer six practices that are shown to make a business non-displaceble.

    176: Capability Development as The Best Change Management Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 32:10


    This episode using an old Harvard Business Review article on Change management from a mechanist and behavioral view. A dumb it down and reward the rats for following the maze correctly.

    175: Peter Drucker's Lessons from Japanese Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 32:42


    This episode uses an old Harvard Business Review article by Peter Drucker, the Father (Godfather?) of Modern Management as ‘grist' for our Second Opinion Mill. We rethink Drucker and created a more systemic look at management and decisions-making.

    174: Inclusivity is not about leadership traits

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 31:32


    This episode points to three primary errors that most HBR articles make and why they fall into lower paradigms. First error, assuming people can't be introspective, see and correct or evolve themselves. Second error, working on change with an internal focus disregarding the effects in the ecosystem. Third error, working as those individuals are separate workers are separate from the users/buyers and the challenges are not systemic.

    173: Family is Not a Good Metaphor for a Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 39:34


    What happens when the Family culture announced downsizing. AirBnb shows us what not to do.

    172: Development of Humans as Self-Directed Whole Beings

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 27:55


    We have no institutions or infrastructure in any organization that intentionally and rigorously develops whole humans. We see the need for training the functional skills, even behavioral skills, but not the management and development of being (choosing who I am at any moment of situations) or development of our will (what we seek to serve and take on that demands we extend beyond current motives.)

    171: The Errors in the Idea of Purpose Driven Organizations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 35:44


    Purpose is a very hot topic. At the level of a person’s purpose and being a purpose driven organization. Learn why they may not be the best way to get direction or determine your best contribution.

    170: The How and Why of Culture Change

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 32:39


    We look at 3 paradigms of culture in the workplace. The Authority Centered, the Empathetic Centered and the Developmentally Centered. What they look like and produce in business outcomes.

    169: Design Out Burnout

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 36:10


    Burnout is a term often used for people in organizations. What is it? What causes it? And what is the best way to work on designing it out. Hear Carol’s Development view of how we repeatedly set up work design for burning people out.

    168: Disempowering Empowerment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 30:00


    Empowerment goes in and out of fashion. It is back. It comes from good intentions mostly because does very little for the business and can be harmful to motivation and creativity. Listen to why is is based on errors, understanding human motivation and what to do instead.

    167: Principles for Designing and Governing Regenerative Teams (from archive)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 30:36


    Cross Functional Teams—Why do they fail so often? What does it require to succeed? Learn Five Regenerative Principles  for building great teams.  Plus a Bonus 6th Principle for the organization worldview to support the first give. 

    166: Taking on Different Leadership Roles (from archive)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 34:32


    Anthropologists and Indigenous Nations give us a much better way to understand roles than popular business ideas. First you have to understand the ‘role’ of roles. It is not a layer of managing people. And then you have to understand what the totality of roles are that are needed and how they work together. I use my Mohawk grandfathers instruction that I wrote about in The Responsible Business as a way to make sense of leadership and how they are drawn from leading a Nation of people and how I applied them to organizational settings.

    165: Regenerative Decision Making (from archive)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 37:06


    Decision-Making is a daily practice. How do we make use of Regenerative Paradigm to improve it. We critique the traditional view and give alternative strategies.

    164: The Regenerative Governing Body (from archive)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 34:50


    Learn about the 5 Core Windows a Regenerative Governing Body must take into account. For Directors, Advisory Boards, Associations and any governing body.

    163: Principles for Designing and Governing Regenerative Teams

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 30:36


    Cross Functional Teams—Why do they fail so often? What does it require to succeed? Learn Five Regenerative Principles  for building great teams.  Plus a Bonus 6th Principle for the organization worldview to support the first give. 

    162: Taking on Different Leadership Roles

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 34:32


    Anthropologists and Indigenous Nations give us a much better way to understand roles than popular business ideas. First you have to understand the ‘role’ of roles. It is not a layer of managing people. And then you have to understand what the totality of roles are that are needed and how they work together. I use my Mohawk grandfathers instruction that I wrote about in The Responsible Business as a way to make sense of leadership and how they are drawn from leading a Nation of people and how I applied them to organizational settings.

    161: Regenerative Decision Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 37:06


    Decision-Making is a daily practice. How do we make use of Regenerative Paradigm to improve it. We critique the traditional view and give alternative strategies.

    160: Immorality of Philanthropy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 36:36


    Philanthropy is seen as a Good Thing. What if it is really shutting the barn door after the horse is out. Or cleaning up after the problems are created, often by the people and system who created the mess. What would be a better way?

    159: Regenerative Way to Managing Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 35:05


    They are back. The folks who think authoritarian management is the only way. HBR authors push back and show why it will not give the expected outcome. But they then offer an alternative that is almost as bad. They suggest you use authoritarian practices on BALANCE with empowering employees when you can. Of course, we offer a better idea that is better for business, workers and society.

    158: Becoming Non-displaceable

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 39:35


    Carol and Zac look at the factors that determine how easy it is to be displaced by competitive products, companies and world events. And what to do in the face of such challenges that make you non-displaceable. 

    157: The Regenerative Governing Body

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 34:50


    Learn about the 5 Core Windows a Regenerative Governing Body must take into account. For Direcctors, Advisory Boards, Associations and any governing body.

    156: Living Systems View of Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 26:37


    Scaling is a popular concept by many. But is that something that fits a liviing systems view. But Livings Systems grow. We explore a regenerative way to grow and evolve cultures to do soo.

    155: Regenerative Lens on Bias: Racism, Genderism, Ageism….

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 32:57


    We used the core apsects of a Regenerative Paradigm to examine racism and why it is aproblem of capability, culture and consciouseness. And what we can do if we swiitch paradigms. WE will see different things, interpret them in a new way and design from a different lens.

    Which is Better? Questions or Answers? Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 33:25


    How to assess the help you are offered or considering buying. Part 2. What is the difference between expert help and help from those who are imagers of Life. On improves the intelligence of, and innovation in, your organization and the other diminishes it. You can afford to not know?

    154: Beyond Polarities: Why Are We Third Force Blind?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 20:09


    We give a second opinion on The 7 Tensions that Leaders Must manage. What do you do when you have polarities. You llearn to introduce a Third Force that lifts them both beyond what you can currently see.

    Resurgence of Hierarchies Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2020 34:05


    Descriptive paragraph Business Second Opinion Podcast digs deep to answer questions about business and business practice, you may not know you need to ask. But we believe you should be asking for the benefit of your understanding and your businesses ethics and practice. In the process of answering them, we give you a second opinion, usually a contrarian opinion, but that is well tested and proven to give the outcomes you really want without the side effects.

    The Regenerative Approach to Innovation on Demand

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 37:48


    Innovation is a three-legged stool. It is not a list of behaviors but calls for a mindset that includes an external focus on stakeholder's lives plus what is called for with new capability for the stakeholder and the business delivering the new innovation

    Heeding Einstein's Admonishing- Thinking with a New Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 38:15


    Using the march 2019 Harvard Business Revies entitled Why Feedback Fails, we examine how to tell if we have swtiched minds when we suggest an alternative practice or adopt a suggested one.

    153: What Got Us Into this Mess Will Not get Us Out. Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 26:32


    What is our work to do? In this time of extreme disruption? We look at the four foundational changes that we need globally as individuals, organization, and instituions.

    Four Level of Design Thinking

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 32:09


    We look at four paradigms that define Design Thinking, a very popular idea that has spread into every consulting practice and field. Including a Living Stems view of Design Thinking.

    151: What Got Us Into This Mess, Will Not Get us Out!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 23:48


    The four foundational cornerstones of a world the works. What has to change and how in this time of Hyparxic Events. (those that disrupt the patterns we lean on.

    151: Embracing Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 25:41


    We are facing a global pandemic bigger than most of us have faced in our lifetime. What can we do to make a difference. Learn how the world (planet and society) works and design from there

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