Rick Brenner
rickbrenner.bsky.social
Rick Brenner
@rickbrenner.bsky.social
Coaching at intersections of teamwork, conflict, workplace bullying, workplace politics.
Joined bsky Nov 2024. Dog dad (rescue).
Free weekly newsletter: https://c4i.co/27j
Newsletter archive: https://c4i.co/27r
The US will no longer cover COVID vax for most everyone under 65. If you’re 65+ & thinking you’re unaffected, re-think. Bc each new host is a chance for the virus to mutate, part of the protection of the 65+ came from protecting the under-65. All those new hosts under 65 are now threats to the 65+.
May 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New issue of my newsletter 5/28: "Mismanaging Project Managers: Leadership": Project managers are usually accountable for project performance. But Senior Managers escape notice when they interfere with the project managers' ability to lead their teams. Some tactics they use when intervening.
May 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Next issue of my newsletter for 5/21: "Mismanaging Project Managers: Mechanics": Most organizations hold project managers accountable for project performance, including the actions of Senior Managers. Here are some accountability practices worth looking at. ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
May 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 5/7/2025: "Subject Matter Bullying": Most workplace bullying tactics have analogs in schoolyards. Subject matter bullying might be an exception. It requires expertise and sophisticated knowledge. That's where trouble begins. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
May 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter for 4/30/2025: "On Planning in Plan-Hostile Environments: II": When we encounter obstacles and nothing we try gets us back on track we might be working in a plan-hostile environment. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
April 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 4/23/2025: "On Planning in Plan-Hostile Environments: I": In most organizations, most of the time, plans run into little obstacles. But sometimes, whatever fix we try, in whatever way we replan, we can't make it work. We're working in a plan-hostile environment.
April 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 4/16/2025: "Workplace Bullying: Temporal Patterns": To control workplace bullying, we must define it. In school bullying we know that power imbalance and repeated incidents are critical indicators. Bullying at work is different. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
April 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 9 April: "Workplace Bullying: Power": To control workplace bullying, we must first define bullying. We know more about school bullying than adult bullying, and more about adult #bullying than workplace bullying. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
April 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 3/26/2025: "Seven Ways to Support Word-of-Mouth About Your Content": Whether it's a presentation or a book, making your material more memorable is a desirable goal. Afterwards, what you said will matter only if it's memorable. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
March 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 3/19/2025: "On Lying by Omission": Of the many devious strategies of #WorkplacePolitics, deception is among the most commonly used. And perhaps the most commonly used tactic of deception is lying. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
March 13, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 3/12/2025: "Embedded Technology Groups and the Dunning-Kruger Effect": How embedded technology groups can get into trouble. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
March 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
New issue of my newsletter out today: "On Begging the Question": Some of our most expensive wrong #decisions have come about because we've tricked ourselves as we debated our options using rhetorical fallacies that tangle our thinking. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
March 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 3/5/2025: "On Begging the Question": Some of our most expensive wrong #decisions have come about because we've tricked ourselves as we debated our options using rhetorical fallacies that tangle our thinking. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
February 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 2/26/2025: "Devious Political Tactics: Bad Decisions": When #workplacePolitics influences important organizational decisions, we sometimes make decisions for reasons other than the best interests of the organization. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
February 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 2/19/2025: "Yet More Ways to Waste a Meeting": Experts have discovered that people have been complaining about meetings since the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE). Here are some methods people use to wreck #meetings. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
February 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due 2/12/2025: "On Substituting for a Star": #Newcomers to groups have three tasks: meet and get to know group members; gain their trust; & learn about the group's task and how to contribute to it. All can be difficult. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
February 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Some things I wish I had learned a bit sooner: #workplace #wisdom #bullying

If you feel like you’re being bullied at work, you’re almost certainly right.

If you don’t feel like you’re being bullied at work, you might be mistaken.
January 31, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 2/5/2025: "On Shaking Things Up": Newcomers to work groups have 3 tasks: meet and get to know group members; gain their trust; and learn about the group's task and how to contribute to accomplishing it. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New issue of my newsletter out today: "A Framework for Safe Storming": The #Storming stage of Tuckman's development sequence for small groups is when the group explores its frustrations and disagreements. Understand misalignments. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 1/29/2025: "A Framework for Safe Storming": The #Storming stage of Tuckman's development sequence for small groups is when the group explores its frustrations and disagreements.Understand misalignments. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New issue of my newsletter out today: "Storming: Obstacle or Pathway?": The Storming stage of Tuckman's model of small group development is widely misunderstood. Fighting the storms, denying they exist, or bypassing them doesn't work. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 1/22/2025: "Storming: Obstacle or Pathway?": The Storming stage of Tuckman's model of small group development is widely misunderstood. Fighting the storms, denying they exist, or bypassing them doesn't work. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New issue of my newsletter out today: "The Storming Puzzle: Patterns and Antipatterns": #Tuckman's model of small group development applies to today's task-oriented work groups, if we understand what governs transitions from stage to stage. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Next issue of my newsletter due out 1/15/2025: "The Storming Puzzle: Patterns and Antipatterns": Tuckman's model of small group development applies to today's task-oriented work groups, if we understand what governs transitions from stage to stage. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New issue of my newsletter out today: "The #Storming Puzzle: Six Principles": For some task-oriented work groups, Tuckman's model of small group development seems not to fit. To learn how this illusion forms, look closely at what leads to Storming. www.ChacoCanyon.com/pointlookout...
January 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM