Russ Powell
The Knower Trap: How Certainty Sabotages Problem-Solving
In this post, I explore how the "knower trap" hinders problem-solving and offer strategies for recognizing and getting out of it.
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Russ Powell
- Jul 20
- 4 min
Becoming a Better Forecaster: Insights from the Pros
In a world filled with uncertainty, the ability to make accurate predictions is a valuable skill. What do superforecasters have to teach us?
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Russ Powell
- Jul 13
- 5 min
Developing a Learning Organization: Five Principles for Improving Performance
Cultivate a workplace where the practices of continuous learning and growth thrive—with these five principles.
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Russ Powell
- Jul 6
- 3 min
A Surprising Secret: How High-Performing Teams Transform Conflict Into a Competitive Edge
HPTs embrace an inherent paradox—that creation and innovation is often impossible without some friction.
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Russ Powell
- Jul 2
- 6 min
The S-Loop Problem-Solving Framework: A Primer for Business Leaders
The S-Loop is a cyclical, four-stage problem-solving framework that can help you tackle complex problems in human systems.
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Russ Powell
- Jun 8
- 5 min
Exploring the DiSC Styles of Iconic Star Wars Characters
As a fan of both Star Wars and DiSC, I gathered a team of colleagues to assign DiSC styles to 15 famous characters from the franchise.
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Russ Powell
- May 1
- 3 min
A Caution Against Using DiSC and Myers-Briggs When Making Hiring Decisions
DiSC and MBTI can be useful for team-building and personal development, but I strongly recommend against their use in the hiring process.
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Russ Powell
- Apr 9
- 2 min
How to Deal with Difficult People – Lunchtime Workshop, Santa Rosa, CA
Had your share of encounters w/ confusing or irritating people? Join us for a workshop on how to understand and work better with others.
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Russ Powell
- Mar 1
- 11 min
Peer Coaching: A Surprising Solution to Faster, Better Leadership Development
Unlock potential in your startup or small business with peer-coaching. Develop your leaders and solve problems better, faster, and cheaper.
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Russ Powell
- Dec 10, 2023
- 1 min
My new favorite word – phronesis
Phronesis, or practical wisdom, is the greatest virtue a leader can have. If you have a project, hire a leader with abundant phronesis.
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Russ Powell
- Oct 3, 2023
- 7 min
"We know a lot about organizations; they’re not as mysterious as they seem." –Bill Daniels
Four systems outlining the relationships between leaders and their teams to help you understand productivity, progress and how to improve.
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Russ Powell
- Jan 24, 2023
- 3 min
Cowboys, Pit Crews, Doctors and Checklists – A Physician's Take on Systems-Thinking
In a TED video, Atul Gawande summarizes what we do at RPC every day—we help managers learn to analyze and solve problems in human systems.
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Russ Powell
- Dec 15, 2022
- 5 min
Live-virtual Training – How to Create and Maintain Engagement (Part 2)
Tips on how to be a better, more engaging facilitator of live-virtual training. Part two of two.
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Russ Powell
- Dec 7, 2022
- 5 min
Live-virtual Training – How to Create and Maintain Engagement (Part 1)
Tips on how to be a better, more engaging facilitator of live-virtual training. Part one of two.
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Russ Powell
- Oct 18, 2022
- 5 min
Six Rules of Training Every Manager Should Know
Skill alone is not enough to guarantee performance. You must also have opportunity to perform, self-efficacy, and a supportive environment.
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Russ Powell
- Oct 4, 2022
- 3 min
If you pit a good performer against a bad system, the system will win every time
Here's a model of behavioral influence that's useful for any leader invested in helping people and teams perform better.
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Russ Powell
- Jun 27, 2022
- 2 min
Three Steps for Having Better Difficult Conversations
To have productive difficult conversations take the perspective of the other, think about what you truly want, and don't take it personally.
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Russ Powell
- May 9, 2022
- 3 min
Dunbar's Number and the Limits of Friendship
A few excerpts from an article by Maria Konnikova about Dunbar's number, the nature of friendship and the limits of social media.
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Russ Powell
- Feb 23, 2022
- 5 min
Systems Thinking and the Juggling Girls of Berlin
A troupe of jugglers from Berlin helps us apply a simple, powerful framework for thinking about and diagnosing problems in human systems.
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Russ Powell
- Feb 23, 2022
- 4 min
Three Things High Performing Teams Do Differently
A study from psychologist Ron Friedman suggests high-performing teams find success by making better, stronger social connections.
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