Raising Your Game Blog

Thank you for joining us if this is your first time visiting the Raising Your Game (RYG) Blog.

If you are an experienced internal professional or external consultant who facilitates organizational change, you may find what is shared here of interest. A good sign there is a fit for you is if you are at a point in your career where you no longer think adding yet another set of concepts, tools or certifications to your already extensive credentials is the only way to advance your capabilities. You’ll know for sure you’re at the right place if “who you are” when practicing your craft is at least as important to you as “what you do”.

The RYG Blog is for seasoned change practitioners (change management, project management, organizational design, IT, HR, leadership development, strategic planning, etc.) who want to explore how their inherent character and the presence it generates can be used to advance their impact with the leaders they serve. It is offered as a support mechanism to change practitioners seeking to raise their game and believe doing so requires an introspective journey.

Here you’ll find thoughts, observations and insights related to intentionally bringing forward aspects of who you truly are that may have become hidden and diminished. The entries will represent various perspectives on this subject but always in support of a single premise: the greatest value we generate for others occurs when we remain aligned to the core of what makes each of us a unique resource. While there may be occasional posts about the character/presence of leaders sponsoring change, the primary thrust will be geared toward the practitioner audience.

Welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

The 2025 Spring ATA Program begins on May 16, 2025 and runs thru September 26, 2025. Learn more and register.

Essays on the Mastery Path

The field of change management is ever-evolving; we continue to learn more about the human response to change every day. At Conner Academy, we support practitioners who are on a mastery path. These essays offer guidance on that journey.

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It’s about achieving a dynamic balance.

As change practitioners, we can often struggle to stay connected to our inner nature. In this post I’ll finish describing ways in which to achieve a dynamic balance between who […]

Don’t let your tough exterior become who you are to others.

As change practitioners, we can draw some parallels between the sapling/trunk metaphor and our own struggle to stay connected to our inner nature. In this post, and the one to […]

Don’t build so many defenses that even you can’t find your true nature.

As change practitioners, we can draw some parallels between the sapling/trunk metaphor mentioned in the last post and our own struggle to stay connected to our inner nature. In this […]

Protect your essence without snuffing it out.

As change practitioners, we can draw some parallels between the sapling/trunk metaphor introduced in the last post and our own struggle to stay connected to our inner nature. In this […]

Character’s Hidden Assets

Sometimes a metaphor is the best way to portray the complex nature of a practitioner’s relationship with his or her character. A strong metaphor conveys complex concepts in a simply […]

The Basics of Character/Presence

Whether strengthening your hold on or aspiring to enter the rare privilege of being seen by clients as a high impact change resource, a better understanding of how your character […]