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THE BLOG
Practical thinking on making change stick.
Straight, useful writing on strategic planning, policy design, organizational development, and leadership for the people doing the work inside governments, nonprofits, and universities.
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ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Why Strategic Plans Fail After Approval (& What to Do About It)
You spent months building the plan. Your plan finally got approved, the team celebrated, and then nothing moved. Here is what actually happened.
Marlysa D. Gamblin, MPP · June 1, 2026 · 3 min read


Top Leadership Skills for Today's Business Leaders
In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern business, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. As organizations face unprecedented challenges, the demand for leaders who can navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive results is at an all-time high. This blog post explores the top leadership skills that today’s business leaders must cultivate to thrive in this dynamic environment. Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and man
Gamblin Consults
Sep 84 min read


Transform Your Team with Leadership Development Techniques
Leadership is not just about holding a position of authority; it’s about inspiring and guiding others toward a common goal. In today’s fast-paced world, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. Organizations that invest in leadership development techniques often see improved team performance, higher employee satisfaction, and better overall results. This blog post will explore various leadership development techniques that can transform your team and foster a culture o
Gamblin Consults
Jul 164 min read


How to Rebuild Staff Trust After a Leadership Transition
Leadership transitions can destabilize organizations even when the change was necessary. Staff may not reset automatically. The often watch and wait. Employees often have unstated questions and concerns during a transition, well-meaning mistakes that take place often erode trust, and teams wonder what rebuilding it actually requires.
Gamblin Consults
Jun 293 min read


What to do when your managers are burned out and checking out
When middle management checks out, execution collapses. This is why.
Manager burnout is not a wellness problem. It is a structural problem that shows up as an individual symptom. The managers who used to bring energy and push back productively have gone quiet, and the ones you cannot afford to lose are already looking. This blog explains what is actually behind the burnout & what has to change structurally before any re-engagement effort will stick with a team, a department,
Gamblin Consults
Jun 153 min read


How to Get Departments to Actually Coordinate on a Shared Goal
Departments that will not coordinate are not a people problem. They are a design problem.
If you have ever watched three departments work on the same goal and produce three completely different outcomes, you already know that asking people to collaborate harder is not the answer. The systems, structures, and incentives around your teams are producing exactly the behavior they were designed to produce. This blog breaks down why coordination fails and what you actually have to
Gamblin Consults
Jun 23 min read


Why Strategic Plans Fail After Approval (& What to Do About It)
The planning process is usually thorough, but many organizations still struggle to move the plan that has been approved. The plan wasn't the problem. What came after the plan was. Strategic plans don't fail because leaders lack vision. They fail because execution was never designed. This article breaks down why implementation stalls after approval and what the organizations that actually execute do differently.
Gamblin Consults
Jun 13 min read
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