Your Important Work After the Big Hire You’ve just completed a lengthy hiring process that included internal and external candidates. For someone in your company, getting that job would have meant a promotion. Even though you can start celebrating finding your ideal hire, you also have to break the news to a fellow employee […]
Read More → Simple words and phrases that we use every day can stand in the way of moving up. In an interview with Crystal Barnett, a senior HR specialist, Fast Company looked at eight phrases that send the wrong signals. Here are a few. Starting sentences with the word “honestly” signals that an attack is about […]
Read More → How to Get Yourself Out of The Middle At one time or another, you’ve probably found yourself smack dab in the middle of other people’s tensions, tussles and antagonistic relationships. A very uncomfortable place to be. Here are a few principles to keep in mind that can help you extricate yourself from the middle, […]
Read More → It’s wise to think through a sticky, difficult to discuss issue, before raising it for open dialogue. Developed by the late Harvard Professor Chris Argyris, here’s an exercise that can help you think through hard to discuss topics, and perhaps find the clarity and courage to surface them for dialogue: Identify the specific situation […]
Read More →4 Ways to Survive If Someone Loses It On You Here are a few tips to consider when you’re faced with another person’s angry meltdown, in the office, or in your personal life: First, remain calm. Breathe. If you also get upset, the situation is sure to escalate and spiral in the wrong direction. Don’t […]
Read More →Our Words Shape Our Self-Confidence and Ability To Achieve Our Goals While the conversations you have with other people can be life defining, so is the monologue that runs, nonstop, in your head, all day, every day. What you talk about with others, and your self-talk, shape your thoughts and feelings. The more you talk […]
Read More →We’re more than half way through January. How are you doing with your resolutions? The New York Times offers up these suggestions to help you sustain commitment and stay the course. Be specific and concrete as you set goals. Make goals measureable. Establish milestones to measure your progress. Aim high and make sure your goals […]
Read More → Do You Really Communicate As Effectively? William Butler Yeats once said, “Think like a wise man, but communicate in the language of the people.” While you could interpret, “language of the people” in a lot of ways, in my view, Yeats is saying know your audience and speak to them so they will understand. […]
Read More → Unplugging Is Not A Luxury, It’s A Business Necessity Whenever your weekend takes place, be it Saturday and Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, etc., what’s most important is to use that time to rejuvenate. Here’s how James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp.com, told Oprah.com he uses his weekend time. He stops spinning. Follow his example by […]
Read More →Of the over 40 videos on my website, tmgspeaks.com, the most popular one is, “How to Listen More and Talk Less.” I’m delighted that people are interested in becoming better listeners. It seems, at times, that the scales are tipping dramatically away from “listening to understand,” and toward “listening to respond.” The two modes […]
Read More → The prevalence of overly biased thinking is something we seem to be confronted with more and more. Increasingly, I hear people questioning how we got here, why, and what can be done about it. Virginia Tech professor Ann-Sophie Chaxel conducted a study to see if people can be led toward less biased thinking and […]
Read More →These 3 Questions Can Turn Problems Into Solutions When something bad happens, it can launch us into a negative spiral of thoughts and reactions, “blame-storming” or an overwhelming sense of intractable defeat. Such reactions are not productive, nor do they acknowledge the full reality of the situation. Remember, there are opportunities within what is perceived […]
Read More →Is Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back? Are you ready to move up the ladder, but feeling plagued by the “What if’s?” Are you nervous or unsure about a new role you’ve got your eye on, or a lateral move into an area that will broaden you experience and responsibility. Rest assured. You’re not alone. […]
Read More →If You’re Not Relevant, Your Job May Not Be Safe In your company, are you seen as competent and capable? If you’re not asking that question of yourself, you can bet people who count on you to deliver results, or look to you for leadership, are asking it about you. Here are six questions to […]
Read More →Regular One-On-Ones Could Prevent Future Crises Few leaders have the luxury of exclusively leading people. Typically, leaders have extensive to-do lists of their own. But, as a leader, your highest priority is supporting, motivating, guiding and inspiring the people who report to you. If you’re not already holding regular one-on-ones with key members of your […]
Read More →Are your current business goals big, more challenging than ever? Do they feel unrealistic, impractical, unattainable? What if the goal is not the issue, but you are – you and your limiting beliefs? You could be rooted in an old story about who you are and what you’re capable of? Are your thoughts filled with […]
Read More →What Made Businesses Great In 2001 Still Works Today Jim Collin’s book “Good to Great” was written in 2001. The “Level 5 Leaders” he wrote about were most effective at producing high returns. But by their very nature, Level 5 Leaders aren’t in the headlines. Their accomplishments are rarely showcased as examples of success. But […]
Read More →Effective Way to Boost Your Skills Inventory Are you looking for a proven way to boost your skills? Do you want to understand a concept or process more deeply, or demonstrate competency in a new area? If so, put yourself on the spot by offering or accepting an opportunity to teach others about the topic. […]
Read More →Are You A “Yes” Person Or A “No” Person? The first response to just about any question for a “no” person is, “No.” Even if the answer turns out to be yes, the “no” person starts with “No.” “Yes” people usually begin with, “Yes,” or at least, “Let me see how I can help you.” […]
Read More →Let Conscious Choice — Not Emotion — Drive Your Actions When things go wrong, what do you focus on? Identifying who made the mistake or whose fault it was? Do you obsess about the weak link in the chain? Or do you use your finite energy to craft a solution? I’m sure you can guess […]
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