Ever noticed that one of the keys to success in just about every sport is “watch the ball.” “Keep your eye on the ball. Focus on the ball.” I’ve heard it during my efforts to learn to play tennis, golf, softball, Ping-Pong and basketball. Watch the ball a simple and wise instruction. It makes sense. If […]
Read More →Terri, an outstanding individual contributor, has a resume that boasts a string of successes. Recently promoted, her new role involves leading people. She’s struggling to find her footing in a position that calls for an additional set of competencies. This challenge is natural. As Marshall Goldsmith says, What Got You Here […]
Read More →Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This is profound wisdom for leaders who want high performing teams that produce excellent results, in a healthy climate. Here are a few […]
Read More →You’ve probably heard the news about an interim report issued by Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin on the systemic problems in the Veteran’s Affairs agency. The report intensified scrutiny and resulted in expansion of the number of VA facilities to be reviewed. If you’re a leader, consider allowing this situation to stimulate a deeper, broader […]
Read More →While facilitating a strategic alignment retreat with a CEO and his senior team, they struggled to identify exactly what to do to change the culture. Finally, having nothing that felt like a good idea, I convinced them to involve the next level down. They agreed. In the meeting with the broader leadership team – the […]
Read More →Curiosity, a natural activity of an intelligent mind, is peaked when presented with thought-provoking questions – questions that make the listener think. When we’re open to queries and view interrogatives, no matter how challenging they may, as an opportunity to explore a new area and learn something we didn’t know, we serve the process of […]
Read More →More and more, organizational experts, including the well respected McKinsey & Company, are confirming what I’ve believed for years: organizational cultural change is inseparable from individual change. The two must work hand-in-hand. Why? Because organizations don’t change unless people’s mindsets and behavior change. Manager or leaders, shift the way you think, speak and behave. Soon, […]
Read More →Recently, a new client told me that two years ago her boss articulated a vision for how she wanted the senior leadership team to operate. Today, she said, “People are behaving exactly as they have for years. There’s been no change. We’re still highly paid technical experts – not developers of people, and certainly not […]
Read More →Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela are well known examples of the significant, life-altering difference one person can make in the lives of many. Yet, think about it: those who’ve had a profound, defining impact on the person and professional you’ve become are probably far less famous than those I’ve […]
Read More →I meet a fair number of business leaders who say they are empathy-challenged. Empathy is the ability to recognize and identify the emotions being experienced by another person. It’s one of the five components of Emotional Intelligence. Because it enables others to feel like you connect with them, it is an important skill set for […]
Read More →I meet a fair number of business leaders who say they are empathy-challenged. Empathy is the ability to recognize and identify the emotions being experienced by another person. It’s one of the five components of Emotional Intelligence. Because it enables others to feel like you connect with them, it is an important skill set for […]
Read More →Dear Teressa, Any advice on how I can get more people to speak up in my meetings? ~John V. John, I’m glad to hear that you’re a leader who wants more voices in the conversation – more people engaged and contributing. Here are several strategies that have worked for a number of my clients. […]
Read More →Dear Teressa, Any advice on how I can get more people to speak up in my meetings? ~John V. John, I’m glad to hear that you’re a leader who wants more voices in the conversation – more people engaged and contributing. Here are several strategies that have worked for a number of my clients. […]
Read More →I’m a manager in a large company with 15 direct reports. Sometimes, I have trouble figuring out how to handle certain performance problems. How do I figure out what to do? ~D.G. Dear D.G., Here are a few “how to” pointers for your consideration. As you weigh various options, remember to make use of […]
Read More →I’m a manager in a large company with 15 direct reports. Sometimes, I have trouble figuring out how to handle certain performance problems. How do I figure out what to do? ~D.G. Dear D.G., Here are a few “how to” pointers for your consideration. As you weigh various options, remember to make use of […]
Read More →When I walked into his office, Will’s head was down, his brow looked furrowed, his chest was noticeably rising and falling, indicative of deep breathing, and he was writing furious. I waited until he finished and asked, “What are you working on?” “I’m writing out my rage!” He smiled, pushed his pad aside and explained, […]
Read More →Do you know the work of Seth Godin? Seth calls himself a writer, speaker and change of agent. Everyday, he produces and publishes thought-provoking ideas at sethgodin.typepad.com. It’s the kind of content that make the reader say, “Hmmm, interesting.” Recently, he wrote a post about the impact of language called, “Words are hooks, words are levers.” […]
Read More →“I hear and I forget. I see and I understand. I do and I remember.” Though Confucius spoke those words long ago, they remain relevant, today. We’re approaching the beginning of the new school year for children and adults who’ve returned to school or who are continuing through the advance degree process. But even if […]
Read More →A recent Forbes article took a fresh look at what it takes to be an inspiring leader. The six qualities described go beyond charisma and give proof that successful leadership not a one-size-fits-all equation. Do you possess the qualities that make others want to follow you? Are you a visionary – someone who provides a […]
Read More →A coaching client, whose husband was teaching their son how to drive, told me a story that reinforces an important fact. She said, one day, as her husband, once again, admonished their son for not using his right turn signal, their son pulled over, stopped the car, looked his dad in the eyes and said, […]
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