There comes a moment when you know it’s time to leave the comforts of the familiar and move on. You may be ready to move up to the next level, a lateral into a new functional area to broaden your experience base, a leap into a new industry or company where you can apply your […]
Read More →A study from the University of Exeter in the UK confirms that bosses who put the people who follow them first, boost productivity. The researchers used 130 independent, previously published studies to test their theories. The result: the “servant-leader” style of management, which is ethical, trustworthy and shows genuine interest in the wellbeing and development of staff, […]
Read More →When you’re asked to give someone feedback, does it put you on edge? Even when the request is made with genuine openness, do you feel afraid of being perceived as overly critical and being rejected because of what you share? Trust me, you’re not alone. Giving feedback is a scary proposition for most people. Fear about giving feedback […]
Read More →Researchers at the UK’s University of Exeter have found that having a high-quality relationship with employees is good. But, to build loyalty, leaders have to make employees feel like their relationship with them is important. While I often encourage my clients and podcast listeners to look within for validation, let’s also remember that we’re members of […]
Read More →In an HR Magazine Q&A with Edward Hess, co-author of “Humility is the New Smart, Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age,” says, how well employees learn continuously and relate to others will become the great differentiator. He points to increasing automation and cheap — or often free — access to information. He says that the traditional […]
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, […]
Read More →In the words of Colin Powell, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.” If you’re in a leadership role, this is an important point to take in. Leaders are visionaries who are responsible for communicating and inspiring others to make […]
Read More →Managing by fear is widely recognized as an outdated concept that does more harm than good. According to Organizational Anthropologist Judith Glazer, recent advances in neuroscience show it to be quite damaging. Glazer says in order to be a manager who inspires their team, one needs to understand how the brain reacts to fear verses […]
Read More →Wishing someone at work would say, “I noticed what you did. Thank You. Good job!” Such needs are real and are borne out of frustration and benign neglect. We look up to leadership, expecting them to validate our presence and good performance. We hope team members we’ve helped or whose mistakes we corrected would say, […]
Read More →If you’ve been labeled shy, aloof, arrogant, distant or reserved, here are a few tips that could help you be experienced as more approachable: Be the first to speak. Initiate interaction. Don’t wait to be approached. When conversing, make steady eye contact. Don’t stare the person down, but connect enough, eye-to-eye, to give the other […]
Read More →Can working for someone you consider a bad manager damage your health? A recent Gallup blog post, characterizes having a bad manager as a one-two punch. You feel miserable at work, and as a result you feel miserable at home. This compounds stress and harms overall well-being. When employees are unhappy and unhealthy, absenteeism, performance, […]
Read More → While it’s fairly common for people who are successful as an individual contributor to rise to levels that involve managing others, research conducted by Gallup says that about one in ten people possess the right talents to manage others. If you’re wondering who to promote into positions where they manage people, Gallup says you […]
Read More →Weekly team meetings – those regular check-ins – are still standard practice; a common occurrence in many workplaces. To keep pace with changing times, some have morphed into conference calls. Often, the purpose and format of these meetings were established long ago. Out of habit, they remain on calendars. But should they? It’s always good […]
Read More →Who is on your “go-to” list? Who are the people you reach out to for new projects, innovative suggestions, opinions or feedback? Is it always the same narrow group, or do you consciously work to expand and diversify the members of your personal think thank? To create an inclusive culture, it’s extremely important that you […]
Read More →A direct report walks up to you and asks, “Can we talk?” She describes a problem she’s having. What’s your reflex response? Do you immediately launch into offering a solution? If so, you just robbed an eager employee of a chance to exercise her own problem-solving muscles. Instead of immediately focusing on resolving problems, listen […]
Read More →In a candid conversation, a client shared his concern that he and others don’t ask the right questions when getting updates from direct reports. He said, “We ask yes/no questions that don’t encourage introspection. Questions like, ‘Is the project done?’ Or, ‘Do you have what you need?’” Instead, he suggested, and I agree, that we […]
Read More →6 Leadership Styles That Inspire & Motivate According to Forbes.com contributor Joseph Folkman, inspiration and motivation top the list of what employees crave from their leaders. But people who lead are falling dramatically short on delivering. One possible reason – their approach may not come from a place of authenticity. There are many ways to […]
Read More →It’s human nature to want to leave a legacy. It’s never too early or late to start thinking about your legacy. Legacies can take many forms. Knowing what you’d like to leave behind can serve as a powerful compass – a force that can help guide you over the long term, enabling you to stay […]
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 →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 […]
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