Change is a challenging process. 1. You can’t stop it – it’s inevitable. 2. When change is afoot, the status quo is no longer relevant – it just doesn’t work. 3. New ways of thinking, feeling and behaving are required. Here are a several tips to help you navigate and lead others through the process. […]
Read More →The level of trust in your organization impacts the bottom line. When trust is low, so is morale. Disengaged employees quit working, but keep showing up at the office. Turnover among the most capable and competent workers increases. Productivity decreases. Redundancy, held in place by bureaucratic silos, saps vitality and strengthens the potential for toxic […]
Read More →Here is a checklist of 13 behaviors, developed by Stephen Covey, you can learn and apply that will help you generate greater trust and create better results. Talk straight. Tell the truth. Let people know where you stand. Demonstrate concern. Show you care. Treat others respectfully. Create transparency. Be open and authentic, […]
Read More →If you’re looking for a mentor, show up as a great prospect. Here are characteristics a number of senior leaders say they look for in mentees. Someone who: Knows their strengths and wants to learn how to fully leverage them. Has strong opinions, is willing to express and substantiate them, while remaining open, flexible and […]
Read More →Is there someone in your workplace whose behavior and career you’re watching? Do you interact with them in ways that make your professional interest evident? Human beings need to feel seen and cared about. If you’ve not explicitly acknowledged your interest in the person’s growth, do so. Reach out and help by coaching, mentoring, or […]
Read More →If you tend to play it safe, not acting until perfection is certain and the probability of failure zero, Dr. Marilyn Tam may rock your world. The author of How to Use What You’ve Got to Get What You Want, Dr. Tam offers valuable career advice, including one surprising idea. She encourages BIG mistakes because, to […]
Read More →If you’re looking to advance your career, more than likely, you’ll need experience as a manager of people and projects. Let your boss, mentor and sponsor know of your interest in developing these skills. Ask them to tap you for opportunities, and, if necessary, when opportunities pop up, nominate yourself to take the lead. For […]
Read More →If you’re looking for ways to be more productive, here are several tips from a Fast Company article titled, “The Art of Doing Everything.” Don’t waste time on unnecessary decisions, like what to eat for breakfast or lunch. Eat the same thing everyday. Also, for men and women, consider simplifying […]
Read More →Growing up, did you hear the adage, “You’ve got work hard to get ahead?” Today, we know hard work is important; and we know it isn’t enough to create and sustain success. In fact, hard work can trap you, causing you to keep your nose so close to the […]
Read More →The skills and behaviors we refer to as “soft” are the hard core of what drives success. The Carnegie Institute of Technology reports that 85% of success in business comes from your ability to communicate, negotiate and lead. Only 15% is attributable to technical knowledge. Soft skills, also referred […]
Read More →Is there a person on your team you KNOW you can rely on to get things done promptly and correctly? When you delegate to her, without question, you’re certain the task will be handled. No need to give it a second thought, just wait for the perfect end product to […]
Read More →The late, great 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.” The answer to whether it matters whether you make your employees feel good, is YES. Even Forbes.com agrees. In their article “11 Simple Ways […]
Read More →When you’re Top, the person responsible for making a project, team, division or company function effectively – you face the complexity of seeing the individual parts that make up the whole, as well as seeing the whole, and communicating that picture in a clear and compelling way. While others may tend to be in siloed in focus and […]
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 →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 […]
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