Some leaders say they want to set stretch goals, but they stop short because they want certainty that their goals will be achieved. They want plans that account for all possible outcomes and consequences. If this sounds like you, consider the following. Knowing for sure that you will attain your goal probably means you have not set […]
Read More →For meeting leaders, it can be challenging to consistently make regular, standing meetings interesting and relevant. If you’re the meeting leader, you might feel obligated to set the agenda and come prepared with all the answers. If you do, you will suck the life out of the meeting and lull participants to sleep. Here’s a way to increase […]
Read More →Do you suspect that your staff meeting is losing its value? Are people coming late and leaving early? Are they interacting with their technology or having side conversations? Do discussions wander aimlessly? Is it hard to get active participation in conversations? If you answered, “Yes,” to any of these questions, you need to hit the refresh button. Here are three things […]
Read More →There are many reasons why women and men aren’t equally represented at the top. One is that women aren’t adequately sponsored or mentored. Harvard Business Review recently cited data from the Working Mother Research Institute that supports this notion. While 48 percent of men say they were given detailed information on career paths in the last 24 […]
Read More →One reason women are underrepresented at the top of corporations is that they lack sponsors and mentors among men in leadership roles. It’s no secret that a well-placed sponsor and mentor can influence one’s career trajectory. Here are three things Harvard Business Review recommends to male leaders. Identify high-potential diverse talent. Be intentional about finding women who bring […]
Read More →For more women to climb to the top of the corporate ladder, more men must sponsor them. If you’ve already identified your protégé, set her up with a stretch project. Make sure she understands how it will help her and the company. Then, according to Harvard Business Review: Provide development and support. Invest time, expertise, resources and money […]
Read More →Quick decision-making is one of the hallmarks of an agile company. But making fast decisions is easier said than done. A recent McKinsey and Company article looks at three types of decisions and offers ways to speed up the process. For Big-Bet decisions made at the very top, like making an acquisition, spur productive debate. Assign someone to argue […]
Read More →McKinsey & Company says it’s a myth that continuous improvement is only for manufacturing companies looking to control costs. Continuous improvement should be part of every company’s strategy. For example, by communicating a compelling vision and connecting it to each employee’s daily work, one international theatre chain tapped into the power of frontline workers to generate […]
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 →Because malicious, unapproved software can bring down an entire IT infrastructure, many companies keep a tight reign on the software employees can use. Yet, the Harvard Business Review warns about the dangerous lag time between customers identifying a real need and IT satisfying it. When all IT decisions are made at the very top, i.e., the […]
Read More →I bet meetings are a big part of your work life. In his Ted-X-UNC-Charlotte Talk, Steven Rogelberg suggests six ways to make them better. Invite the smallest number of participants possible. No spectators or people there just to listen. Attend only the part of the meeting that’s relevant to you. Be a good host if you’re the meeting […]
Read More →Amazon is one of the most innovative companies in the world, and their leadership principles are a big driver. Agility and experimentation are part of their DNA. Here’s a peak at several of their guiding principles. Customer Obsession. Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust, and although they pay […]
Read More →There’s much to learn from the philosophy and approach of one of the world’s most innovative companies. I’m talking about Amazon. Let’s take a quick look at some of the company’s Leadership Principles – the norms that guide day-to-day behavior. Earn Trust. Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so […]
Read More →There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Going together means delegating to or collaborating with others. But doing so successfully can be challenging. Executive coach Helen Baxter-Southworth and team dynamics expert Russ Forrester say these five values and behaviors hold the key to working […]
Read More →Often, leaders are extroverts with lots of charisma and energy. But two related studies from Ohio State University reveal that there are limits to how effective that personality trait can be. The two subject groups included 260 undergraduate students and 337 employees at a large Chinese retail company. The research found that extroverted leaders tended to […]
Read More →If you have an employee who takes up more than their fair share of time, a recent Society of Human Resource Management article says you first need to understand why before you can take appropriate steps. The employee may be insecure or lack the necessary experience to complete the assigned task. Insecurity can come from low […]
Read More →Harvard Business Review contributors Tony Schwartz and Emily Pines of the Energy Project warn that at all times, we have two selves operating simultaneously. There’s the self governed by our pre-frontal cortex. It controls executive brain functions like planning and strategy. It’s calm, measured and rational. This is the self of which we are most aware. Our other […]
Read More →At all times, two parts of our brain are governing how we behave. We’re aware of the rational, deliberate self that is ruled by the prefrontal cortex. But the threat protector, ruled by the amygdala, reacts beneath the surface causing us to lash out inexplicably. That self is enabled by the inner lawyer, which rationalizes, deflects and blames. […]
Read More →Delivering negative feedback or criticism is rarely easy. Receiving it may be even more difficult. But researchers at University of Toronto found that how people receive criticism depends greatly on the source. Through field and lab experiments, they discovered that when negative feedback comes from a boss or a peer, the receiver’s creativity level drops. The researchers concluded […]
Read More →Olympic gold medalist and World Cup soccer champ Abby Wambach is turning her attention to building women leaders. The author of the new book, “Wolfpack,” says it’s time to update the rules that governs how women approach leadership. She told the New York Times that she wants women to: Champion each other. Power, success and joy are […]
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