If you’re a manager, you’ve probably experienced yourself switching between the roles of visionary leader and hands-on manager. Yet, the role of leader and manager are different. Each requires a particular mindset and set of competencies. Here are examples of when you should wear your manager hat. When dealing with day-to-day tactical, transactional tasks […]
Read More → When you’re called on to give a presentation, here’s a simple tip that will make it memorable and meaningful for your audience. Tell stories. Instead of droning on about facts and figures, with slick slides tell a relevant story. When preparing for your next presentation, keep etiquette expert Barbara Pachter’s tips in mind. Use […]
Read More →Are you crystal clear about what you’d like to accomplish over the next month, six months or 2 years? If your goals are specific, congratulations! You’re ahead of the game, and you’re likely to achieve them. If your goals are more general, perhaps even vague, you’re less likely to make meaningful progress. When you’re specific, […]
Read More →As a certified user of Benchmarks, a 360 instrument developed by the Center for Creative Leadership, I find it an effective tool for helping leaders understand how they’re experienced and perceived along 16 competencies, rated by a range of stakeholders. Another important section of the report describes five problems that can stall your career. Problems […]
Read More →When we think we know we stop asking questions. Perhaps, we even stop listening. Sometimes, we assume we have the right answer or know what another is thinking. But, in reality, we don’t? If we want another’s truth, or we’re trying to collaborate and be inclusive, it’s important to ask others for their thoughts. A […]
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 →What do you do when conflict emerges? How do you deal with another person’s anger? Here are several techniques that just may prove helpful: First, make a simple statement like, “I can tell that you’re really upset.” Acknowledging their upset may be all you need to do, at this point. Now, allow the person to vent. […]
Read More →When the clients, individuals or organizations I work with want to improve in any area, I often take them through exercises designed to open their eyes to the ways in which they’re already doing part of what they say is needed. With that awareness, the focus shifts from “all the ways we’re falling short” to, […]
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 → We’ve all encountered people who are quick to say “No” to suggestions or new ideas. Before any apparent consideration occurs, they instantly shoot down most, if not all people, who come to them with their ideas. Here’s what I recommend if you have a person like that in your life. Ask your question and […]
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 →You’re in a meeting. Something happens. You feel like pitching a fit. Heart racing, head swirling, your emotions are red hot. Here’s a way to diffuse your negative energetic charge and address the issue. Find someone with whom you can vent and get it out of your system. Vent with someone who will keep your […]
Read More → If you’re in a high-tech field, you’re likely familiar with the term SCRUM. It refers to an iterative and incremental framework for managing product development. One philosophy that undergirds SCRUM is advancing progress by failing fast and fixing early. What might that look like? Well, if you’re working on a big, complex project, try […]
Read More →Recently, a client confided that she tends to present green project dashboards. Green means everything is moving forward, as expected. In taking her all-green, all-good approach, she fails to share the full reality. She wants to present an image of one who is able to handle big challenges. As we continued talking, the realization dawned […]
Read More →The Buddhist and Stephen Covey agree. “To know and not do, is really not to know.” In other words, when learning something new, never underestimate the importance of doing it. For example, if your favorite tennis player told you her secret to hitting a slice backhand, could you do it consistently? Not likely. The same […]
Read More →There’s No US vs. THEM Recently, I facilitated an all-hands meeting where participants talked about state of the business. I repeatedly heard comments like, “The company” doesn’t promote from within. “The company” is risk averse. “The company’s” merit and bonus programs are unfair. It’s hard to know who to trust in “this company.” After allowing […]
Read More →Can You Communicate Reasons for Change To Your Team? Leadership expert John Maxwell said, “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” The pace at which change occurs today can be mind-blowing, unsettling, even overwhelming. For people affected by change, who are outside the inner circle and aren’t privy to the “why” of a specific shift in […]
Read More →Fear Of The Unknown Is Choking Out Your Creativity For most of us, uncertainty is frightening. We try to control as much as we can. We want to know what’s ahead, and what the results of our actions will be. This felt need can stifle our desire to explore and discover new things – in […]
Read More →All around us, there are signs that many of us are deeply entrenched in our views. In a 2017 blog post, author Frank Sonnenberg wrote about the benefits of being open-minded. I want to share with you the eight reasons he urges us all to embrace open-mindedness. Your horizons will expand. Your decision-making will be […]
Read More →A senior leader asked me to work with him on several challenges, one of which is to how to get his team to be more participative during staff meetings. So, he invited me to a staff meeting to witness the action. Within ten minutes, the problem became crystal clear. He talked too much. He took […]
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