I was recently at a formal event where a few dozen individuals were honored with a “once-in-a-lifetime”, very selective, award. Presenting the awards were leaders from the various sponsors of the event. And, on several occasions, honorees’ names were pronounced … Read More
A fellow consultant and I once worked with a small services firm that had some retention and engagement problems. At first, everything seemed in place – the people were good; the quality of their work was sound; the CEO and … Read More
One way to make meetings quick is to hold them standing up. Think about those weekly meetings that can last 30 minutes, and consist of lots of reports. They do not leave time for quick, tactical conversations. A way to enhance, yet … Read More
While flying last week, the man sitting to my left kept accidentally jabbing me with his elbow – repeatedly. I’m empathetic; he was in the middle seat. Still, there are “rules,” and he was often in my space. With his … Read More
When someone dies in an emergency operating room, it is the moral obligation of the doctor to report this to the family: “We did everything we could possibly do.” Before leaders remove team members for non-performance, they have the same … Read More
These posts, and thousands of books, explore ways to engage and lead others better. Let’s be clear; these techniques and skills work for the vast majority of folks. But not for all of them. We are plagued by “The Ten … Read More
I used to be a band director. In my first of three jobs, things didn’t start out very well, but after about three years, I “figured it out,” developed a system, and things worked for that group of 26. Then, … Read More
Email can eat us alive. Here are some pointers to manage the inbox, based on my daily practice, rather than ideal “best” practices. I believe in “inbox zero.” Right now, my inbox is empty. My first step when I look … Read More
Leaders often know what the needs are in a situation, and dictate them with authority. While the leader is often correct about the direction, engagement can suffer without more buy-in; asking questions that help others discover the same needs can help. … Read More
Formal and informal networking opportunities abound. There are plenty of pointers on networking out there. And, we’ve blogged about DiSC in the past – you’d better review the basics if you’re unfamiliar. Let’s put those together; check out these quick … Read More