I was visiting my best friend Matt, and his young sons Alex and Owen were outside playing. Owen came in and shut the glass door, leaving Alex accidentally locked outside. When Alex looked through the glass, amused but pleading, I … Read More
There’s a funny episode from The Office in which Michael thinks that if he makes his office more like Google, then people will be happy and work harder. He goes all out, installs a Nerf hoop, gets a beanbag chair, … Read More
If there’s one skill that leaders must master and habitually improve, it’s communication. I say “habitually improve”, because it’s impossible to communicate flawlessly ALL the time. But – we can sure try! Take a look at this story about a … Read More
In their research on Characteristics of Admired Leaders, Kouzes and Posner found this: Far and away, the most desired characteristics of leaders are (in this order): HonestForward-lookingInspiringCompetent It’s fascinating that both “inspiring” AND “competent” are on the list together, as … Read More
Remember that two-word definition of leadership – “Meet Needs” ? You can really put that into action by staying conscious of things that you can deliver to the people who report to you. Your team is so used to deliverables … Read More
While it’s true that leaders need to show positivity, remain optimistic, and give positive feedback, there is a point at which it can be “too much.” In fact, showing empathy can be more important than positivity. If someone is very … Read More
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
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
Some think a weekly one-on-one is just for the corporate environment, between full-time, salaried workers and their supervisors. There’s a lot out there on that – including this great guide from Manager Tools. One-on-ones truly work in a variety of … Read More