No time to lead
Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with a manager in advance of some leadership training that kicks off this week. We were discussing how his management job had changed over the years. More automation, more communication, more regulations and fewer staff on the team to get the work done. […]
MoreDealing with abrasive personalities
Typically when we think of abrasive personalities we are talking about aggressive people who seem to have no filter on either what they say or how they say it. In some cases the abrasive person might be a no-nonsense straight-shooter who is perceived as abrasive but is actually constructive in an overly passive work environment. Let’s deal […]
MoreCulture of Curiosity
This past week I had the opportunity to read Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book What The Dog Saw. Gladwell wrote the best sellers Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. What I like most about Gladwell’s books is that they are fueled by a curiosity about things that most of us don’t think twice about. In What […]
MoreAddicted to Being Right
Are you addicted to being right? Being right always feels nice but it could be holding you back from greater success. My wife Robin is right about many things and she is kind enough to let me think some of those things are actually my idea. We’ll explore the issue in greater depth below. Addicted […]
MoreDefending Profit Margins
In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to work with three companies that are each leaders in their respective industries. In each case, the products and services they offer, the people who work for them and the way they conduct business are all first rate. And yet they all are facing […]
MoreCheck Mark Thinking
Achievers can fall into the trap of check-mark thinking. They view corporate change as a to-do list. Mission statement – check, Vision – check, Told them what I expect – check, Metrics in place – check. The busy executive then moves on the other things because he or she thought they had “done” everything on […]
MoreSelf Deception
What do people really think of you? Do you even care? Do you care too much? Many of the managers and executives I coach and train start off by being surprised and maybe even slightly insulted to think that they need to improve their leadership skills. After all, they wouldn’t have been promoted if […]
MoreDelayed Gratification
A lot of money is made in the “self-help” industry from promising people “quick and easy” ways to achieve success. In fact I challenge you to pick up a business book or “how to” book that doesn’t have the words quick and easy on it. They wouldn’t sell as well with the words “difficult and […]
MoreWhat Employees Wish Santa Would Bring Them For Christmas
Dear Santa, I have been a good employee all year and wish that you could help my manager bring me the following gifts this season. They would help me become happier and more productive next year. Give me the gift of clear expectations – help my manager become more clear in what he or she […]
MoreDon’t Blame the Customer
I had the pleasure of attending a social event connected to a convention I was attending in Calgary. The organizers had planned an entertainment-packed evening at a “cowboy ranch” with gun slinging cowboys, a comedian, a live auction, and for those who were brave enough, a mechanical bull. All the proceeds were to go to […]
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