This is a guest Post by Bonnie Marcus, author of The Politics of Promotion It’s a fairly common myth that if you work really hard and have a track record of solid performance, you’ll be successful. This formula worked well for us in school. When we kept our head down and did all the required work, we did well. Our recognition for that effort was good grades, perhaps even … [Read more...]
The Power of Thinking Good Thoughts
In his novel Shogun, James Clavell says: To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline – training – is about.” That is a powerful thought and one that is incredibly important for us … [Read more...]
What is Your Leadership Contribution?
I’m a big fan of questions, both reflective and projective questions, to help us learn, grow, plan and succeed. Here is a question stem I conduct for myself and one I encourage leaders at all levels to conduct on a regular basis. It starts with the simple question: What is my contribution? This question stem leads to some useful questions for us to consider as leaders. … [Read more...]
Don’t Blame the Last Guy
This is a guest post from Pam Fox Rollin. You would never stoop to blame. Or would you? You're going to be tempted Especially if the person who last had the job was let go, demoted, or otherwise removed, you'll be tempted. But even if the last guy was elevated to his/her next walk-on-water job, you're still going to be tempted to blame him for your team's … [Read more...]
Enhancing Your Social and Soft Skills Can Make You A Better Leader
This is a guest post by Career and Executive Coach, Dean Karrel. Dialogue about the importance of soft skills and social skills in business settings is nothing new. There have been books written on the subject, articles on business websites, and many stories in magazines. You’ve probably received emails about seminars or courses offered at local colleges. If you attend any … [Read more...]
Get Comfortable With Employees’ Mistakes
One of my favorite leadership anecdotes involves my daughter when she was just learning to drive. Several years ago, my daughter and I had to drive about thirty miles on county roads through rural Indiana. Snow was not falling on the day we made this drive. However, there was plenty of snow in the fields on either side of the roads and the wind was blowing. Under these … [Read more...]
Know What Your Employees Actually Think of You
Are you a great leader? How would your employees answer that question? One of the smartest things you can do for your development as a leader is to gain a real understanding of how your employees view you as a leader. The only way to do that is to ask. Here are several questions to ask them, preferably anonymously so they feel free to be completely honest. Consider using an … [Read more...]
3 Teamwork Lessons from Our Founding Fathers
Quint Studer, author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America has traveled across America observing communities, from the smallest towns to the largest cities. As he interacts with so many diverse Americans, he has seen a predominant theme: People who work together, win together. "In communities where people come together, put their … [Read more...]
Would You Get an “F” on Employee Development?
Seventy percent of U.S. employees say they’re at least somewhat likely to leave their current company and accept an offer with a new company that’s known for investing in employee learning and development, according to a study from Instructure conducted by The Harris Poll. That statistic is a pretty clear indicator that employees (likely your employees) want opportunities … [Read more...]
4 Steps for Brand-New Leaders
This is a guest post by Zoë Routh, a coach and expert with over 20 years experience in leadership and personal development. If you've moved into a new role where you are more visible and there's a heap more expectation, here are four steps to help you navigate this new level. I call it acclimatizing for leaders. There's always an adjustment period as we discover who we need … [Read more...]