As leaders, new or otherwise, we are having a lot of conversations and in these conversations, there are a lot of questions. And it's easy to fall into the trap of answering and responding to every question that we get and yet sometimes, NOT giving the answer is the right response. Here's what I mean. https://youtu.be/E9VPRwgthn4?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: … [Read more...]
Prevent Presentation Failures
You may be outstanding at managing, inspiring and coaching employees. You were born to lead, and yet, when you speak in front of a group or give a presentation, you struggle. The fear of crashing and burning often throws you completely off your game. Presenting in some form, whether it is offering training, making a proposal to upper management or simply leading a team … [Read more...]
Take Action: Clear the Mental Clutter That is Holding You Back
That clutter on your desk is nothing more than procrastination on your part. You've decided to ignore it. Push it aside. Pretend that it's not really hurting your productivity, even though you know you could work more efficiently if your desk was clean and organized. The same goes for the mental clutter you keep caring around, and you have at least a little. After all, you … [Read more...]
The Differences Between Feedback and Advice
Feedback and advice. Some people use the terms interchangeably. If you look at the most basic definitions, though you see that they really aren't all that similar: Feedback: "A reaction or response to a particular process or activity." Advice: "An opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc." The words hold very different connotations for … [Read more...]
Making Goals Happen
This week's episode comes from a a listener's question about goal achievement. They asked: How do I make sure that my team reaches their goals? I think "making sure" that someone reaches their goals isn't necessarily possible but as leaders, we can "help" them and "hold them accountable" - all leading them to be more successful at goal achievement. Check out the video … [Read more...]
Work-Life Balance is More Than Just a Cliché
Hopefully, you found time this weekend to relax, have some fun, spend time doing something you love, and re-energize before this week started. I talk about the importance of relaxation often on this blog, because I think it is critical to leaders' success, especially new leaders who likely are feeling a totally different set of pressures than their more tenured … [Read more...]
Building a NOT-to-Do List
It might seem counter-intuitive to some but the truth is that we can be more effective and productive leaders when we DON'T do some of the items on our daily To-Do lists. Check out the video below to hear more about what we mean by this and also how you can get started on NOT doing a few things today. https://youtu.be/oCG1ZWFTL7E?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: As a … [Read more...]
Start the New Year Off Right With This Simple Exercise
New Year's Eve is just days away, and I want to share a short exercise with you that will be fun, informative and might be the most valuable 90 minutes you’ve spent in a long while. It is possible you could take longer than 90 minutes, and you could perhaps spend a bit less time, but if you will give yourself just 90 minutes on New Year's Eve to do what follows, you will be … [Read more...]
Starting Your Day
I am starting this episode a little differently than I normally do and I'm asking YOU a question rather than answering a question. https://youtu.be/QjLfHCHuKJA?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Choose to interact with your team early in the day - it sets a great example and creates a climate for encouragement and growth. @KevinEikenberry From This Episode: Sign up … [Read more...]
Do I Have to Know Their Job?
Do I have to know how to do the job of everyone on my team? While seemingly simple, the question is actually a little more complicated than that. There's no hard and fast answer but I have a few things to keep in mind to help answer the question for you and your team and to help you lead your team more effectively. … [Read more...]