This morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees—including Pearl Jam, Janet Jackson, Journey and more—for its 2017 induction ceremony. That got me thinking about music and bands, and the role each member plays. The singers in the band are out front, and the lead guitarists often have the coolest solos, but without the drummer—or with an off-rhythm … [Read more...]
Make This Your Top Priority When Communicating With Employees
The late great Jim Rohn, was more than just a great speaker, he was a modern day philosopher. One of my favorite quotes by him “The goal of effective communication should be for listeners to say, ‘Me, too!’ versus ‘So what?'” epitomizes what communication should be all about, especially in the workplace. As a leader, being able to communicate effectively is probably your … [Read more...]
Shhhhhh! Leader Thinking Here
We live in a busy, filled-to-the-brim world. That is true for everyone, but especially for leaders. There are more distractions, diversions and noise in our world than ever before in history. While everyone has 24/7 news, email, texts, social networks and a hundred other sources of information and noise coming at them all day, leaders probably have more. More demands, more … [Read more...]
How Enthusiastic Should I Be?
I’m a fan of enthusiasm – and always have been. And I think most would agree that enthusiasm is contagious – and when you spread it as a leader, it is especially powerful. In today's video, I'm sharing my thoughts on exactly why enthusiasm is so important to your success as a leader. https://youtu.be/3hXWiFp0940?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Enthusiasm is … [Read more...]
Planning to Hire Someone? Do This First
It's this time of year when companies are working on their plans for next year. They are finalizing budgets, setting goals and more in hopes of building on this year's successes or improving performance that didn't quite meet expectations. Additionally, some businesses are sketching out plans to increase hiring in the coming year, while others must beef up staff to manage … [Read more...]
Building Confidence as a New Leader
Confidence is important to the success of anyone, and it's even more important for new leaders who need to build their confidence while they are learning and adapting to a new role. In today's video, I'm sharing a few tips for building the confidence you need to succeed. Check it out below! https://youtu.be/gd1BaIKTdt8?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Be More Comfortable and Confident When Receiving Feedback
On this blog, we talk a great deal about how you, as a leader, can provide better feedback—that gets results—without busting employees' morale. Today, I want to talk to you about how you, as a new leader, can become much better at receiving feedback. After all, chances are your boss, HR and maybe even your employees will have a great deal to say about your performance, … [Read more...]
8 Keys to Successful Performance Conversations
It is likely you have had an experience like this in your past: You are 8 or 10 or 12 years old. You’ve done something wrong, but maybe you don't know what just yet. However, you certainly know you are in hot water after you have been told to “Stay after class,” “Go to the office” or “Wait until your father gets home.” Whatever the offense, the event goes about the same. … [Read more...]
Helping People Accept Accountability
When I am with a group, whether training, consulting or coaching, it is a rare day when issues or questions about accountability don’t come up. Accountability is more than a buzz word, it is a behavior exhibited by all highly productive and successful people in any field. Which is why people ask about it – they want to understand it better, because they want more of it in … [Read more...]
Why New Leaders Can’t Avoid Learning
You can run, but you can’t hide. That's what people say. However, there are leaders everywhere who do hide, like ostriches burying their heads in the sand, when their teams are under-performing or when challenges arise. Leaders who want to blame others, the economy or the market for their team’s lack of success. Or “leaders” who have a title, but shouldn’t, because they … [Read more...]