No doubt about it: The world is loud, chaotic, and outright scary. And with a pandemic piled on top of political/social/economic upheaval piled on top of “normal” disruptors like AI advancements that change everything about the way we work, it’s only going to get more so. Here’s the question: How do you get heard above the chaos? Do you shout louder? Work harder? Bulldoze over … [Read more...]
Should You Ever Be Silly?
As leaders, we're often convinced that we need to be serious and put together all the time, but is that realistic or even recommended? I believe a certain amount of silliness and playfulness belongs in leadership. In part because being a great leader requires you to be transparent and real. All real human beings laugh, are playful and have fun sometimes, don’t they? Have … [Read more...]
7 Old School Workplace Strengths that Are Now Weaknesses
Ed Hess, author of Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change, says that many of the skills and mindsets that were once prized and sought after have actually become liabilities. Here he identifies seven skills and attitudes that not long ago might have gotten you a corner office—but may now get you fired: Command-and-control leadership style Expecting people to … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Luck
"The harder I work, the luckier I get." I agree with that thought. I just don’t think it tells the whole story. For example, these actions can help you generate some luck at work, at home or in any part of your life. Say “Go for it” more, and “What if it doesn’t work?” less to yourself and those around you. Learn from and even celebrate mistakes. Read … [Read more...]
How to Build Your Brand as a Go-To Person
This is a guest post by Bruce Tulgan author of The Art of Being Indispensable at Work. You need to grow to make yourself even more indispensable, by steadily increasing, expanding and professionalizing your repertoire of specialties into areas beyond your job. The more specialties you have, the more of your time you’ll be able to devote to high-impact value adding — working … [Read more...]
Motivate Yourself With a New Routine
Things have been hectic, full of uncertainty and pretty scary for months. Now, the days of summer are here, beckoning us outside. Even the normally super productive and focused leaders among us are struggling right now to manage all the change and emotions. So, if you are like so many people right now who are feeling some unease and distress, it could be because your daily … [Read more...]
Why Now Is the Right Time to Focus on YOUR Development
"Work from home" may be in place for much longer than originally anticipated for many organizations, and that could be by choice. Many leaders now see the value in allowing employees to telecommute. Others, who pivoted quickly and shored up their organization's IT capabilities and security so that they could operate virtually, may not be so quick to rush back to the office, … [Read more...]
Manage Your COVID-19 Fears to Lead More Effectively
Most of us are feeling scared and uneasy right now. Uncertainty, worries about our health, our loved ones, our jobs and more are causing many of us to lose sleep at night. However, Karen McGregor, author of The Tao of Influence: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leaders and Entrepreneurs, believes some good can come out of this ordeal. "Now is the perfect time to dissolve fear-based … [Read more...]
Becoming a More Positive Influence: Are You the Villain?
This is a guest post by Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D., a mental success coach and cutting-edge leadership consultant, trainer, and researcher. Judging by the plethora of Marvel and DC Comics movies that come out on a regular basis, we are a society that is enamored by heroes. But, in order to have heroes, you have to have villains, right? If you are anything like me, you have … [Read more...]
Become a More Humble Leader
The late Zig Ziglar once said, "Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will," and we couldn't agree more. When you stay humble, you are open to other's ideas, you are willing to accept and improve your weaknesses, and you realize that nothing is permanent, so you work hard to stay in your position. Being an exceptional leader requires that you continue growing … [Read more...]