By Guy Harris Coaching team members, improving performance, and confronting challenging behaviors are among the most common concerns expressed by participants in our Bud to Boss workshops. While the best approach for a specific situation depends on more variables that I can address in this single post, there are three guiding principles that you can apply to almost any … [Read more...]
Progress vs Perfection
By Kevin Eikenberry So, as a new frontline supervisor, what should you when you are coaching success as a leader? It ultimately rests on answering one question: Did the person being coached reach the level of performance or behavior desired at the start of the coaching? While reaching the objective is one thing, the process of coaching is more nuanced than that. There is … [Read more...]
You Are a Role Model (Whether You Like it or Not)
By Kevin Eikenberry You've got questions, and we've got answers. Hi, I'm Kevin Eikenberry answering the questions that new leaders ask us. Actually, it's our goal to help all leaders be more confident, successful, and productive. And we do that by answering questions, including this one. Am I a role model? Are you ready? Let's get started. The more general … [Read more...]
The One Skill You Need to Succeed
By Kevin Eikenberry So, did my headline makes you wonder? That was my hope. Maybe you are guessing what that one skill is. Perhaps you are thinking I am pretty presumptuous to suggest I know the most important skill you need. After all, I don’t know you, your experience, or what you do for a living. This skill is so ubiquitous that it doesn’t matter what you do, … [Read more...]
Can You Be Both Strong and Kind?
By Guy Harris In a recent Bud to Boss workshop, a member of the class asked this question: “Are there some situations where you need to be strong rather than kind? I mean, if you’re kind, won’t people think that you’re a pushover?” Great question. It basically asks the question in the title of this post: can you be both strong and kind? I think the two concepts are not … [Read more...]
Manage Conflict by Eliminating the Three A’s
Guest post by Marlene Chism Getting promoted into a leadership position means you’ll have to do things that make you uncomfortable. You’ll have to initiate difficult conversations about performance, you’ll have to course-correct inappropriate behavior, you’ll have to set boundaries, you’ll have to inspire accountability. In short, you’ll have to learn how to maximize your … [Read more...]
The Big Truth About Micromanagement
By Kevin Eikenberry You've got questions and we've got answers. Hi, I'm Kevin Eikenberry answering the questions that new leaders ask us. Actually, it's our goal to help all leaders be more confident successful and productive. Today, I'm answering a question about micromanagement. Are you ready? Let's get started. I've had many leaders ask me this question. What do I need … [Read more...]
When the Pull of the Past Creates Problems in the Present
By Guy Harris Many things change when you become a supervisor. Your responsibilities, daily routines, role in the organization, and relationships all change – practically overnight. In the middle of all that is changing, it is easy to miss or overlook the things that do not change – even if you would like it if they did. There are many things in your team, organization, and … [Read more...]
The 4 Leadership Styles that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest
Guest post by Robert Jordan Your frame of reference affects your perceptions. For example, take four friends—an architect, a chef, a graphic designer, and a financial analyst—and sit them down around a table on launch day at the hottest new restaurant in town. When asked to describe their experience, chances are: The architect might note the structure of … [Read more...]
What to Do When You Have Already Done Everything You Can to Get an Employee to Improve
By Guy Harris Coaching and performance questions are among the most frequent types of questions I get when working with new and front-line leaders. Among those questions, the most common question is often phrased this way: "How do I discipline someone when I’ve already done everything I know to do to get them to improve?" This question (and the answer to it) is closely … [Read more...]