Have you ever looked carefully at a ship afloat? What do you notice about the water? As a submarine officer, I had plenty of opportunities to see ships tied to the dock, ships in transit in the harbor and ships in the open sea. All of them have this in common: They are held afloat by the water that is outside the ship. All ships also share this: They all have water inside … [Read more...]
Is Emotional Intelligence Lacking in Your Workplace?
"Emotional Intelligence (EI)" is a concept we in the leadership business have heard about and focused on for the past several years. In a nutshell, it means you have the ability to control your emotions and read and respond to other people's emotions appropriately. Tons of research indicates that people with EI, and specifically leaders with EI, are more successful. They are … [Read more...]
Onboarding is Your Responsibility
Ninety-one percent of first-year employees stay on with an organization, if the onboarding process was successful—and nearly 60% will remain after three years. Those are beautiful stats, especially when you consider the high cost of turnover and the burgeoning talent shortage. Effective onboarding is one of (if not the) most critical things leaders can do, and yet, so many … [Read more...]
Your Question of the Week: Could It Be Me?
I have two colleagues. Both of them contribute something valuable to our personal and professional relationships. Both of them are good at what they do. Both of them have strong opinions. Both of them feel free to express their opinions. Both of them have direct and bottom-line communication styles. Both of them are task oriented. Both of them have a sarcastic approach to … [Read more...]
How to Know if You Are a Truly Great Leader
What makes a great leader? Think about it. Your opinion may vary widely from the next person's. Certainly, great leaders come in all different shapes and sizes. They use different approaches and strategies. Some lead with an iron fist. Others inspire with their words. Regardless how they do it, they motivate, inspire and influence people to meet their full potential, to go the … [Read more...]
Checklist: Key Steps and Tips to Effectively Onboard New Hires
If you thought the recruiting and hiring process was overwhelming, take a moment to remember how you felt when you started a new job with a new company. It's rough. From the moment you extend an offer (granted the job candidate accepts), your new hire is likely filled with all sorts of anxiety. Did they make the right decision in choosing your organization? Will they … [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...]
My Biggest Mistake As A New Manager
By Karyn Schoenbart, CEO of The NPD Group and author of MOM.B.A.:Essential Business Advice from One Generation to the Next Early in my career, I discovered I was good at sales. The more companies I saw, the more proposals I wrote, the more contracts I sold. The formula for success was clear and within a few years, I’d been promoted to manager. Within six months of my new … [Read more...]
Boost Spirits and Protect Productivity This Holiday Season
This time of year is filled with fun, traditions and joy. However, it can also be filled with stress. A packed schedule, bad weather, financial worries and other issues can leave people feeling overwhelmed. Added pressures in the office can push people to the brink. After all, many of your employees are working hard to finish the year strong and ramp up for next year, while … [Read more...]
What You Can Learn From Your Thanksgiving Pie
My favorite food is homemade pie. I come by this naturally, as my Dad used to famously say, “I only like two kinds of pie; hot and cold.” While I can’t quite say that, there is little doubt how much I love pie. And I’ve had lots of it too. As a kid growing up we had fresh pie nearly every day all summer. I learned why many years later when my mom admitted, “I learned that if … [Read more...]