In a recent interview with Robert Dilenschneider, he riffs on career wisdom for Millennials. I found, however, that the wisdom is applicable to everyone, no matter where you are in your work experience. Case in point, Robert highlights three ways to stand out positively at work. These are timeless truths that we all need to seriously integrate into our work ethic…. Read More»
Just last week I found a new favorite radio show on NPR: Snap Judgment, hosted by Glynn Washington. And here’s the segment of his show that hooked me: Tatyana Brown’s “National Holiday Project.”
Tatyana, a poet, found herself in a situation very familiar to most of the poets and other artists in the world through time immemorial: working a “real” job to pay the bills.
In Tatyana’s case…… Read More»
Being a leader requires taking the right road, not the easy road. Treating our people fairly requires judgment, subjectivity, and clear communication of expectations and goals on an ongoing basis since the world around us changes all the time. When we treat our people equally but not fairly, we tell people it’s ok to underperform and under contribute undermining the morale of our dedicated and passionate people and are then surprised when we get mediocre output and outcomes…. Read More»
Workplace optimism is a belief that good things are possible when we apply our strengths and skills to work that matters. Work that matters is work we know has an impact on those for whom we apply our strengths and skills: internal or external customers, management, or even employees…. Read More»
Sadly, I think all of us have encountered people along the way whose fears and insecurities kept them from being the leaders they were capable of becoming—leaders who lack the courage to match their proverbial “talk” to the reality of their “walk.” Men and women who, like the mouse in our story, are content with coming up with countless excuses not to act when doing so is unsettling, uncomfortable, or just plain risky…. Read More»
In the winter of 1979, I followed the Sex Pistols to San Francisco. I sat in the balcony at Winterland massively choked up. Not because of the band, (in fact the prize that night belonged to The Avengers, not the Sex Pistols,) but because there were thousands of leather clad, pogoing punk rockers. At long last, and surely for the first time in my life I had found my people. I belonged…. Read More»
Though early in the progression to the future of business, one thing is already clear: to grow and to survive, senior managers will need a new alchemy for growth. No longer will the “better, faster, cheaper” formula suffice. A myriad of massive disruptions – both inside and outside a company’s domain – are colliding, leaving a radically altered business terrain in their wake. My clients and I have come to think of these disruptions via the acronym of REMITS. This acronym also highlights the need to alter the responsibilities (our “remit”) we as senior managers, leaders, entrepreneurs, community members, investors, and activists use to define what we do daily…. Read More»
How would you like to go to work every day never feeling appreciated? How long would it be before you stopped trying? How long would it take for you to quit?
When employees don’t feel appreciated, their work suffers. As a leader, it’s your job to make sure that the company is successful. A successful company is made of employees who put forth their best effort every single day. Being a grateful leader is the easiest, cheapest way to make them want to do that…. Read More»
Listening isn’t a new concept.
In the 1850s, for example, playwrights, actors and artists in London would frequent a press-clipping agency to see what was being said about them in the news — in essence, “listening” for mentions of themselves.
Fast forward to today and the same remains true about human nature. People want to know what’s being said about them, and the opportunities for brands to leverage these conversations are limitless. … Read More»
Maybe I’m dating myself, but my wife, Irene, and I enjoy listening to songs sung by Kenny Rogers. One song he wrote is simply called “She Believes in Me”. Part of the chorus says, “And she believes in me, I’ll never know just what she sees in me”…and further along “But she has faith in me, And so I go on trying faithfully.”
If you know the song at all, maybe like me, you find it quite moving. Naturally, it has personal meaning between my wife and I. For me, this emotional song also conjures up recollections of other people at various times in my life who have elevated and led me to new heights…. Read More»
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