It’s sad when archaic command-and-control leadership acts strangle an organization. Like a monster with gnashing teeth swinging wildly at anything unlike itself, such companies and their leaders hold hostage its culture. They severely limit people’s potential. They essentially screw themselves out of profits or doing good work that helps communities. Case in point: The American […] Read more… Read More»
For as long as we have managers, leadership will always be fallible, messy, exciting, rewarding, and conveniently dismissed. This is not to bash management. This is more a statement of being human. A reality glaringly staring us in the face easily overlooked because of its simplicity. And perhaps one we don’t like. Often when a […] Read more… Read More»
There’s an analogy of a frog and water. If you put the frog in cold water and slowly turn-up the heat, the frog won’t notice and slowly cook. However, if you put the frog in boiling water, the frog will jump out. In this analogy the frog is us, and the water our environment. The […] Read more… Read More»
Ask someone what they believe in and you’ll likely hear the opposite. Same is true when you ask a team about their project’s successes: they can tell you quickly the issues and drama. Perhaps the positive isn’t as alluring or sexy as the trouble and toil. When it comes to your leadership style, knowing what […] Read more… Read More»
What message are you sending when you don’t make time to coach or have one-on-ones with employees? Let me offer a few suggestions: “I don’t have time to talk with my people.” “The meetings and tasks I have to attend and do are more important than you.” “I don’t want to deal with my discomfort […] Read more… Read More»
Ted and I are big fans of Vineet Nayar’s leadership philosophy that places employees over customers. Central to this belief is turning the hierarchical pyramid upside down. At the top of the inverted pyramid are employees. Central to this seemingly radical move is the disbelief that management holds the answers to business problems or has […] Read more… Read More»
The race from the bottom and the race to the top keeps managers and employees extraordinarily busy. So busy that the proverbial foundation is showing cracks, signs of weakness. In the frenetic pace to innovate, execute and outsmart competition, managers have left a wake of bruised and bloodied employees behind them. Hell, even the managers […] Read more… Read More»
The grim reality hovering over many companies is employees and managers are not happy. If you need proof, Gallup’s Well-Being index shows work environments suck. More eloquently positioned, our workplaces are suffering. Despite the dismal news, you could shift and switch the trend to one more positive. It’s a choice. You could grow bitter from […] Read more… Read More»
The cries of dissatisfaction are certainly whipping up a frenzy of activity that can’t be ignored. From the now ubiquitous Occupy [Insert City Here] to the dismal numbers of employee engagement and satisfaction, people are fed up of being fed up. I suspect you are included in the last statement above. So, too, are your […] Read more… Read More»
Yesterday Ted Coine gave us a compelling reason for tapping into our idealism. It’s a belief and frame of reference essential to a better way to do business in the 21st century. At the heart of Ted’s point, in my opinion, is a dramatic shift in how companies view their workforce. The shift in view […] Read more… Read More»
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