When children are of a certain age (around three years), they frequently say “no.” It’s their way of showing independence, establishing a sense of self, and a means of testing separation from caregivers.
Why in later years do so many adults have difficulty saying “no” to supervisors, customers, colleagues, children, partners, and even to people they hardly know? [Read more…]
What if I told you that as a manager / leader / boss / group head, you have enormous power and influence over whether your employees stay or quit. What if I said you could prevent employees from quitting? What would you say?
My guess is it would be something like, “The budget is the budget and I have no way of giving someone more money.” Or, “I don’t make the rules or set the strategy — it’s beyond my control.” You might be right about your lack of influence but where you are mistaken is thinking that the company mission or employee compensation are the reasons most people quit their jobs. [Read more…]
No use fixing the roof if the foundation is crumbling. The same could be said for the training and development of staff in a broken organization. Too much time, money and energy is spent in the workplace touting sporadic and conflicting training of mid and entry-level employees. I am not referring to skills learning, for that is [Read more…]
One of the ongoing questions for executives today is how to prove your value. Many of my executive coaching clients, who work at various levels and in numerous sectors, lament the fact they do not feel, or are not recognized for, the value they bring to their group, direct reports, and the organization. [Read more…]
What are the traits of great leaders? A number of my executive coaching clients are either trending towards, or are already in, significant leadership roles. There is also another group of smart individuals who aspire to such positions.
Leading doesn’t have just one aspect. There are thought leaders, people leaders, bad times and good times leaders, as well as those great with start-ups, and others who thrive in more mature environments, product leaders, and culture drivers, to name just a few. Not everyone is good at all of them and not every position [Read more…]
More than a few times this month an executive coaching client of mine said, “I wish I knew where I stood with my boss and how I am viewed by other decision makers.” I’m sure a number of other people were seeking feedback and thinking the same thing, though they may not have expressed it so specifically.
My simple answer is, “ask.”
The question that follows is, “How?” and “When?” [Read more…]
CCBY: Greg L and Ingrid Taylar
Because of the release last week and the subsequent attention to the movie “Sully” (starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood), I found myself curious about this pilot who landed the passenger flight US Airways 1549 in the Hudson River. . Who is this man? What did he know? How had he learned it? Was it instinct or training? Skill or luck? Are leaders, such as this, made or born? [Read more…]
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou
Stumbled upon this quote and almost immediately had a visceral reaction. I contemplated the question, “How do you deal with your feelings?” I flashed back to experiences in grade school, high school, my first job, my last corporate job and everything in-between. While I have many wonderful memories of good people doing right by me, what makes my chest tighten are the times I was made to feel, worthless, different, incompetent, and unwanted. [Read more…]
“At higher levels (of an organization) all leadership problems are behavioral.” This is the belief of well-known and highly recognized, executive coach and coaching leader, Marshall Goldsmith. He is the author of the best seller, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” Marshall and I agree that at leadership levels everyone is smart, educated, and experienced. They may be a leader; however, it’s the way they act and treat others that can get them into trouble and compromises their leadership abilities. This might be you. [Read more…]
There is no better time than the present to assess, re-evaluate, and change some metrics and ways of getting things done in your work life. Here is a mid-year career checklist that covers some areas you might want to consider. [Read more…]