The expression “standing on the shoulders” was written frequently by the 17th Century British physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. He is quoted as saying, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulder of giants.” He gave credit to the many who came before him, influencing and contributing to his eventual monumental scientific discoveries. [Read more…]
You probably know exactly what I am referring to when I ask about email overwhelm. You’re waiting for the boss to email you with the okay to move forward. Six members of your team are emailing asking, “Have heard from the boss?” They want to know when and how to meet. CNN is posting “breaking news.” A colleague just sent you a link for a podcast. Accounting wants to know if you submitted expenses. The Tech Help Desk’s email is announcing a system update. Your partner needs to know if Friday night is still okay, and everyone seems to be hitting “reply all.” [Read more…]
Many of us thought working from home would shield us from the slings and arrows of a toxic work environment. However, research tells us we were wrong. [Read more…]
GLINT, a research and innovation organization whose mission is “to help people become happier and more successful at work,” published its “State of the Manager 2021” survey results. The most disturbing piece of data was the fact burnout in the workplace rose 78% from Q1 to Q4 in 2020. I am sure no one is surprised and believe things have not gotten better. How many are still concerned? Are you?
I have hired hundreds of people in my careers. The process differed depending on the level I was looking to fill. In the retail field if the applicant could work weekends and holidays — and their hygiene was acceptable — they were in for that part-time, entry level job. When looking to fill an executive position, the process took more skills, time, and effort. [Read more…]
I have heard and used the phrases company culture and customer service numerous times in the past few weeks. In one instance it was helping an executive coaching client choose among potential employers. In another situation, listening to a client’s fear her firm was losing its culture of emphasizing customer service, and finally, listening to an NPR interview on the subject, through the eyes of a highly successful internet entrepreneur. [Read more…]
Those of you who have read my column on a regular basis know I am a strong advocate of goals and objectives. I encourage executive coaching clients to ask, “Where am I going?”, “How will I get there?”, “What will the end look like?” and “How do I measure success?” That said, I see all too often a drive to the finish that can at best, be exhausting, and at worst a disaster. [Read more…]
Manage Up: Have as much contact and visibility with your boss and boss’s boss as possible. Make interactions mostly business and put in some casual conversation. (It can be very lonely and isolating at the top.) Do what I call casual encounters — except you plan them. [Read more…]
We know all the phrases, “look for the silver lining,” “there are opportunities in a crisis,” and “leaders are born in wars.” There is truth to all of these, maybe even some motivation and solace.
Not to diminish or deny that much has been lost, changed, or left open in this pandemic. Many people have suffered unthinkable amounts of pain and suffering. We respect and honor their courage and resilience. I do think there can be a silver lining, opportunities, and leadership emergence for many of us. [Read more…]
In past issues of the Competitive Edge Report, I discussed many aspects of leadership: Leadership in Times of Chaos, Leadership Advice — Leadership Not Management, and Leadership Lessons from Captain Sullenberger (“Sully”). Recently several of my executive coaching clients have been faced with extraordinary challenges — layoffs, regime changes, downsizing, employer realignment, illness, natural disaster, and now this pandemic. [Read more…]