“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” —Abraham Lincoln.
Power, a word that gets the adrenalin going in some and strikes fear in others. Workplace power is an integral part of any business environment. [Read more…]
Jeff Bezos is famous for saying, “Success is going to require talented experts, a beginner’s mind, and a long-term orientation.” His recent goal of disrupting the health care system with JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO, Warren Buffet, will require all of this and more. [Read more…]
There are overprotective bosses, selfish leaders, and there are clueless managers. Each, and all, can get in the way of their employees’ growth and progress.
Here are some common destructive, or counterproductive, behaviors practiced daily in the workplace. [Read more…]
Let’s face it — bad news is a part of business. Mistakes and problems happen at work, we all know that. You miss a deadline, run over budget, a customer is dissatisfied. If there weren’t issues to be solved, we wouldn’t need as many managers and executives.
You just learned or discovered some bad news. Now it’s time to inform the boss. What do you do? [Read more…]
Many bad bosses and leaders make assumptions, interpret things incorrectly, and behave in a way that is unproductive and, at times, risky to you and them. For those of you who manage a staff, below might serve as a “what not to do” checklist. If you are supervised by someone who is less than a stellar manager, this may give you some insight into what is going on and how to change the course. [Read more…]
When you scan your calendar for the week or month eyeing the meetings you are scheduled to attend, what thoughts come up? Is it excitement or dread? Appreciation or resentment? Do you anticipate it being a time well spent or another bad meeting that will be a drain on your energy? [Read more…]
“If you’re lucky enough to do well, it is your responsibility to send the elevator back down.”
These are the words of director, producer, actor (famously known in his role as President Frank Underwood on “House of Cards”), Kevin Spacey.
It begs the question, “What do leaders owe to their employees?” How do they, regardless of the profession or sector, commit to and demonstrate the sense of responsibility to individuals’ development and success? [Read more…]
Are you delegating by using the drive-by method of leadership?
Do you express half-baked ideas with few instructions and expect people to follow through?
Projects aren’t delivered on time because you never articulated the deadline?
Are casual encounters your favorite time to ask for a specific piece of work to get done? [Read more…]
Problem solving and leading are important skills every executive or manager needs to continuously hone. This is the interesting and fun part of the work. The less desirable aspect is what I call the “Five Things Your Boss Never Wants to Hear.”
What do these behaviors look like? [Read more…]
In its most basic form, accountability is holding yourself, another person or group, to the promises they made to do or not do something. Sounds simple enough. So why are most people hesitant to do so and why isn’t it more successful?