When I was growing up the worst thing you could be called or described as was “bold.” It implied brazen, outspoken, bucking the system, and not a team player. Being bold was alien to my culture, gender role, and family messages. Fast-forward a few decades. I have taken a 180-degree turn. I now pressure myself to be bold enough to push the envelope, speak up, do the unexpected, and ask for, or give myself, what I need. [Read more…]
Our current office environment encourages silence. Look at the layout of an open office space. Initially conceived to facilitate interaction has resulted in making people more self-conscious about speaking. A greater number of us are working remotely, rarely having face-to-face contact with anyone. The vast array of headphones available are used more at work than in any other location. No wonder no one has the opportunity for office small talk. That’s a problem for you, your colleagues, and the company culture. [Read more…]
In Part One of this “Skills for Creating a Collaborative Team” series we discussed some of the tools and behaviors seen in effective and collaborative team groups. This is based on the research performed by Francesca Gino, a professor at the Harvard Business School. In her article in the Harvard Business Review “Cracking the Code of Sustained Collaboration,” the author identified “six tools for training people to work together better.” [Read more…]
Collaboration often ranks last or at least close to the bottom for many people’s way of dealing with conflict and getting things done. When trying to build a collaborative team environment, collaboration should be the top priority. [Read more…]
Being a perfectionist is a personality trait characterized by a person striving for flawlessness and setting high performance standards. I would add sometimes unachievable standards.
Everyone wants to do well in their career and produce work that is top quality. We strive towards delivering with impact in a way we can be proud to attach our name. The question comes up, or should be asked, is, “When is it good enough and not necessary to be absolutely perfect?” [Read more…]
I’ve been thinking about leadership. It’s the lack of leadership that has occupied most of my thoughts while working with executive coaching clients. These smart, ambitious people are frustrated with the absence of brave leaders, leaders with vision, leaders who can confront a dysfunctional system, leaders with big ideas, leaders with emotional intelligence as well as high IQ, who can motivate others to higher levels. Clients long for their bosses to be influential, mission-driven, able to take the heat, and share their successes. They don’t need management — they want leadership. [Read more…]
Do you have a boss, colleague, or direct report who is always grabbing the limelight? Do they take credit for accomplishments not rightfully theirs? Do they act entitled and demand preferential treatment? Do they often brag and boast, and/or blame and deflect? Basically, is it all about them? If the answer is “yes” to most or all these questions, then I’m pretty sure you work with a narcissist. [Read more…]
Here is the challenge. How do you ensure people will read your email?
All of us receive more emails than we would like and probably can handle. We simply don’t get around to reading all of them. So, how do you make people want to open your email? [Read more…]
You’ve worked hard all year. Offered good ideas and solutions that have been adopted. You were promised the next step, “soon.” Then it happens — your boss informs you someone else is getting the job you wanted and thought you deserved. You’ve been passed over for the promotion. What do you do?
Here’s three steps you might consider taking. [Read more…]
As leaders we all must rely on the brains, skills, and motivation of others to meet goals, interpret our visions, and achieve high quality execution.
A challenge many of my executive coaching clients experience is the quality execution part. By that I mean creating a culture where getting excellent work delivered within the expected time frame, on budget, and in a manner that brings satisfaction to all who participate and those who receive is the norm not an exception. [Read more…]