“I have a lack of resources.” We’ve all heard it so many times, we’ve probably said it ourselves. Lack of money, time, contacts, a better boss, education, opportunity… and the list goes on. But is this really the issue? If you had $10,000 or a million dollars, a 48-hour day or unlimited opportunity, would things really be that much different? Would you be more creative, more passionate? Would you reach your dream? Would you consider yourself a success? I doubt it. [Read more…]
Much can be learned from parenting. I’m always amazed at how seemingly good parents find it hard to apply those skills with their employees. As a successful parent, you are… [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…]
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 am the oldest of five children; a great blessing as an adult, a mixed bag as a child. Lessons I learned, being one of many, shaped who I am and how I maneuver through the world. Realizing at an early age I had to be independent, rely on myself, rather than others, made me a decision maker and prepared for the real world. It also anointed me the “doer,” the one to rarely ask for help. I’ve worked hard on correcting the last statement. I’ve learned to ask for help earlier and more frequently. [Read more…]
Everyone wants feedback — my utility company after a service call, the airlines, hotels, Amazon, and Apple. They all are looking for insights on how they can serve me better and looking for any missteps or flaws in their delivery of products and services.
The same is true with your employees. I can’t tell you how often my executive coaching clients tell me, “I wish I knew where I stood with my supervisor.” Why should this be such a mystery? And, why is it so difficult for employers to give feedback to their staff? [Read more…]
I am fortunate to coach many very smart, creative, successful people. Yet, when it comes to personal branding and marketing themselves, they act like amateurs. Why is that? [Read more…]
“Art is theft” is a well-known quote by Pablo Picasso. One might think a genius such as he would have plenty of original ideas and that taking those of another would never be contemplated or necessary. Think again. Reading biographies of artists of his era you hear about the creative and exciting culture of Paris in the 1920s. We all know what they did in influencing the transformation of the world of art and literature, and how the constant interaction amongst these talented artists, and the sharing and stealing of ideas, made each of them better at their craft. Who created something first was never the question — who took it to the next level, or in another direction, received the recognition. [Read more…]
Self-evaluations and performance appraisals — everyone hates writing them and few enjoy being the receiver. Is all the angst and consternation really worth the time and energy invested? Are we kidding ourselves in thinking they really impact performance or retain good people? I question it, as do a good number of business leaders — companies such as Deloitte, Adobe, Microsoft, and Accenture, who have eliminated the annual process, aiming towards a more frequent, less formulaic, feedback program. [Read more…]