This statistic stopped me cold: 60% of the participants in a 2009 international study trusted a stranger more than they trusted their boss. Yikes, how sad. In doing a quick mental tally of bosses I’ve had, unfortunately this figure didn’t seem too far off my experience. Many of those bosses didn’t grasp that in times » Read More
Barry wasn’t happy that his boss put him through the 360 evaluation process. He was even unhappier after receiving the feedback. In fact, he was shocked, angry and disbelieving. There was no way he was unethical, thoughtless or lacking in credibility and integrity. In following the trail of bread crumbs to the root cause of » Read More
I was on my way to a meeting, driving on the freeway in blinding rain and happily singing along with the radio. Suddenly, there’s a semi-trailer on either side of my car, both churning up road mist and throwing off their own back-splash of rain. I couldn’t see a thing. No more singing as I’m » Read More
Those dark nights of introspection are so wrenching, yet so filled with growth. Whether the amount of time involved is prophetic or not, I can’t say. What I do know is that I’ve spent the last 40 days or so in a reflective place, spurred by someone who brought the lights down and released by » Read More
I didn’t get the memo. Did you? You know, the one that says compromise is negative and should be avoided? Somewhere along the line, compromise (defined by Merriam-Webster as a settlement of differences by consent reached through mutual concessions, one of those “playing well in the sandbox” skills my mom taught me) got confused with » Read More
Everyone agreed George was a tough boss. He was demanding, settling for nothing less than one’s best. He was goal-oriented, charismatic and driven. He pushed when outcomes weren’t up to par; he beamed when they were. He challenged when he knew people were capable of more. He offered up praise, appreciation and thanks. He had » Read More
After Lyle hired me, I saw the position profile the recruiter had used for the placement: 10+ years management experience in a B2C service industry, bachelor’s in accounting required, law degree preferred, and a working knowledge of telecommunications. I met none, absolutely none, of those requirements. My education and experience were in entirely different areas. I asked » Read More
Tis the season for gift-giving! Have you selected one for yourself? Something special that you’ve needed or wanted for a long time? Something that will help you be at your leadership best in 2011? If you’re still searching, maybe there’s something on this list that’s just right for you! An hour a week of self-care. » Read More
I recently made a speech to a group of business people about power. After the talk, a small group gathered where we explored their personal definitions of power: “Power means you’re the boss, and people do what you tell them to do.” “Power is your ability to ensure that things get done.” “Power is all » Read More
I marvel at the amount of time spent: Seeking to define leadership and management. Can we just do the work, focusing on people, principles and results; and not get hung up on labels?
