Collaboration is the new way to work. Walls are being removed and collaboration points are being designed into workplaces. Though collaboration isn’t new, it is being revived. In a world of extreme connectedness, collaboration is rising as a strategic and practical way to gain a competitive advantage. At the core of collaboration is trust. Without » Read More
Have you ever been frustrated by a conversation (or a series of them!) that seems to go nowhere no matter how hard you try? Progress can be illusive at best when two or more people are in a conversation in which they are not committed to the same outcome. Yet even when you are seemingly » Read More
As a leader I have encountered a diverse number of leaders each characterizing certain leadership styles. Some of these leaders have been effective, some not so effective, and some have been extraordinary. What type of leaders have I encountered? Here are a few that come to mind: “Gung-ho” leaders who lead zealously and are overly » Read More
“Am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been, has, have, had, do, does, did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, could.” Those are verbs of being. I learned the list in 5th grade from a teacher named Mrs. Hoggard. She was a teacher from the old school. I’ll confess. There are times I inflict » Read More
Steven Covey once said, “Character is what we are; competence is what we can do. The reality is that character and competence drive everything else in the organization.” How is your team in your business or organization aligned for success? Do you have two key components that drive success? I have known many companies who » Read More
5 Ways to Prevent Your Employees from Turning into the Walking Dead Zombies are in vogue right now. I confess I’m a fan of TV show The Walking Dead. I turn my head away at the zombie action, but I am attracted to the human stories, the drama, and the symbolism. Do you want zombies » Read More
When it comes to people working for my company, I made a promise when I first started to be true to myself and my values and to model “loving and kind” actions in dealing with my staff. We became the company of “loving and kind” people. And no, we’re not a bunch of “touchy feelys.” » Read More
When employees come to speak with you, do you put everything down, turn off your phone, and feel truly eager to hear their thoughts? Few managers actually do this on a daily basis, and as a result, they are like air traffic controllers without radar. Listening is an active quest to understand the knowledge, concerns, insights and ideas your employees bring to the table, and you need this information to do your job well.
Last year at the State Fair I saw a vendor selling rocks. These weren’t just any rocks. You could heat them up, put them in a blanket and they would keep you warm. They glowed a gentle red when heated and retained their temperature for a long time. The banner above the rocks read: Experience » Read More
Building consensus is key in the democratic process. When you have a vote you “have a say” in the outcome. Even if the vote doesn’t go your way, you still had the privilege of having a voice. Voting may be an effective way to elect someone into office. After all, you will rarely, if ever, » Read More
