Early in my career, a senior leader in my firm was a master of “what-if,” “blue-sky” thinking. He would come up with an idea, assign it to whichever staffer happened to be around at the... Continue reading
We all know that a title isn’t enough to elicit respect from your subordinates, or even to develop confidence in yourself. If long-term employees and other leaders think of you as having grown up in... Continue reading
When some hotshot skyrockets through the ranks on the way to the C-Suite, other middle managers can feel slighted or overlooked. They worry that they’re not getting enough opportunity or recognition, and wonder why their... Continue reading
A significant number of employees, supervisors, managers, and even vice presidents find themselves getting promoted and having to figure out how to detach from their old peers as well as how to fit in with... Continue reading
Do you know anyone who can’t wait for this year to end? I certainly do, and who can blame them, between family and work troubles, political turmoil and natural disasters. Some of them are looking... Continue reading
This article originally appeared on hbr.org. No matter what the strategic plan says, many of us are more attracted to something new that’s glittering on the horizon than we are to the goals that have... Continue reading
Most of us have made at least one big mistake at work, and had a hard time getting back on an even keel. But it doesn’t help to wallow in self-doubt. Luckily, there are usually... Continue reading
I just watched a customer take offense in a situation where no one was actually in the wrong. She reached into an awkward -- although salvageable -- circumstance, and pulled out a negative experience for... Continue reading
In the past 10 days, three people from different organizations have complained to me about a boss or colleague who’s behaved condescendingly toward them. Not one of the three is a slouch, or a junior... Continue reading
This piece was originally posted three years ago, on 6/27/17. Sadly, it's still relevant. 6/20/20 One of the particularly interesting things about the recent testimony from fired FBI Director James Comey in front of the... Continue reading
Want help coping with conflict?
Download your free Field Guide to help you identify and resolve interpersonal conflicts. You’ll also get Liz’s monthly Workplace Wisdom emails from which you can unsubscribe at any time.