Category: Leadership
Why It’s a Problem When Image Supercedes Effectiveness
Most organizations want to convey a particular image to the public, whether it signifies quality, or professionalism, or innovation. And when organizations put thought, care, and resources into crafting their image, they want it to... Continue reading
Accentuate the Positive: Help Your People Do Even Better
Most supervisors don’t actually spend the majority of their time developing their people. Instead, they’re often stuck in meetings -- which are sometimes about their people -- or handling paperwork, computer problems, and whatever other... Continue reading
Want Effective Managers? Focus on These Development Fundamentals
A surprising number of companies no longer expect their senior managers to develop their people: They turn management development over to outsourced coaching firms instead. I’m a strong proponent of “coaching” for behavior change and... Continue reading
What Happened When Management Stopped Being an Apprenticeship?
I was lucky to be a young manager at a time when it was still typical to be directed, trained, mentored, and generally developed by your senior managers. There were enough senior managers around that... Continue reading
What To Do If Your Boss Brainstorms for All the Wrong Reasons
One of the kinds of leaders who can drive employees crazy is the “Brainstormy” Boss, who creates a work environment that’s as changeable as the weather. It’s Raining Ideas! When brainstorming is used appropriately -- as... Continue reading
This is What to Do When Your Boss is Unrealistic
What can you do if it's clear that your boss thinks your job is a lot easier to do than it really is? You can think of her as the “Have You Gotten Any Better... Continue reading
This Is What to Do with an Employee Who Cries
Here’s an example of how to use emotional data to help individuals work more effectively. A frontline manager in a service company was known to have an emotional hair trigger. When Charisse didn’t care for... Continue reading
How to Help Colleagues Regulate Out-of-Control Emotions
No matter how important it is to take everyone’s feelings into account, it’s still not reasonable to expect tears, shouts, or clenched jaws in the workplace every day. Excessive or poorly directed emotions get in... Continue reading