Stuck in the Middle with Management
“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right / Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.” The Stealers Wheels song wasn’t explicitly addressing middle management, but “stuck” is what it often... Continue reading
Do You Share This Bad Communication Habit?
I’ve got a bad habit in some of my interactions. It breaks my own rules about showing respect, recognizing that I don’t know everything, and giving people full control over their own choices. I was... Continue reading
Want to Be a Successful Leader? Guess What: It’s Not About You
Think about every boss you’ve had since you were a kid, including the parents of the kids you babysat, the owner of the greasy spoon where you waited tables, and the director of the camp... Continue reading
The Benefits and Limits of Gratitude
One of the greatest things about Thanksgiving is how American it is, in the best sense of the word. Americans of every stripe and background can celebrate the opportunity to express gratitude. And they can... Continue reading
How Feedback Can Fail and What to Do Instead
I recently surprised a COO by giving him very different advice about a business problem from what he had heard from others. Here’s the situation: Through the grapevine, a bunch of junior R&D folks expressed... Continue reading
How to Cope with Post-Election Impact in the Workplace
I’m writing this post a few days before the historic presidential election of 2016. No matter who wins, an enormous number of people are going to feel horrified and upset. After all of the heated... Continue reading
How to Keep Progress Going and Be a Leadership Success
“Nothing’s happening! Why isn’t anything happening?” Strategy, planning, and communication are all crucial parts of leadership and organizational life. But it’s execution that most people really notice, from the CEO to the most junior frontline... Continue reading
Marketer, Do You Know Your Target?
From the Annoying Sales and Marketing File: A sales rep emailed me and, in an overfamiliar, cheeky tone, implied that I was in default for not responding to an earlier message. This, despite the fact... Continue reading