Monthly Archives: March 2013

Yes…you are a Rocket Scientist – Research and Leadership Effectiveness

posted by

>People who lead have fascinated social scientists for over a century, which has led to more research than you can read in a single sitting. The most critical finding about leadership is that it is both a science and an art. There are clear findings about what works but equally clear findings that knowing what […]

»»

Here’s Your Sign! – Creating Clear Communication

posted by

While not everyone may be aware of the magic that is comedian Bill Engvall, one part of his act is dedicated to all those moments when someone feels the need to state the obvious. On the other side of the communication spectrum, is the moment when you realize you are the only one in the […]

»»

The Loudest Duck Gets Shot – Valuing Diversity

posted by

Diversity is good news to any organization. Besides being reflective of organizational charters, personal value systems, it is (hopefully) engrained in procedural doctrine for your organization. Having decided that, is employment policy the only area we have to practice diversity? Are their behaviors, either individual or as an organization that we can commit to not […]

»»

Everyone Needs a Trophy – Recognizing and Celebrating Achievement

posted by

Among the many popular researchers of the generational differences in the workplace is Bruce Tulgan. Besides well-received books on managing Generations X and Y, Mr. Tulgan has written 16 other books on a variety of workplaces issues and concerns. Along the way, Mr. Tulgan takes on and largely dismantles myths commonly held about how different […]

»»

Starting Over With Someone – Managing Conflict

posted by

So, your boss/coworker/employee drives you crazy? Dread the email or phone call you know will come on Monday, or after you sent out a communication? Are there certain situations you avoid because of “what happened before”? Over at “Leadership Freak”, Dan Rockwell identifies the biggest obstacle to starting over with someone whom you have crossed […]

»»

Got Toxic? – Lead With Maturity and Passion

posted by

Over the last 10 years, the US Army has noticed something that the corporate world has known for a long time. To wit, a jerk boss can really cause damage in an organization. As one of the armed services defined by its relationship to the civilian-led Department of Defense, the Army is required to be […]

»»

Change Champion?

posted by

Chances are you may have been a change champion in your path to leadership. It’s hard to be the opposite (The Change Killer?…Darth Change?) since change is a part of any organization. My first experience with someone really distilling the organizational effects of change on the individual was Spencer Johnson’s book from 15 years ago […]

»»

Put me in the game, Coach! – Acting as a Coach and Mentor

posted by

Coaching and mentoring are two skills that all good leaders practice often and well, while the leaders at the lower end of the employee satisfaction survey…well, not so much. Is there a difference between the two? For the purposes of this post, we will treat these as different levels of focus using similar skills. The […]

»»

Let’s have a meeting! – Communicating Effectively

posted by

Meetings can be a Dickensian see-saw of “the best of times and the worst of times”. Chances are, if you are the team leader, you’ll need to organize one at some point. This is an opportunity to communicate in very clear terms what the future will be for anyone tapped to attend one of your […]

»»