What makes some Managers great?Most organizations have leaders that run the gamut from mediocre to outstanding. Do you ever wonder what separates the average from the star performers? Obviously there are many variables to be considered, but one important difference is that some managers stop working on themselves. In an article in the Harvard Business…
InfluenceIn talking to a client recently I was told that the company had turned into an autocratic organization where no ones opinion mattered. He wanted out because it was demoralizing to work there. It sounded to me like there was an inability to influence in his company.The ability to persuade and influence others is a…
Adaptive Learning part 2….Learning occurs when a new idea is presented to us and we have to tease it part to understand it. Often the best thoughts can seem alien initially, but by resisting the urge to dismiss and embracing the possibilities we will learn something! My experience is that this process is enhanced by…
Problem Solving part 2….This management skill is so fundamental…thought we needed to pursue further. One of the most critical components of problem solving is gathering more information. Part of that is going deeper within your normal channels to learn more. Another part is going outside this network. Explore opinions and perspectives from new sources. Ask…
Another key leadership attribute – Problem SolvingMuch of what we do as managers involves solving problems. Our ability to do that well will enhance our upward mobility. Sounds obvious doesn’t it! The problem arises when the standard approach to unraveling a problem doesn’t seem to work. The average performers sometimes just try the same old…
Another key leadership skill – Adaptive learningIt’s important to continue to learn and adapt all the time. Great leaders realize that the environment is in a constant state of change and that being able to spot the movement and capitalize on it rather than having to react is important. While we all realize the importance…
Another key leadership skill – Adaptive learningIt’s important to continue to learn and adapt all the time. Great leaders realize that the environment is in a constant state of change and that being able to spot the movement and capitalize on it rather than having to react is important. While we all realize the importance…
BalanceI once had a friend tell me that when companies tell you they want you to have a work-life balance they didn’t really mean it. He thought the employers he had worked for would soak up every available minute of his life. While this may be true of some workplaces it really boils down to…
Finding your passion Interviewing people became an important part of my career early on. I learned that the quality of the people I hired drove the success of my team. One of the things I noticed about the people I talked to was that some had little passion about working. It was apparent that they…
Do you ever wonder why something that often works is not effective? I’ve had this experience recently while taking a course in mindfulness. Working hard and striving to accomplish things yielded results in my work life. Setting goals, holding myself accountable, checking things off my to do list…all of these things led to forward progress.…