Another thought about insight….Watching the Washington Commanders remarkable turnaround this past season provides a good case study on how effective enlightened management can be transformative. When Dan Quinn was fired by Atlanta a few years ago he went through a self reflection. He sought the views of former players and coaches he had worked with. The feedback indicated he needed to delegate more and improve his communication. Developing and empowering coaches became a focus. He was able to help his assistants grow into their jobs by delegating more responsibility. As the workload spread he had more people implementing his vision. Buy in from his staff created more positive enthusiasm.The lessons Quinn learned are not unique. Most of us learn this as we grow. The issue can be that under stress from occasional setbacks we fall back on unproductive habits and lose our focus. It seems he was able to keep the whole team, players and coaches motivated. The organization is now viewed as a great place to be, brotherhood runs deep, as mutual respect and accountability became shared behaviors. What a success story!

Success

Why are some people successful where others struggle? There are certainly many reasons but what seems to be essential to success is to have a goal. When there is a clearly articulated goal that is focused on daily the likelihood of success is high. Obstacles are overcome and adversities navigated, but the goal is always…

More on Insight

In my last post I talked about 360 degree assessments. This is one of many ways to get a look at achieving Insights. I would encourage you to go to billdaniel.org for more information.  Another helpful tool is meditation. The nature of our busy environment and constant demands on our attention can create a “noise”…

Insight

During my career it became apparent to me that having insight into a situation was essential to an effective resolution. What a Captain Obvious observation!As a young sales manager I was sure I knew what my team should in any given situation, Why shouldn’t my charges do what seemed right to me?Little did I realize…

Explore what you have

    I have been going through my library looking at things I have read over the years. I’ve found all kinds of things that are fascinating. Many years ago a friend from work told me about the book mentioned below. I bought the book and later the CD’s so I could listen to them while driving…

Our thoughts shape Us

Thoughts shape UsEarl Knightingale once wrote that we are what we what we think about. Makes a lot of since. This wisdom is widely accepted in secular and religious traditions. if we think negative thoughts and perseverate we become shaped by the thoughts. Down the proverbial rabbit hole.This came to mind recently when I was…

What Makes a Manager Great

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…

Influence

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…

Problem Solving II

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…