I was particularly intrigued by an article that appeared in the Forbes February 17, 2020, online edition, written by Benjamin Laker, a professor at the Henley Business School in England. The piece is titled “7 Ways to Get the Leadership ‘It’ Factor.” Why was I interested? Because I saw many of my executive clients (and parts of myself) in his descriptions. Several of the observations I encountered are suggestions I often discuss with the leaders I coach. [Read more…]
Isolation and Loneliness — Working in the Office or at Home
I am a bit worried. In so many ways we have come to accept the presence of the pandemic and all that came with it. The drama has settled down and the rhetoric has reduced.
The requirement we stay away from one another for quite some time was a necessary safety decision. Everyone went home to their kitchen table, or if you were lucky, their home office. We got the work done the best we could. It was a remarkable feat. [Read more…]
Interviewing Skills for the Best Results
I have been thinking about the hiring process these past few months. Many of my executive coaching clients are either trying to hire top-notch employees or are somewhere in the interviewing process for themselves. Both are time consuming and, at times, stressful. [Read more…]
Five Love Languages — Showing Appreciation in the Workplace
Gary Smalley and John Trent are authors, speakers, and researchers who focus on relationships. They are best known for their creation and promotion of a work called, “The Five Love Languages.”
They contend people have different ways of expressing and accepting love. They break it down to five behaviors — words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. [Read more…]
Are You Holding Back Your Team (and Yourself)?
In the last two weeks three very successful, highly competent, senior leaders who are executive coaching clients of mine have complained their team members seem to be lacking the energy, interest, and hunger they had previously demonstrated.
We can blame post-pandemic fatigue, the robust job market that provides options to many, and maybe even the summer blues. Or we can look at ourselves as leaders who may be playing a role. [Read more…]
Essential Human Needs — What the Workplace Needs Right Now
These have been extraordinary times. Not everyone is experiencing life in the same way or on a similar timetable. To get or remain on the path forward we need to appreciate and act upon some essential human needs both at home and in the workplace. They are trust, compassion, stability, and hope. [Read more…]
Words and Phrases That Can Sabotage Your Communications
“Mommy, can I eat this bag of M & Ms?” “No,” says the mother with a tone that says, “I mean it and I am the adult.” The kid puts the packet down and starts scheming to get what they want. The mother repeats “no.” [Read more…]
Leader vs. Manager — Who Do You Want to Be and How?
I ask raters who are giving feedback for a colleague’s 360 — “Is (colleague) a leader, manager, or sole contributor?” Some people know the answer immediately. Others are not sure, while many have not given it much thought and look to me for the answer. [Read more…]
Delete, Delegate, Delay, Do, Your Workload
The amount of information available to all of us, in every aspect of our lives, increases at ever faster rates. It is astonishing, valuable, and often increases the workload we carry.
My executive coaching clients regularly, and consistently, complain about the ever-increasing workload placed upon them and their staff. This never-ending demand contributes to burnout and for many people is the reason they chose to change employers. The problem is that in their next place of employment the workload is often even greater. [Read more…]
Giving Constructive Feedback to Your Staff
For many of us one of the hardest moves we must make is to tell a friend, family member, or an employee, they did something wrong, forgot or omitted an important action or point, or handled a situation in a less than positive way. The situation calls for constructive feedback. [Read more…]
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