Are you a scary boss? Chances are that if you are, you don’t mean to be. I hope. The problem is that if your team does somehow fear you they likely also don’t trust you. Fear is the enemy of trust and it is trust that underlies your ability to fully engage your teams’ talent.…
I continue to scratch my head on this one. The internet is rife with books, studies and opinion pieces as to why innovators and creative thinkers are central to business success. One need look no further than the landslide of commentary about Steve Jobs. Visionary, risk taker, game changer, etc. So why is it then…
Have you ever been frustrated waiting for a decision from your boss? Once in a while, it’s OK right? Everyone gets annoyingly behind now and then. It’s pretty much impossible to stay on top of everything all the time. We all know that. But when your boss’s indecisiveness is a pattern, it’s a completely different…
You have a passion for your work. You are driven to do give your best. You love the challenge of new problems and strive for continuous improvement of your products and services. Well, what happens when that type of drive and ambition is no longer valued at your job? Do you tough it out? Given…
The recent showdown in the oval office between the President of the United States and the leaders of the Democratic party was a reminder of the importance of civility. Why? When our goal is to accomplish as much as we can and be as effective as possible, incivility rarely improves the situation. While politics is…
I just came from a restaurant where I was powerfully reminded of the importance of an often elusive piece of business success – great customer service. For me, it’s like the elephant in the middle of the room. So many companies flout their extraordinary customer service yet deliver the opposite. I’m particularly puzzled about this,…
Despite all the rhetoric, books, resources and money thrown at organizational change efforts, most fall flat. Studies show us that about 70% fail. This stat is both shocking and depressing, especially given the human costs. In my business, I have witnessed the wreckage and body bags of many a haphazard change process.
Have you ever been stung by someone else taking credit for your work? It doesn’t feel very good, does it? In fact, it can feel downright crappy. Similarly, have you ever taken credit for someone else’s or your team’s work? Did you do it because you thought it was “no big deal”? What may seem like such a trivial matter, is, in fact, a big deal…stage hogs take note.
All too often I see new hires and those recently promoted thrown to the wolves, so to speak. Beyond a perfunctory introduction to their new office or responsibilities, frequently, little else is provided. As a result, many are left dazed and confused, don’t feel welcome, and may even start looking for a new job. While the reasons underlying this sad scenario can be many, I see it happening all too often because of a lack of time.
Maria storms into work. She smacks her purse down on the desk and heads down the hall in search of her first cup of coffee of the day. We can tell that she’s already had a bad morning. We’ve been in her shoes and guess her mood is not going to change today.