Business is fundamentally an extended conversation. Whether you’re speaking with your boss, team members, colleagues or direct reports, conversations shape what gets done. As a leader, you must engineer conversations to foster: Clarity Cooperation Creativity Connection to company … [Read more...] about Leading Change, One Conversation at a Time
Careers
Finding True Flow at Work
Our quality of life largely depends on two factors: How we experience work How we experience other people This is the conclusion of numerous studies on human happiness and meaning. One's self is largely defined by what happens in these two contexts. If we have optimal work experiences, … [Read more...] about Finding True Flow at Work
7 Career Mistakes that Turn Mojo into Nojo
If you’ve been working hard for any length of time, in any field, chances are you’ve experienced at least one humiliating career failure. Career “hiccups” can kill your spirit and make it difficult to regain your motivation and drive. Some of the “bad” things that happen to hardworking, … [Read more...] about 7 Career Mistakes that Turn Mojo into Nojo
20 Common Habits to Stop
Almost everyone keeps a “to-do” list. We begin the New Year with resolutions to start new regimes to make us healthier, wealthier, and, hopefully, wiser. What’s needed is a “to-stop” list of bad habits, when it comes to communicating and interacting with our peers, colleagues, direct reports and … [Read more...] about 20 Common Habits to Stop
Leading from the Middle:
Managing Up, Down, & Sideways
"Leaders are almost by definition people who change minds." —Howard E. Gardner, Leading Minds
There is a lack of trust in senior management, according to a survey by the human-resource firm Watson Wyatt:
Only 49 percent of employees have trust and confidence in their senior managers.
Just 55 … [Read more...] about Leading from the Middle:
Managing Up, Down, & Sideways
Ethical Slips and the Irresistible Urge to Cheat
Even with a solid foundation of good moral values, no one is immune to making unethical choices. Ethical slips and traps are rampant, from telling white lies that protect a friend, to ignoring a gut feeling and following orders when we know better. Not a month goes by without some highly … [Read more...] about Ethical Slips and the Irresistible Urge to Cheat
5 Highly Valued Minds for the Future
“The empires of the future will be empires of the mind.” — Winston Churchill In a ruthless, globally competitive market, companies cannot afford the luxury of holding onto more employees than they need. With economic constraints and technological advances, some jobs are being eliminated completely … [Read more...] about 5 Highly Valued Minds for the Future
Debunking the Talent Myth
Everyone’s talking about ways to find opportunity amid economic chaos. Yet there’s something right under our noses that’s being overlooked: Times of crisis present unprecedented opportunities to stretch and develop real leadership capabilities. What’s needed, specifically? Hire more executive … [Read more...] about Debunking the Talent Myth
8 Keys to Picking the Right Coach
“There’s no question that future leaders will need constant coaching,” notes Ram Charan, author of Leadership in the Era of Economic Uncertainty (McGraw-Hill, 2008). “As the business environment becomes more complex, they will increasingly turn to coaches for help in understanding how to … [Read more...] about 8 Keys to Picking the Right Coach
Living with Job Insecurity: The Future of Work
In a ruthless, globally competitive market, companies can no longer afford the luxury of holding on to more employees than they need. Workers who are not contributing fully to the bottom line are let go. Analysts predict that, in this century, employment, as we know it is likely to be phased … [Read more...] about Living with Job Insecurity: The Future of Work