"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be." ~ Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady Every person in an executive role aspires to be wise and is expected to exercise wisdom in their decisions. Unfortunately, far … [Read more...] about In Search of Executive Wisdom
Leadership
Drive: What Really Motivates Us
I love animated videos. Here's one with a message about motivation, from Dan Pink's wonderful book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. The animator is RSAnimate, and it's fascinating to watch. If you're an executive coach and need content on this topic for your e-newsletter … [Read more...] about Drive: What Really Motivates Us
Executive Wisdom: The 8 Traps of High Achievers
“Many high performers would rather do the wrong things well than do the right thing poorly.” ~ Thomas J. DeLong and Sara DeLong, “The Paradox of Excellence,” Harvard Business Review, June 2011 Leaders are high achievers who continually grow as professionals. But in many organizations, there are … [Read more...] about Executive Wisdom: The 8 Traps of High Achievers
The Business Case for Positivity
What good are positive emotions in the workplace? As scientists study the brain and learn more about how we achieve optimal functioning, the term positivity has finally captured business leaders’ interests. One study of CEOs showed that training to be more positive could boost their productivity … [Read more...] about The Business Case for Positivity
Corporate Culture Drives Results
“The person who figures out how to harness the collective genius of their organization is going to blow the competition away.” ~ Walter Wriston, former CEO Citicorp If your people continue to think and act as they do now, can you expect to achieve the results you need? If your answer is no, then … [Read more...] about Corporate Culture Drives Results
Managing for Peak Performance: 5 Key Steps
Most managers want their people to achieve excellence at work. We really can’t ask for more. In fact, peak performance can be defined as a combination of: Excellence Consistency Ongoing improvement How can managers bring out the best in their people? To achieve peak performance, each … [Read more...] about Managing for Peak Performance: 5 Key Steps
How to Be a Better Boss
The word “boss” conjures up memories of the good, the bad and the ugly ones we’ve endured throughout our careers. Bosses shape how people experience work: joy versus despair, enthusiasm versus complaints, good health versus stress. Most bosses want to be good at what they do, yet many lack the … [Read more...] about How to Be a Better Boss
How to Cultivate Executive Presence
Someone in your company may have recently been promoted to a leadership position. This person successfully competed against other qualified candidates, some of whom were probably just as experienced and smart. As often happens in judging one candidate over another, the decision most likely came … [Read more...] about How to Cultivate Executive Presence
The Power of Empathy and Focus
Without empathy and focus, you’ll never be able to communicate effectively and relate well to others. People who lack empathy are sure to face interpersonal difficulties that lead to inferior performance, negative outcomes, and poor relationships with coworkers and customers. As a competency skill, … [Read more...] about The Power of Empathy and Focus
How to Read People and Influence Perceptions
Competition for top leadership positions is tough. Intelligence and good social skills are the price of admission, but they’re not enough. A high-potential candidate must master the intricacies of reading people, predicting behaviors and influencing perceptions — advanced communication skills that … [Read more...] about How to Read People and Influence Perceptions