“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
Managing
The Mindful Leader: Sit and Be Still
"Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be." —Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric Most business books focus on how leaders can achieve more. How can you do more, better…and faster? This full-length article takes the opposite tack: how and why, as leaders, you should sit … [Read more...] about The Mindful Leader: Sit and Be Still
A Checklist for Managing Your Boss
There will always be those who view the concept of managing upward as flattery and manipulation. Others hold the common belief that if bosses are wise, they don’t need to be managed and such efforts will be viewed solely as attempts to play office politics. But managing upward is not about … [Read more...] about A Checklist for Managing Your Boss
The 8 Traps of Decision Making
Before making an important decision, prudent managers evaluate the situations confronting them — and often fall into one of the eight traps of faulty thinking. Some managers are too optimistic and overconfident: They overestimate success and underestimate the range of potential outcomes. On the … [Read more...] about The 8 Traps of Decision Making
Once Again: Just How Do You Motivate People?
You know you have a talented group of people working for you. You may have personally hired some of them or seen their excellent work in other teams. But all of this talent is meaningless if you cannot raise the bar and motivate people to produce their best work ever, for you and your team, right … [Read more...] about Once Again: Just How Do You Motivate People?
Leadership Personality: Do You Have the Right Big Five Traits?
“Personalities at work are like cars in the city: They often can keep us from our destination.” Pierce J. Howard, The Owner’s Manual for Personality at Work, 2001. How well do you understand basic personality differences among the people at work? Knowledge of personality structure, dynamics and … [Read more...] about Leadership Personality: Do You Have the Right Big Five Traits?
Good Boss, Bad Boss: 20 Bad Habits Leaders Should Stop Now
“We spend a lot of time teaching leaders what to do. We don’t spend enough time teaching leaders what to stop. Half the leaders I have met don’t need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop.” —Management expert Peter Drucker, as quoted by Marshall Goldsmith in What Got You Here Won’t … [Read more...] about Good Boss, Bad Boss: 20 Bad Habits Leaders Should Stop Now
Leadership Taboos: Exploring Credibility
Leaders do many things others couldn’t get away with and cannot understand. And each time a leader “gets away” with something, there’s an erosion of credibility. Leaders are charged with getting things done through others, so we allow them a great leeway. We expect our leaders to exert power, … [Read more...] about Leadership Taboos: Exploring Credibility
Bullies in the Workplace
The fact that the phrase "going postal" has become common workplace jargon is a significant commentary. While workplace murders and assaults are in the media, far more frequent are incidents of bullying and intimidation. Often it is accepted as poor management style: an overbearing boss or … [Read more...] about Bullies in the Workplace
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