Leadership Articles

Top Five Workplace Complaints & How to Conquer Them After 25+ years of working in and observing organizations of every type and size, I have noticed a common theme among all the successful ones; they consist of a group of enthusiastic, confident, positive people who work together on behalf of a future to which they have all committed. In most organizations, the above definition of what a “successful organization” is simply does not exist. In fact, rarely will you find a g

In today's busy world of cell phones, email, text messages, voice mail, instant messenger, and who knows what else, it's easy to get sucked in to being "on call" all the time. When we are available and responsive at all times, we think we are doing the right thing--providing great service to our clients and accomplishing our goals. In short, we think we are being successful. This month I'd like to encourage you to think this one through. As a leader of others, you must be av

In talking with leaders over the years, I`ve noticed that most seem to struggle with celebrations. Some struggle with when to celebrate. Some struggle with why they should. And some don`t have a struggle because they don`t celebrate at all. (Here the struggle is for those they lead!) Unlike many other leadership topics, there doesn`t seem to be much of a consensus on the topic. People range from one end of the spectrum to the other - from we don`t need a reason to celebrate t

Yep, I heard it again. A new client, a CEO, told my team prior to our first work session, "I want my life back. I love working, but I've got to stop working 90-100 hour weeks. Something's gotto change around here." Sounds logical and completely reasonable to me. But how do youget your life back ...

There is plenty of speculation available concerning the definition of project management. However, what is project management in actuality? What do managers have to be knowledgeable about in order to create projects that are successful? We are going to talk about the basic concepts of project management. rnPeople are born with the ability to solve problems. When a difficult issue hinders us from achieving our goals or other positive things that we want to achieve, we use all

Since experts say we all are truly complex bundles of energy, it makes sense to think about how we can manage, use and increase the amount of energy in our bodies and minds. Because when we are better energy managers, we can create better results in all areas of our lives. The topic of personal energy is much larger than can be covered by a short article. In fact, while we should definitely think about our physical levels of energy that isn`t the point of this article. (Thoug

This post is written to celebrate Homemade Bread Day, and while it may seem strange to connect homemade bread and leadership, please get past the quirkiness and follow along. I believe there are powerful points that follow, even if you aren’t (gasp!) a fan of homemade bread.rnAs I made notes to create this article, I thought about the things that make homemade bread so special and tied them to important leadership ideas. Most importantly though, I have chosen to provide you

Believe it or not our employees are ready, willing and, in most cases, able to pitch in and help, but we need to ask. Too often we take the word “super” in supervisor literally and think we can do everything. In today’s fast-paced business environment, there is no way we can ...

Growing up on a farm I know a little bit about getting in the weeds. And I know when you find yourself there, especially if the weeds are thick and tall, the going gets tough and you might even lose your way. I don`t know about your office, but my experience is that this happens in meetings all the time for a variety of reasons. In a recent teleseminar, I was asked about a tough meeting situation where a group had lost its way. Here is how the question was posed: Basically, a

Are you being fair with your managers? Are you sharing critical information with them in a timely manner? Are you developing performance standards for them and the company and then not sharing those standards with them? If you answered, "Yes, Yes, and No" that's great. But stop and really think ...

A Towers Perrin study of 86,000 employees worldwide, states that only 14% of the global workforce is highly engaged on the job. These individuals feel a connection to their work and the company and a passion for what they do. They are focused on the job and excited about the work they are doing. They are high-potential employees who are helping the organization move forward. When a majority of its employees is highly engaged, the company gains stronger revenue growth, lower c

He’s won one Super Bowl, so far. He’s been the NFL’s MVP 4 times, set numerous records, and more are likely in his future. He was recently named The Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. And for the next few days will be among the most talked about and read about people in the world. And that is before he plays in his third Super Bowl. His name is Peyton Manning. He is a quarterback and media darling. And whether you like (or care) about football or not, if you d

“Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday you leader . . . Happy Birthday to me.”rnToday is my 52nd birthday – a year for every week in a calendar year. The other day I was thinking about how birthdays are different as an adult than as a kid. If you are like me, birthdays probably aren’t as big of a deal now as they were then; and perhaps you still get gifts, but probably not as many as you once did. This reflection led me to think about the kinds of

If you've been reading e-tips for awhile, you know that powerful questions lead to more meaningful performance conversations. You can't do all the talking and expect an employee to really buy in to your ideas. You have to engage them in the exchange. For most of us but those highly skilled inquisitors, forming thought-provoking questions on the spot can be a challenge. It's a skill that takes some effort to develop. Over the next few months I'll offer tips for developing stro

Will you be tired of spending hefty sums for the electric firm just for kinds household strength demands? Do you wish there were approaches to steer clear of this cost without having lowering your us planning for vitality? In fact, there is certainly typically a means; in truth, you will find many techniques by which you may get sufficient electricity on your house without the need of paying out any dollars as regular monthly charges. Tesla’s Solution Unit gives you a multi

Leadership is the act of leading people and managing things. On the other hand, leadership development is an activity that enhances the leadership skills in a person. It is the art of maintaining course in order to ensure that a target is achieved. Good leaders are humble and do not allow ego to outshine their values even under great pressure. Leaders earn trust from others by remaining firm and not allowing their ego to affect their decision making process. Traits of a good

Last year I was teaching my Organizational Dynamics class. It was a large class of adults with years of business experience. While discussing the verisimilitude of change management, the class listed thirty factors for effective change management. We took these thirty factors and did a lazy man’s Factor Analysis. A Factor Analysis is a statistical technique used to whittle many factors into a few core factors. It’s also so complex that it has unhinged even the most steadfast

We spend a lot of time and money on comfort. We search for the right pillow, the right chair, the right shoes (although my stiletto-wearing friends will disagree with that one).rn rnAnd yet, many of the best things for us make us uncomfortable. The doctor's visit where we calibrate our health . . . taking a walk even if we're tired. . . finishing the taxes tonight instead of waiting until the last minute. rn rnMy job often involves making people uncomfortable. As a leadership

What makes a champion? Enthusiasm, willpower, and activity are the main materials you'll need. you'll notice I didn’t list talent as one of the required ingredients to your championship run. Certainly, talent helps, but working hard will always beat expertise when talent doesn’t work hard. Here are five steps that will make sure you will be a champion: First, the commitment you need to make to be a champion is to yourself. Additionally it is the only promise you have to t

Many of the organizations I've been working with recently are facing tough times. If they aren't laying people off, they are cutting budgets big time. We all know the slumping economy translates into difficult decisions in the workplace. And how these decisions are carried out impact how employees feel about the organization. While these tough times may force us to have some tough conversations, they don't have to lead to decreased employee motivation or commitment. Here are

Famous linguist Noam Chomsky divided formal grammar into four different classes in 1956. He listed the different classes of language it generates, the kind of automation that recognizes it, and the forms of its rules. The four types are – Type 0- Type 3. Let’s learn a little more in detail about them – Type 0 or the Recursively Enumerable Languages – These contain all formal grammars which are recognized by the turing machine. rnType 1 or Context Sensitive Grammar –

You may have seen the story on 60 Minutes, or seen the stories throughout the media all week. There has been a big conversation about the idea that the Stock Market is being “rigged” by high frequency trading. That is the thesis of the new book Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis. In short using technology, artificial intelligence, and other clever strategies, Lewis purports that these high frequency traders are doing things to gain micro advantages and make

What is it that separates the successful from the unsuccessful or the profitable from the unprofitable? This is a question that every leader must discover the answer to if he or she does not want to end up amongst the ranks of mounting failures. In an effort to provide leaders with cutting edge information, I have made it my business to study some of the foremost leaders in this country. I have discovered that the differences between the successful and the unsuccessful are n

Have you ever cleaned your garage? When you started the project, the task was pretty well defined. You could look at the garage and see what needed to be done. But once you got started, two things happened. First, you realized there were more necessary parts to the job than originally thought – the project got larger as you went. Second, you found additional things that could be done – a small organization project here; an old unfinished craft project there. And as you fo

Do you want to get more done, reach more of your goals, and make a bigger difference? If so, the morning is when that can all begin! However you came to read these words, I`m confident you are interested in greater productivity, achievement and success. Perhaps you want that for yourself, or perhaps you want that because you lead others and you owe it to both yourself and them. Either way, this article will help you when you take action on what follows. Before We Start Before

Most people realize the value and importance of being grateful for the positive and meaningful things in their lives. Much has been written about the benefits of an attitude of gratitude. It doesn`t take much prove that value - your experiences likely are proof enough. When you take the time to "stop and smell the roses" or take a more disciplined approach to thinking about all of the things you have to be thankful for, you know how it makes you feel. This attitude of gratitu

Achievers are always looking for ways to become more successful; to reach goals more quickly and with greater assurance. And, for centuries authors have been sharing the factors that help anyone reach their goals. If you consider achievement and achievers, you hopefully would recognize that one piece of the goal achievement puzzle is attitude. In most goal achievement writing I`ve seen, attitude is always discussed, often downplayed and typically misunderstood in the entire g

Even though "leadership" is one of the most common words in the English language, people's interpretation of it varies widely. But understanding a few basic concepts about leadership opens the door to leading more effectively. First, people in charge are typically called "managers," but they're expected to both manage and lead. Managing and leading are two totally different activities. Managing involves the effective use of resources such as funds, supplies, schedules, system

I recently received a thank you note from Matt, one of my nephews. I had helped him revise his resume and practice for interviews, as he needed to "get" a co-op in his final semester of college in order to graduate. Matt wrote that he had "gotten" a great co-op position with a company that has ...

Are you more irritable and less patient with others? Do you feel disillusioned and no longer derive satisfaction from your accomplishments? Have your sleep or eating habits changed? Are you experiencing headaches or neck or lower back pain? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from job burnout. And, if it's any consolation, you're not alone. According to a nationwide survey by Career.com, a whopping 77 percent of workers say they feel burnou

We spend the early parts of our lives adding to our vocabulary. Teachers and parents want us to learn new words. And research shows that vocabulary is a good predictor of success. And yet I am asking you to take four words from your vocabulary? Yes I am. To be clear, it isn’t like you won’t “know” the words any more; I am simply suggesting you don’t use them (or use them very sparingly and with great thought before you use them). Let’s get right to it. Busy When u

Leadership is recognized as one of the core factor for the organizational success and growth. It is very unfortunate that many organizations intentionally or unintentionally do not provide leadership training programs to encourage the leadership qualities of the potential the employees. Thus, they do not able to meet the success in reaching organizational goals. Such examples are sheer injustice of the qualities that human beings naturally possess. A good leader can take the

I’m of the age where I remember television shows moving from black and white to color - Bewitched, The Beverly Hillbillies and Andy Griffith immediately come to mind. When these transitions happened they were widely advertised, but we didn’t have color television yet (the fall of 1972 for us). Nonetheless, I remember the transition, and I remember seeing those shows in color for the first time. Not just color, “living color.” The color, of course changed the experienc

Many business owners still believe their Human Resources (HR) department is primarily responsible for developing their respective organization’s future leaders. However, the longer business owners keep this limited mindset, the further behind their organizations become. You see, this ...

Introducing China Cleantech Podcast, a media platform that highlights promising cleantech innovations and people emanating from the Chinese ecosystem through poignant storytelling. The platform sheds light on the inspiration, journey, and experience of China-based cleantech practitioners. Marilyn says, “The Chinese narrative in Western media is usually negative and replete with misinformation due to the current US and China relationship. Reaching Paris climate goals will be

Who are “THEY”?rn“THEY” are all the top performers -- the best of the best. But what does it take to make it to the top? It’s what THEY have in common. Let’s examine the characteristics of those who achieve. This is what distinguishes the best from the rest at any successful company. First, every top performer displays a genuinely positive attitude. A positive attitude is more than just thinking good thoughts. A person’s attitude can make all the difference. The

Back to Boot Camp You know, whenever you are going to make a major change and begin to undergo a different lifestyle, it is probably good to make a massive move in that direction. Think about it. As the old saying goes, “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you ...

On the day that President Barack Obama placed his hand on Abraham Lincoln’s Inauguration Bible, he articulated what leaders across the spectrum know: “Part of what I wanted to communicate was that government is going to work, we’re going to make it work. But it’s ultimately the American people ...

Leaders, new and old, sometimes lose sight of the most fundamental tenets of leadership. Here's a reminder… n nI frequently tell executives that leadership and its concepts, theories and core applications haven't changed in a millennium. n nSome of our demographics may have changed. This forces us to use alternative applications of those concepts. But the basic leadership concepts and theories remain.n nSo, why don't we "just do it?" n nSometimes we aren't motivated. Someti

My Dad spent 30 years working toward retirement, and he retired with nothing. There are many reasons why his company shut down. Near the top of the list was lack of leadership. Specifically, the inability of political, company and union leaders to understand that managing the tension between performance and people is the heart of a leader’s job. How well do you manage that tension?r

There is a phrase that TSA uses over the speakers at airports, in public service advertisements and on billboards like the one I recently saw in a baggage claim area.rnIf you see something, say something.rnTSA is wisely using this catchy phrase for several reasons:rn• They want to reinforce the culture in airports they are trying to create.rn• They want to set clear expectations for everyone.rn• They want everyone to feel responsible and accountable for meeting their mi

I recently read the McKinsey & Company Report on Global Leadership in which they site the two primary conce s for global executives: 1 - The Economy; it's recovery has not been as strong and doesn't look as if it will be as strong as anticipated six months ago, and 2 - Retaining Employees: how ...

In a previous article, "Powerful Questions for Powerful Leaders," we began a series of tips designed to build your skills in asking powerful questions. You've heard me say time and time again, "questions are the key to a meaningful performance conversation." We first explored the concept that paraphrasing allows you to confirm what the employee has said and then redirect the conversation if necessary. In this article we'll look at another critical concept of a painless perfor

Lots of people have visions of crashing and burning when giving a speech. The nightmares seem real, and yet while you may not like presenting and may have had some blunders, you’ve likely not had a presentation-nightmare-come-true like Michael Bay (Director of the Transformer movies, among many others) had in Las Vegas last week. He was there to introduce a new curved TV from Samsung along with a Samsung Executive. If you didn't see what happened, let me tell you it was pai

I began the week with a blog posting on the principle of Discipline. Given that I was away from home, in Vancouver on business, traveling with my daughter Meryl Fé, and staying with a friend whose internet service was out of order the first few days, exercising discipline was essential to moving through the week productively and gracefully. Perhaps the greatest challenge and the richest rewards during the week–as is often the case–were embodied in the dynamic tension bet

There's nothing like a good four-letter word, right? It can express an emotion and energy that's hard to get across any other way. And of course, the well-timed four-letter word can actually make an impact on everyone around you. Oh wait – did you think I was talking about swear words like #%&@ and #(%^? Well, I have been known to use a few of those (usually when I'm caught in Atlanta traffic). But in my quest to help us reinvent our workplaces and wear our red capes all th