Oct 24 2011
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:31 — 3.2MB)
Mixed Messages Are your workers clear about who they report to and what they’re supposed to do? Especially in new companies, it’s common to have a less than clear chain of command in the interest of an “open” office. One company even has everyone take turns being in charge. I wonder who will …
Oct 03 2011
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The concept of work-life balance is more prevalent now than in the past, but I believe the problem still exists, thanks to technology. How many times do you actually work from home after normal hours because you have a computer, Wi-Fi, and a cell phone? In fact, I think the problem may be getting worse, not better.
Aug 29 2011
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I recently saw a request for help from someone who was chosen to replace the leader of an already established team. He doesn’t know the team members and has not led a team of this size before. To make things even more complicated, the team is spread out in several countries. That’s a …
Aug 22 2011
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There is no shortage of leadership experts. Peruse a list of what various coaches, consultants and trainers offer and you’ll find many different subjects, but they all seem to have something like “and leadership” somewhere in the mix. Browse the shelves in your library or favorite bookstore for books on leadership and you’ll …
Jul 25 2011
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Every leader wants a star on the team. Someone who is a game changer, who can make great things happen with seemingly little effort. Some leaders want nothing but stars on the team. If a member isn’t a star, they just aren’t right for the team. This attitude is becoming more prevalent, especially …
Jul 19 2011
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A vision statement describes a leader’s big dream for the organization. It should reflect what the leader wants to happen if nothing were to stand in the way. The mission statement is different in that it’s more concrete and specifically defines what the organization does. To be effective, it must be short and …
Jul 04 2011
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This is my annual tribute to the founders of the United States of America. There were plenty of reasons not to be in Philadelphia in July of 1776. It was hot and muggy, and mosquitoes and horseflies filled the air. But, in spite of the discomfort, a small group gathered to discuss nothing …
Jun 29 2011
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:09 — 3.8MB)
“I really thought he would work out. He’s a nice guy, but he just doesn’t seem to be the kind of leader we were looking for. Now what do I do?”
When selecting new leaders or promoting current leaders, most executives will give the decision careful consideration, using a combination of experience, intuition, and perhaps evaluation tools prescribed by the company. The problem is, we’re all human and what may have seemed like a good fit initially, will not necessarily work out in the long run. What’s a leader to do?
Jun 22 2011
Things have changed. When I was young, the new generation was expected to conform to the wishes of the older generation. Although not quite at the “seen and not heard” level, we were still expected to listen and wait. Wait until it was our turn, though we were never sure when that would …
Jun 15 2011
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Many leaders find decision making difficult, especially when decisions concern something important. This hesitancy is usually rooted in at least one of these four factors.
