Articles
Turning Under-Miners into A-Team Players
The lone wolf. The snarky manager. The know it all director. The leader who talks about everyone else on the team. The senior team member who smiles but is disrespectful behind your back. The “I did that” when you know darn well you did that Boss. The downright...
Staying stable when the floor is shifting
One of my favorite childhood games was Labyrinth, where you had to negotiate a metal ball along a tilting floor, trying to get it as far through the maze as possible without dropping it into one of the many holes along the way. OK, I’ll admit I still enjoy playing...
Yes, your workplace is a political environment
Every workplace, no matter the size, has its own well-established political economy. There are no perfect meritocracies, no perfect Kumbaya environments in the corporate space. We can bemoan it, but we must deal with it. As you navigate the choppy waters, keep these...
Can I trust you?
Last time I wrote about how adjustments in communication style can help someone avoid being relegated to “blah blah blah” status in the office. For executives, underlying the need for effective communication is the bedrock “must” to be truly trusted by your...
Are people hearing ‘blah blah blah’ when you speak?
Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comics featuring Charlie Brown and his ragtag gang were far ahead of their time in many ways. One recurring joke I always loved was how parents and teachers were universally portrayed as off-screen characters talking in “blah blah blah”...
Respect the ‘holy trinity’ of successful organizations: Executive recruitment, leadership development, and retention
Successful organizations know they have to pay attention to all aspects of their business in order to win. Sales needs marketing, which needs product development, which needs research and development, and so on. Put too much of your organizational energy into select...
Action, not words: Why an executive coach makes the difference
No pain, no gain. Anyone who has broken a bone or torn a tendon knows the pain of physical therapy and the corresponding reward of healing. Anyone who has worked with a therapist to cure psychological trauma knows how frightening facing your fears can be. Done well, a...
After the hire: How best-in-class businesses retain top talent
The step-by-step process of hiring: Defining/refining the role. Crafting the job description. Writing an appealing advertisement. Working contacts and combing through resumes. Interviewing. Interviewing again. Checking resumes. Negotiating an offer. Onboarding. Done!...
Are you in touch with your executive presence?
As we go through our morning rituals, we look in the mirror and work our magic, making sure we’re well scrubbed and ready for what lies ahead. It’s a routine thing, something we don’t think much of. We then check in on ourselves throughout the day, making sure nothing...
Is that an iceberg in your blind spot?
Boxers sparring with their stronger hand tied behind their back, tennis players serving blindfolded, righty baseball players batting lefty. Coaches of high-level athletes — and athletes with high potential, as yet unrealized — sometimes deliberately handicap their...
Off the gas, off the brakes: Is your career on autopilot?
You are in the office, but you are not truly “present.” You are comfortable at your organization, but you are not challenged in a meaningful way. The pay is good, the situation isn’t threatening, you have worked hard for a long time to get to this point, your team is...
How managers can disarm subtle workplace bullying
As star employees enter management ranks, as managers of smaller teams and organizations step up to lead larger ensembles, the problems they must solve are no longer just “business” challenges, but people challenges. There are the personal issues that everyone...
Labels fail the test
We humans like to put things in boxes. Situations that we cannot easily and quickly characterize generate some level of unease, whether conscious or not. We are most comfortable with what we can file neatly and label. The same goes for how we view the people we meet...
Unhappy, empty…what will be your tipping point?
We are careful planners, hard workers, strivers and savers. We succeed — sometimes at least — and when we don’t, we learn from failure. But we keep building, always. Some young folks have a natural curiosity. They never stop asking, seeking, and testing boundaries....
There are no hermits (or robots) in the C-suite
Perception is reality. Ponder this statement for a moment. The implications are truly startling. While this statement may have been borne out of our polarized political discourse and seem stark and extreme, it is nonetheless meaningful and instructive for C-suite...
In a corner office, but still stuck in high school?
Jenny can’t help but pick on the new girl and Linda is working on strategies to defuse the bully. Meanwhile, Chris can’t figure out how to explain to his authority figure what went wrong with his project and John is too indifferent to care. Scenes from the local high...
The Three Secrets of Effective Coaching
The brilliant CEO, the visionary entrepreneur, the artist who takes your breath away... The emphasis on individual genius looms large in our business and creative culture. “Who thought of that? Who created that? Who could possibly dream that up?” But when asked,...
Pearls and a Custom Suit – How it could be your downfall
People believe what they see and that perception of what they see IS the reality of what they believe to be true. Many executives I know including those I’ve worked for and those whom I’ve worked alongside spend countless hours trying to “play the perfect part” as a...
Fostering collaboration and innovation in today’s modern work environment by embracing diversity and inclusion.
Abstract Exploring the reasons and benefits of creating a diverse, inclusive and collaborative team. Investigating the impact a committed leadership team has on implementing cultural change in their organization and ensuring positive results. Download Fostering...
Starting at the End — The Importance of a Good Severance Package
Understanding the benefits available in a severance package is essential to protecting yourself and your family. Have the conversation now, so you don’t regret it later. Focus on the end as much as on the beginning. Think of this scenario: After weeks of preparation,...