Photo by Theo Decker It’s October. Three months remain in the year, and somewhere in your organization someone is saying, “We need to finish strong.” Fair enough. There are commitments to honor, customers to serve, and goals people have worked toward all year. Finishing strong is a reasonable expectation. But before you ask everyone to pick up the pace, have you taken a fresh look at what you’re asking them to accomplish? Quite a bit may have changed since January. A customer you … [Read more...]
What Happened to the Deal?
For a long time, there was an unwritten agreement between employers and employees. You showed up. You worked hard. You did your job well. You supported the organization, and in return, you expected the organization to support you. Nobody necessarily handed you a document explaining the arrangement. It was simply understood. Stay with the company. Do good work. Take on more responsibility. In return, there would be opportunity, reasonable security, increasing compensation, and perhaps … [Read more...]
Effective. Efficient. Elevate.
Every August, I participate in an annual charity 5K. It is always a hot event, but this year the combination of high humidity and hundreds of runners made it feel like running in a sauna. After crossing the finish line, I wasn’t looking for someone to reset me. I was looking for a cool drink of water so I could become refreshed. Throughout August, we have considered what happens when leaders deliberately step away from the daily pace long enough to relax, gain perspective, and return with … [Read more...]
The Rock is in Our Hands
When I was a kid, if my brother and I were standing beside a lake with a pile of rocks nearby, I’m pretty sure our first instinct would have been simple: pick up a rock and throw it into the water. The bigger the splash, the better. Chances are we were there with my Dad. At some point, he probably picked up one of those nice flat rocks, turned it in his hand and threw it across the surface of the lake. Skip. Skip. Skip. Skip. Now he had our attention. It wouldn’t have taken long … [Read more...]
Every Leadership Decision Teaches a Lesson
The announcement was met with applause. A senior manager had been promoted to Vice President. On paper, the promotion made sense. The numbers were strong, important projects had been completed successfully, and the individual had developed a reputation for getting results. From a distance, the decision appeared straightforward. Yet within hours, conversations were taking place throughout the organization. Not about the title. Not about the compensation package. Not even about the … [Read more...]
What Your Team Sees That You Don’t
Most leaders spend a great deal of time thinking about what they want to communicate. They work to set direction, share priorities, solve problems, and support their teams. Yet leadership is not judged solely by what we say. It is often judged by what people observe. This week's article explores the signals leaders send every day, often without realizing it, and why self-awareness may be one of the most important leadership skills of all. A coaching client once shared her frustration that … [Read more...]