New ideas are the lifeblood of business, creativity, learning, growth – of life itself. And yet so often we fight against them. We resist the threat of change that new ideas bring into our careers and our lives. Obvious case in point: how many companies proclaimed that they couldn’t have everyone working from home, it just wasn’t technically or operationally …
We need a new view of leadership
To succeed in today’s pandemic and (hopefully soon) post-pandemic environment, companies must address the human side of work and leadership. They must acknowledge the need for people to enjoy what they do, to have a sense that they’re accomplishing something worthwhile, and to feel that their leaders understand that work is part of life, not separate from it. They need …
Stress, anxiety, exhaustion – it’s Pandemic Brain!
“What’s wrong with me?” More than one client has said that to me in the past few weeks. “What’s wrong with me?” One client is exhausted. Another is anxious – “for no reason.” And then there’s the lack of normal productivity, the difficulty thinking clearly, the unexpected challenge of making decisions. “I’m really lucky. I have a good job. I’m healthy. …
Down with Mandatory Fun!
What in the world will we do about the holiday party?! Let’s just start right here: no Zoom parties, please. Everyone is Zoomed out with meetings. And getting together on Zoom to raise a glass and pretend we’re all together is not going to cut it. In fact, Mandatory Fun has never been actual fun for everyone. Undoubtedly some people enjoy the …
Hey. Thanks!
It’s Thanksgiving week here in the United States. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to “be thankful” for what we have. Depending on how you look at it, we either have a lot to be thankful for, or notsomuch, or somewhere in between. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary, and I’m not here to tell you how you “should” …
Who needs help?
Someone on your team needs help. Maybe it’s one of your colleagues. Or someone on your leadership team. Or one of your first-line or middle managers. Maybe you’re the one who needs help. People in your organization need help. They’re overwhelmed with a project deadline. They’re trying to figure out how to manage from home. They’ve offered to help someone else, …
What IS leadership, anyway?
Leadership is not a title. It’s not limited to a specific role or job or work to be done. Leadership is a way of being. It’s how you are in the world, what you say and what you do, and whether those words and actions are aligned and congruent – and even if they’re not. You may be thinking you’re not …
Do your first-line managers know?
Your first-line managers are your first line of defense against misinformation and rumor. They’re the ones to whom employees look for critical information. How are you managing employee safety? What are the new processes for performance evaluation? Can employees be reimbursed for home-office expenses? Are there flextime options for parents whose kids are learning at home, instead of in school? …
Got potential?
So much possibility wrapped up in that one word: potential. Maybe you – or one of your kids – got that dreaded note on a report card: “Not living up to their potential.” Ugh. But here’s the thing about potential: it’s meaningless. Without action, without the willingness to take risks and make mistakes, without the drive to learn and fumble and …
Why leadership development programs fail
Leadership training programs don’t always have the best reputation for success. Perhaps you’ve experienced this: your company allocated budget for a program, spent time, effort, and money conducting the training, had high hopes for a great outcome, and … ended up disappointed. Sadly, it’s not all that unusual – AND it’s completely avoidable. Let’s look at some of the reasons …