I was talking with a client this morning about the challenges we’re all facing because of the coronavirus pandemic. We were discussing the fact that there are people who are doing things the way they’ve always done them, even though this isn’t effective or appropriate or useful since things aren’t how they’ve always been. And it occured to me that …
Future You knows …
The pandemic is a huge, scary unknown. What’s going to happen? Will you lose your job? (Have you already?) Will you get sick? Will someone you love get sick? The constant stream of news and social media anxiety is overwhelming. And it’s easy to get sucked into the worry / fear cycle, especially since there are some very good reasons …
Strategic Thinking for Managers
Confused about what strategic thinking is? Wondering what you need to know about strategy and strategic thinking as a manager? In this video, I explain strategic thinking for managers – what it is, why it’s important for you to understand, and how to make it work for you as part of your management and leadership development. You’ll add a key …
It’s not a straitjacket!
Are you a planner? Do you enjoy routine? Or do you want more flexibility? I freely admit to being a planner with routines that make me happy. And I also freely admit that I am not happy when my routines are suddenly disrupted, or when things aren’t planned and I don’t know what to expect. On the other end of …
What ISN’T success?
Success. We all want it. (And those who say they don’t haven’t done what I’m suggesting here. Instead, they’re rebelling against the stereotypical cultural definition.) It’s the most important yet least intentional part of most people’s lives. Think about that. How much time have you put into defining what you, personally, REALLY mean by “success” – and then reviewing and …
“How” is not the question
“How will you do that?” Since my time as a business systems analyst, designer, and software engineer, and now as a leadership geek, trainer, coach, and consultant … people constantly ask me, “How can we do that?” But “how” is the wrong question. It’s almost always asked out of sequence. Don’t ask how until you’re clear about what. The instant …
That ostrich in the office – is it you?
Is there an ostrich in your office? Maybe it’s you? And what in the world am I talking about? Risk More specifically, hiding from risk. (For the record, ostriches don’t really stick their heads in the sand. But you get my point.) Risk management and risk mitigation are key skills for leaders at all levels. Yet they’re seldom discussed and …
Vision, mission, strategy, tactics – what’s the difference?
Vision, mission, goals, strategy. Tactics and actions. Do you know the differences, the nuances, and how to move from one to the next? If you do, you’re well ahead of most people – including, I’m sorry to say, many C-level executives. Yet strategic thinking is the unanimous number-one wish of those same senior executives for first-line managers and leaders. Unfortunately, …
What happens next?
No task, activity, project, team, department, or even company operates independently. Everything interacts with everything around it. That’s not a metaphysical or mystical concept; it’s just reality. The more aware and intentional you are about how what you’re doing impacts what someone else is doing, will be doing, or needs to do – the more effective, efficient, appreciated, and successful you’ll …
Should we ever ask why?
In my last post, I made the point that “why” questions can sound accusing and put people on the defensive – especially if the situation is tense to begin with. And that’s true. But this doesn’t mean you should never ask “why” questions. Sometimes they’re the exact right question to ask. In fact, sometimes “why?” is a really important question to …