You know what is really annoying? When you ask a good question or give some sincere feedback, and the person on the receiving end claps back with a defensive argument to prove you wrong. I mean, who does that? Not you and me, of course – it’s all those other people, right?
Read MoreHave you ever asked someone for feedback and then been insulted when they actually gave you some? I have. Feedback is one of those things that everyone says we should have, but very few actually enjoy getting. Unless the feedback is that I am awesome and my work is too, in which case, keep it coming.
Read MoreWhat comes naturally to us is often not the best decision or course of action, making true leadership a counterintuitive practice…
Read MoreI once worked for a boss who could not stay focused to save his life. He was easily distracted by stories, shiny things, squirrels – you get the idea. He had a lot of ideas, and some of them were even good ones. The problem was that he was all over the place and he didn’t know how to say no, so I never quite knew where we were headed and when the next change of course would come.
Read MoreHere’s a crazy idea: in order for people to do well, they need to know what is expected of them. (I know…shocking, right?) No one can consistently meet expectations if the expectations are not clear. This does not mean that everything is spelled out in great detail, but it does mean that you have communicated a standard for performance that is appropriate for the role and in alignment with the values of your organization.
Read MoreThings are not always what they seem. This is both a blessing and curse. It allows me to move about this life, looking like I have my crap pulled together, and to function as a human in a society run by a set of social rules and expectations. But in so doing I wear a mask. I carefully apply the make-up (both literally and figuratively) that gives me the appearance I want to have to everyone else. I can even get pretty good at convincing myself that I have it together. But do I?
Read MoreGiving good customer service should not be rocket science, yet everyone has a story of a time they received a letter or email like this one…
Read MoreIt is counter-cultural to take a strategic pause. Picture yourself sitting at your desk, just…thinking. What would that even look like, and better yet, what would someone walking by think you were doing? (Weirdo.) But don’t let that stop you from giving this a try. The best thoughts and insights of your life are waiting on the other side of that hurdle!
Read MoreThankfully, you don’t have to put on tights and a leotard to learn these lessons.
Read MoreAh, meetings. In the business world, we love meetings, don’t we? We love them so much that sometimes we have meetings about our meetings! Sound familiar? True, meetings get a bad rap…but they can bring a lot of value if they are done right.
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