Admitting You Are Human Takes Courage

Nov 29, 2011 | Leadership Development

In my training and consulting work, I am frequently and discreetly told during breaks “I didn't handle myself too well this morning” or “I was so frustrated with my team yesterday, I just screamed at them.” When I hear comments such as these, I ask the confessor, “So, did you admit to them that you messed up?” More often than not, I am answered with a guilty look and a hushed “No.” One of the most respected qualities of a leader is honesty. If we cannot be honest with others when we make a...

If I Were To Bump Into You…

Nov 22, 2011 | Leadership Development

I recently bumped into "Terry," the president of a company I worked with four years ago. During my engagement with them, we'd done strategic planning, leadership succession planning, and lots of management team and systems development (i.e., process and procedures development and management training). Because it'd been awhile since I'd worked with them, I asked, "How are things going?" Terry looked embarrassed, hesitated, and then said, "Well to be honest, we're drifting off-track a...

Guest Post: Gina Schreck

Nov 18, 2011 | Guest Post

We have a special guest on the blog today. Technology expert Gina Schreck, founder of Synapse. Gina has written a terrific article that we'd like to share with you. Leaders: Why Your Organization Should Not Be Using Social Media By Gina Schreck I am a social media nut… I’ll be the first to admit it. I share photos on Instagram, post tips on Twitter, answer questions on Facebook, scan every QR Code that I encounter, and I love checking in on Foursquare to try and rip the Mayoral Robe...

Do Employee Cliques Have You Stuck?

Nov 15, 2011 | Leadership Development

One of the quickest ways to alienate new employees, restrict their skill development, and keep an organization stuck in a proverbial rut, is to tolerate employee cliques and allow them to control production. What are they? Employee cliques are destructive employee groupings (gangs) that don't welcome new employees (outsiders). They view new employees and their ideas as threats to the status quo. To them, new employees are a waste of their time—particularly if they have to train the new person...

Be An Expert Presenter

Nov 8, 2011 | Leadership Development

I attended a luncheon that culminated with an insurance expert explaining his services to the attendees. As soon as the speaker turned on the projector to start his presentation, the bulb blew. A quick inspection revealed there was no spare and the restaurant staff didn't even know their projector used bulbs! Instead of panicking, the insurance expert simply said, “I'll just have to cue you more carefully as you follow along with your handouts.” He then proceeded with his talk. As he...