Management By The Numbers

Aug 16, 2011 | Leadership Development

As the saying goes, "What gets measured and monitored gets done." So, what are you measuring and monitoring? As the business owner, CEO, leader, or a manager in your organization, what are you monitoring on behalf of your team to ensure what you are supposed to be accomplishing is actually getting done? What metrics - or basic measurements - are you using to ensure the various projects and tasks you are so busily and diligently working on are actually on-budget, on-schedule, and still...

Do Your Performance Management Systems Support Performance?

Mar 18, 2011 | Leadership Development

In working with various clients lately, we're seeing a common problem: Each organization has performance management systems that, as currently designed, create problems. These systems create the types of employee behaviors and unsatisfactory performance the client is trying to eliminate! Each organization is systematically creating and rewarding a workforce that just shows up, keeps their heads down, doesn't take initiative or risks, has gotten comfortable doing what they've always done, and...

Who Is The Project Manager?

Feb 17, 2011 | Leadership Development

A brilliant and gutsy move for leaders is to continually develop his or her managers' project management skills. When this happens, the leader is ensuring the organization's future. The leader is creating a deep, talented pool of managers capable of initiating, planning, executing, managing, and closing strategic projects. These managers are then an integral part of the leader's team in moving the organization forward towards its vision. However, I'm still amazed at the limited project...

Do YOUR Job

Feb 14, 2011 | Leadership Development

A manager approached me this week after a work session to seek my advice on how she should address one of her employees. This employee is increasingly becoming Trouble (with a tall T). He is more often than not selecting which projects (and which elements of each project) he will work on. When the manager asks the employee to redirect his efforts, the employee replies in patronizing tones in front of other staff members. This employee has also failed to complete the primary project his...

Remember: They’re Watching You

Nov 15, 2010 | Leadership Development

No matter how many times you tell your team, "We're going to change." "We're going to become more efficient and do things differently around here," they're not going to believe you. They also know that by "We" you really mean them. As a leader, if you expect others to change, you need to change first. Remember, the team follows the leader. This may sound basic to many of you, but how many times have you expected your teams to change, only to find them frustrated and confused a few days or...