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...

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...

When the Going Gets Tough…

Jul 24, 2009 | Leadership Development

“Tough” leaders and organizations don’t use the “excuse” of tough times to “finally get rid of some poor performers.”
“Tough” leaders and organizations don’t wait for tough times to focus on doing what they do more efficiently.
And “tough” leaders and organizations don’t wait until tough times to finally pay attention to what their customers
have been requesting for months if not years. “Tough” leaders and organizations have been doing the tough stuff all along. That’s why they’re tough and so many others are not.