Dialogue Bridges the DivideFour guidelines to stop arguing and start communicating
Tue, 03/14/2017 - 12:03
We had not discussed politics since the election, treading warily with each other, neither of us wanting to trigger an unpleasant scene. But tension was just under the surface and seeping out in other forms.
Since the U.S. presidential election,… Don’t Just Set Smart Goals; Set the Right GoalsWhen you’re clear about where you’re going, goals become the means to get there
Tue, 01/31/2017 - 12:02
Goal setting is powerful. No doubt about it. Research shows you are likely to perform at a higher level if you set smart goals. But how do you know what are the right goals to set?
Goals are milestones that mark the way on your journey. If you… Leadership That Matters‘To lead people, walk beside them.’
Tue, 12/13/2016 - 17:30
Leadership is not necessarily about getting people to follow you. In fact, the test of leadership effectiveness is what happens when you’re not there. If everything depends on you and falls apart when you’re not there, obviously the effectiveness… Criticism, Boundaries, and Useful FeedbackTiming is important
Thu, 10/20/2016 - 16:25
Larry was clearly angry. Carl had used his tools (again) without asking, and even worse, hadn’t returned them (again). Larry told me he had given Carl some “tough feedback.”
He told Carl that he was self-centered and insensitive, and in the future… A Definition of Leadership for These Pressing TimesInfluence people and direct them toward a common goal
Thu, 09/15/2016 - 16:19
It’s pretty common these days to hear complaints about lack of leadership, poor leadership, and disappointment with those who are in leadership roles. In a recent World Economic Forum survey, 86 percent of the respondents reported they believe… Caught in Team Drift? Consider honorable closure
Mon, 07/25/2016 - 14:20
Has your team’s performance fallen off lately? Was it once exciting to be part of the team, and lately you find you’re not having fun?
Perhaps your team has succumbed to team drift. In my Harvard Business Review article, “Diagnose and Cure Team… Take Down Your Corporate LadderSupport career disruption
Mon, 04/18/2016 - 15:04
Traditionally, career paths have been based on the idea of “moving up the ladder.” Success is measured by how high you get. A lateral move is usually not seen as a smart career move. Even when changing jobs to increase your skills, the expectation… Develop Your Team: the Truth About Bell CurvesIntelligence might be predictable, but performance is not
Wed, 01/27/2016 - 14:06
When applied to people’s intelligence, the theory behind the bell curve says that most people will be average, with a small percent being top performers and a small percent being losers. But when it comes to performance, the truth is the bell curve… How to Show Leaders They Need to DelegateThey will learn that the idea of control is an illusion
Wed, 11/04/2015 - 16:32
How do you help leaders understand they need to delegate? I often hear this question, and it was the focus of a recent letter I received.
“Hello Jesse: What have you found are the most effective ways to engage business owners in the need to… To Craft a Powerful Mission Statement, Avoid These Six TrapsThen use it to provide guidance for strategic decisions
Tue, 09/22/2015 - 14:27
One of the most important things you can do is to identify your team’s mission. And one of the biggest wastes of time is creating a mission statement that isn’t used.
An earlier post of mine, “How to Write a Mission Statement in 5 Steps,” explains…
