Author Archives
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DEMEANING SUBORDINATES IS NEVER OK
If you have ever received a highly personal verbal attack from a boss, you know how embarrassing, demoralizing, emotionally traumatic, and infuriating that can be. It’s even worse if it was done in public If you have spent any time… Read More ›
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SURVIVING A REGIME CHANGE
During a recent cross-country flight, I struck up a conversation with a fellow frequent flier about our professions and the various challenges we faced. An architect who appreciates client stability from start to finish on his various projects, he told… Read More ›
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THE COST OF UNNECESSARY ORGANIZATIONAL SECRECY
You wonder what’s going on at work? Things just don’t seem right. You called your friend top-side who works with the boss and they told you there have been a lot of behind-closed-door discussions among the managers of late but… Read More ›
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GOOD MANAGERS EXCELL IN ALL VENUES
Bruce Bochy is a good manager. His profession is baseball. He is not a household name even among true baseball fans and he does not win championships every season. But this year his team, the San Francisco Giants, won the… Read More ›
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YOUR COMMITMENTS MUST MEAN SOMETHING
I am often asked how one recognizes a really great manager. Well, in almost all of the articles I have included in the site, I have addressed some form of behavior that tends to separate certain managers from the pack…. Read More ›
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A MENTOR, MENTORING, BEING MENTORED
The concepts of mentoring, of being a mentor, of being in need of a mentor have been a common element of conversation in most organizations for some time. But what exactly is a mentor, how does one behave as a… Read More ›
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PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AT WORK
In a recent article, I addressed the challenge a manager faces coping with a subordinate whose workplace behavior hinders his or her own performance, or is disruptive to the work environment itself. Although it can be a difficult challenge, dealing… Read More ›
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BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AT WORK
For a manager, employee problems generally come in two varieties: behavior problems and performance problems. Often they present themselves as a package deal. Knowing and recognizing the difference and being clear from the start which one you are addressing, is… Read More ›
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WE CAN’T FIX OTHER PEOPLE
There are a series of dramatic and powerful scenes in the movie “When a Man Loves a Woman” in which a wife played by Meg Ryan, having just returned from an alcoholic rehab program, is struggling to work through the… Read More ›
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RECEIVING and RESPONDING TO CRITICISM
Most managers will , at some time, tell their subordinates to “please tell me what you think”. Such phrases go with a so-called open door policy and are intended to convey your openness to hearing contrary points of view and critical assessments… Read More ›
Insights on Managing and Leading 