Author Archives
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MANAGING UP PART I: KEEPING YOUR BOSS INFORMED
No boss likes being blind-sided by something that one of their subordinates had wind of in advance. As a subordinate, it is always useful to bear in mind the critical difference between three things; (1) those things you can do… Read More ›
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LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR IN ACTION: An Illustrative Example
What is leadership? Leadership as a verb. One only knows it when one see some specific behavior and thinks “now that’s leadership”. I also believe this observed behavior must be aimed at accomplishing more than simply directing a group of… Read More ›
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BEING ACCOUNTABLE: “The Asoh Defense”
On November 22, 1968 Japan Airlines Flight 2, a DC 8, was scheduled to land at San Francisco International airport. In heavy fog, its Captain Kohei Asoh, not adequately trained on the plane’s new flight director, landed his aircraft in San… Read More ›
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The Abilene Paradox
What do you call the phenomena when a group of people silently agree on the dubious merits of an idea or course of action but either remain silent, or agree to do it anyway? George Washington Psychology Professor the late… Read More ›
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PROBLEM SOLVING: WHAT ARE THE REAL ISSUES INVOLVED?
Abraham Maslow, famous for his theory of the “Hierarchy of Human Needs”, also had this to say about problem solving: “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail”. No manager has only one… Read More ›
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PLAYING THE HAND YOU’RE DEALT
Most managers fantasize at some point about being handed the “DREAM TEAM” assignment. A staff filled with self-starting, bright, multi-talented all-stars who basically need little management at all. Provide a clear sense of direction and get out-of-the-way. Winning performances would… Read More ›
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DECISIONS: WHAT IF ALL YOUR OPTIONS SEEM WRONG?
Some time ago, I read a “New York Times” article by Wolf Biermann, a German author who has lived on both sides of the Berlin Wall. Its title was The Tragedy of Angela Merkel. In explaining the conundrum he… Read More ›
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LETTING THEM KNOW WHO’S BOSS
One of the silliest management behaviors I have observed is the obsession of some managers for conspicuous displays intended to demonstrate that they are the boss. Silly I say, because really do they think their subordinates are so stupid that… Read More ›
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CHANGE AND A SENSE OF LOSS
A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop conducted by the late chairman emeritus and founder of the Levinson Institute — Psychologist Harry Levinson, Ph.D. The workshop focused on the topic of organizational change. While… Read More ›
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THE LETTING IT ROLL OFF YOUR BACK FALACY
For many of us, the expression of negative feelings and emotions towards others is extremely difficult and uncomfortable. On one level, our rational self knows that the expression of these emotions can be beneficial both for our own psychological health… Read More ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 