At various times in this blog I have discussed leadership as a verb. That is, one only knows it when one see some specific behavior and thinks “now that’s leadership”. I have also stressed that this observed behavior must be… Read More ›
Managing & Leading
MANAGEMENT Decisions: Explain don’t SELL
The concept of selling something contains the notion that the prospective buyer has a choice. They can either buy what’s offered on sale or walk away. Management decisions, however, require compliance not a choice. Gaining compliance is management’s job and… Read More ›
DECISIONS: WHAT IF ALL YOUR OPTIONS SEEM WRONG?
Recently I read an article in the New York Times by Wolf Biermann, a German singer, and songwriter who has lived on both sides of the Berlin Wall. Its title was The Tragedy of Angela Merkel. In explaining the conundrum… Read More ›
MATCHING TALENT TO TASK
Yesterday morning I watched Germany’s national soccer team surprisingly exit the 2018 FIFA World Cup finishing last in their designated group. I am certain most of their fans remain in shock. Man for man they possessed as much raw talent as… Read More ›
DECISIONS AS ACTS OF FAITH
When many of us hear the words faith or belief, we think of religion. We think of a religion’s fundamental requirement that adherents accept its relevant orthodoxy, doctrine, and revealed truths without verifiable evidence to support them. I often receive… Read More ›
DIAGNOSING YOUR ORGANIZATION’S HEALTH
Imagine you are on an airplane and seated next to you is a congenial and engaging man or woman. You strike up a conversation and discover your seating companion works for the airline you are flying. At some point, you… Read More ›
THE POWER OF FOOD
You might ask what FOOD has to do with being an effective manager and leader? Consider the following scenario contained in my workshop for managers: In the past six months you have made some difficult management decisions clearly unpopular among many… Read More ›
FUN, PLAY AND WORK
Are fun and play incompatible with work? I have worked for my share of managers whose behavior towards their subordinates certainly seemed to suggest these two things do not mix. I have never believed that, however, and have experienced the reasons… Read More ›
TEAM PERFORMANCE: THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF FULFILLED HUMAN NEEDS
I have focused on the topic of teams several times in this series of articles. And indeed there has been enough written about the topic these past twenty-five years to fill an entire library shelf. I return to the subject here,… Read More ›
Abilene Paradox
What do you call the phenomana when a group of people silently agree on the dubious merits of an idea or course of action but for whatever reason choose not to articulate their thoughts and proceed to do precisely the… Read More ›
Insights on Managing and Leading 