I was once asked how I would describe my management style? My reply, “an amalgamation of all those things that I have observed other managers do that work grafted onto the essential me.” It was the best I could do… Read More ›
Managing People
HIT THE GROUND LEARNING
In a recent posting regarding mentoring your boss, I referred to the phrase “hit the ground running” and why it has always struck me as a humorous and not always wise concept. While I understand the admirable motivation of a… Read More ›
WHAT’S IN A NAME AND JOB?
What’s in a name and a job? To most subordinates at work, if it is their name and their job we are discussing, a great deal. During a recent business trip, I was asked what I did on such trips… Read More ›
MANAGING UP PART IV: MENTORING THE BOSS
I met my sergeant soon after I arrived in Germany. His name was Thomas Brett. I was a green, newly minted, Second Lieutenant placed in charge of eight Medical Dispensaries surrounding Stuttgart. I knew just enough about being an Officer… Read More ›
MANAGING UP PART III: DISAGREEING WITH THE BOSS
Unless you are one of those people who happens to be one of life’s natural contrarians and thus loves being on the opposite side of almost any issue, chances are you don’t relish arguing or disagreeing with your boss. In… Read More ›
MANAGING UP PART I: KEEPING YOUR BOSS INFORMED
Believe me, no boss likes being blind-sided by something that one of their subordinate managers had wind of in advance. To help me avoid this mistake, a senior executive told me early in my management career I should always keep… Read More ›
EVERYBODY NEEDS A BREAK: PART II
In my last blog entry — “Everybody Needs A Break” — I focused on the impact of stress in the workplace, especially its effect on our emotions, thought processes, judgment and performance. My emphasis was on the important role of… Read More ›
EVERYBODY NEEDS A BREAK
With the nation’s recession-related unemployment numbers in the double-digit range and many employers holding off on adding new staff, many of those men and women fortunate enough to have jobs are working harder and longer hours to help sustain their… Read More ›
RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
“How could you possibly have missed this? “Where were you when this was going on”? No manager likes to have these questions put to them because there is simply no right response. You are the boss, you are in charge,… Read More ›
MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN
Almost all managers will at some time tell their subordinates that “my door is always open and you should feel free to tell me exactly what is on your mind”. But we all know that this commitment applies to only certain… Read More ›
Insights on Managing and Leading 