Every manager intellectually understands that accepting his or her authority over others, means that there is no way in the world that they will be able to exercise that authority and always keep everybody happy. But knowing that is not… Read More ›
Managing People
THE SHADOW OF AUTHORITY
I first encountered the concept of a manager’s shadow at a seminar I attended in Boston some years ago. The presenter — a female corrections officer whose name, but not her message, I’ve long forgotten — was recounting the evolution… Read More ›
MOTIVATING BY EXAMPLE
Recently, my wife and I had dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. We sat at the bar where my wife enjoys watching the cooking action in the open kitchen area. The Executive Chef and his wife own the… Read More ›
MANAGING A GO-TO PERSON
Recently a young manager was relating to me the “saving grace” quality of having his “Go-To” guy to rely on in a pinch. It brought a smile to my face and some found memories of my own. If you have… Read More ›
A GOOD IDEA IS A GOOD IDEA
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 