Over the years, I have had the occasion to review and evaluate the Employee Orientation and Management/Leadership training programs of a variety of organizations. My reviews have included the curriculum for both programs, the substantive content, the core messages, and… Read More ›
Feedback! Oh how we love it, right? Well of course it depends. If it’s good feedback: great. The bad stuff: that’s not so great. As managers, we generally echo the above. We usually enjoy heaping praise on the well deserved… Read More ›
Managers, do your subordinates work under, for, or with you? An interesting question don’t you think? I recently interviewed a retired manager and when I asked her how she would like her former subordinates to describe her, she replied “I… Read More ›
I have long been fascinated by the universal ceremonies and rituals that have grown up around the need to welcome new members into a group and to say goodbye when members leave. Almost every culture on earth seems to have… Read More ›
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 ›
In a recent blog, I characterized a manager’s usual day as fragmented; a series of occurences, meetings, requests for attention, instructions from above, and ad hoc problems often with little in common to connect them. This lack of coherence or consistency in the… Read More ›
During my management career, I watched numerous ideas, initiatives, and grand visions birthed, launched with great enthusiasm, often gobble up precious resources, and then simply fade into oblivion. Similarly, I observed the proverbial shelf as it gradually filled up with… Read More ›
In my initial posting about making your point, I referenced Chip and Dan Heath’s book “Made to Stick” and the characteristics the Heath’s believe make an idea memorable. Among the qualities the Heath’s and I believe are critical, is the… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 