A senior executive colleague of mine once told me he took great pride in his ability to fill managerial openings with high quality people. “I could always just close my eyes”, he said, “and picture at least five faces all… Read More ›
management advice
WELCOMINGS AND GOODBYES
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 ›
REORGANIZING? MIND THE WHITE SPACES
I recently toured the soon to be occupied new building of a sizeable organization. Part of the tour included the workspaces of those employees who will carry out normal daily activities in this new environment and the locations of various… Read More ›
HOW SHOULD I DECIDE?
In a recent blog, I wrote about the importance and buy-in value of involving subordinates in decisions that will directly or indirectly impact their work and/or personal lives. I reiterate the point here because subordinate buy-in is often the essential… Read More ›
EVALUATING YOUR DECISIONS
Readers of this blog know my passion for management that possesses a bias for action. The best managers, in my view, always eschew the habit of simply talking or complaining about things, for doing things that have the potential to… Read More ›
CREATING A HIGH PERFORMANCE ATMOSPHERE AT WORK
For those of you who believe that a climate of fear and intimidation is the way to get the best out of your subordinates, please do not read any further. You will only get angry with me. Years of personal… Read More ›
MAX DE PREE
I am often asked by my clients and workshop participants to recommend some books and articles for managers. I tell them that over the years, I have compiled a list of my favorites and that it is available via my… Read More ›
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?
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 ›
A MANAGER’S MANY HATS
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 ›
WHY FOLLOW THROUGH REALLY MATTERS
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 ›
Insights on Managing and Leading 