A number of years ago, I recall watching my favorite World Cup Team the Germans surprisingly exit the 2018 FIFA World Cup finishing last in their designated group. Man for man the defending World Champions possessed as much raw talent… Read More ›
Managing & Leading
WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND PULL THE PLUG
In September 2011, the American-based media provider Netflix announced that it planned to raise prices for its services and separate into two companies: a DVD mail order service it would call “Qwikster” and an internet streaming service that would retain… Read More ›
OBVIOUS MISTAKES YOU WILL STILL MAKE AS A MANAGER
Like it or not, some predictable mistakes are inevitable as a manager. Even knowing what they are in advance, you will still make them anyway. The faster you learn to avoid becoming a chronic repeat offender the better. 1. You… 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 ›
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 ›
HARD WORK REVISITED: GRIT
Some time ago, I wrote an article in this collection entitled “Good Managers Work At It”. The point of my essay was that success at almost anything is usually related to the amount of hard work one is prepared to invest… Read More ›
SEEING WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
2016 was quite a political year in the United Kingdom and the United States. The outcome of the UK’s BREXIT vote and the US Presidential election came as a shock to millions. Conventional wisdom, pundits, most of the political cognoscenti… Read More ›
HOW CAN I SCREW UP THIS SITUATION?
Perhaps this sounds like a strange question to ask yourself but believe me it has helped me avoid many a mistake as a manager and in my personal life. In any situation or management scenario there are numerous ways to… Read More ›
SHOULD MANAGERS ATTEMPT TO SELL THEIR ORGANIZATION’S DECISIONS?
Actually they should not. The concept of selling anything contains the notion that the prospective buyer has a choice. They can either buy something offered on sale or walk away. Organizational decisions, however, require COMPLIANCE not a choice. Gaining compliance is management’s job and… Read More ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 