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 ›
Self-Management
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 II: SHAPING EXPECTATIONS
I have long believed that operating in the dark with regard to what your supervisor expects of your management performance, is a lot like walking around in the dark in a strange hotel room at 3:00 in the morning; sooner… 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 ›
ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES
After my last post about the 10 mistakes you can count on making as a manager, one of my colleagues asked me what advice I had about avoiding them. Since I said — and believe — making them from time… Read More ›
10 MISTAKES YOU CAN COUNT ON MAKING AS A MANAGER
Like it or not, some predictable mistakes are inevitable as a manager. Even knowing what they are in advance, you are still likely to make them anyway. The faster you learn to avoid becoming a chronic repeat offenders with regard… Read More ›
CHANGE THE ROOM YOU”RE IN
In my management workshops, we often discuss the challenges associated with leading organizational change. Usually the discussion involves some specific process, HR practice, or habitual management behaviors deeply embedded in their organization’s or company’s culture. Inevitably, there are always a… 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 ›
THE STAFF MEETING
One of the things all managers generally get to do is summon their subordinates for a meeting. This represents real authority because most of your subordinates will feel obligated to attend. It also represents a significant responsibility on your part… Read More ›
Insights on Managing and Leading 