Why “Tabatha” smokes “Boss”…

As a guy obsessed with maxing out potential in groups and individuals – and one who believes the person at the top is the one most responsible for making it happen – I was pretty fired up about the concept of Undercover Boss.  In each episode, a CEO goes undercover, in disguise, to work next to front-line employees.

The format got tired quickly – boss leaves fancy home and doting family, stays in fleabag hotels, realizes he/she is totally inept at frontline tasks, discovers that employees are (gasp!) real people with real problems, cries (most episodes), promises to change, and gives lavish rewards to the episode’s featured employees.

What a great concept – and what a disappointment in a show.  

Read moreWhy “Tabatha” smokes “Boss”…

What ought Iowa’s schools consider next?

Recently, Iowa’s new Director of the Department of Education, Jason Glass, posed three questions in his blog.

These questions got people talking – mostly online.  Mr. Glass has made himself very transparent and accessible online, particularly on Twitter.  This is a good example of best practices in leadership.

And that’s the purpose of this blog: to explore best practices in leadership. Our schools need leadership to become as effective as possible.  One such leader is today’s guest blogger, Matt Pries.

Read moreWhat ought Iowa’s schools consider next?

Beware acting while stressed…

Decades ago, Walter Wangerin wrote a brilliant story about the way our approach can make a big difference in the lives of others – it was the main influencer of my credo “Everything you do makes a person’s day better or worse.  What are you going to do with that power?”

It’s called Edification/Demolition, you can read it in 3 minutes, and it’s here: http://www.simpleacts.org/capsules/edification.htm

The format of that story — same setting, two different kinds of experiences — has been replicated in my life.  Almost eerie, but cool.  So – my real-life version follows.

Read moreBeware acting while stressed…

“Generational Differences” offer opportunities, not excuses…

Last week, I visited with someone close to my age (40s) about people in their 20s. The topic of generational differences came up, and I was reminded of the pervasiveness of the current stereotype many of us have about people in their 20s:

Entitled, lazy, hyper-connected, always with the earbuds in, leaving work as soon as possible, doing the minimum necessary, always

Read more“Generational Differences” offer opportunities, not excuses…