Feedback from leaders drives engagement and performance, yet many workers report that feedback is lacking. Leaders even know this truth, but still avoid giving feedback. Here are five common reasons leaders may be uncomfortable giving feedback, and reasons to do it anyway: “It’s just a small thing – no big deal.” – Do it anyway. When … Read more
Transparency builds trust. Too many leaders have a habit of holding back information, which can look like information-hoarding, or secret-keeping. Those behaviors hurt trust. But, leaders also know when to stop; leaders will avoid the temptation to share TOO much information. Leaders share information, as appropriate, to: a- keep people informed b- keep people from … Read more
I was recently at a formal event where a few dozen individuals were honored with a “once-in-a-lifetime”, very selective, award. Presenting the awards were leaders from the various sponsors of the event. And, on several occasions, honorees’ names were pronounced wrong. Some were difficult, or confusing, but still it was clear that some presenters simply … Read more
A fellow consultant and I once worked with a small services firm that had some retention and engagement problems. At first, everything seemed in place – the people were good; the quality of their work was sound; the CEO and leadership team cared about their folks. But, looking closer, there were some misguided notions in … Read more
One way to make meetings quick is to hold them standing up. Think about those weekly meetings that can last 30 minutes, and consist of lots of reports. They do not leave time for quick, tactical conversations. A way to enhance, yet shorten those meetings, is to allow 10 minutes a couple times per week (or even … Read more
While flying last week, the man sitting to my left kept accidentally jabbing me with his elbow – repeatedly. I’m empathetic; he was in the middle seat. Still, there are “rules,” and he was often in my space. With his elbow, with his newspaper, and with his leg and feet. He was a textbook example … Read more
When someone dies in an emergency operating room, it is the moral obligation of the doctor to report this to the family: “We did everything we could possibly do.” Before leaders remove team members for non-performance, they have the same obligation. Ask yourself: “Did I do everything I could possibly do?” It’s easy, especially when … Read more
These posts, and thousands of books, explore ways to engage and lead others better. Let’s be clear; these techniques and skills work for the vast majority of folks. But not for all of them. We are plagued by “The Ten Percent.” It seems so common, that we might call it a general rule; in any … Read more
I used to be a band director. In my first of three jobs, things didn’t start out very well, but after about three years, I “figured it out,” developed a system, and things worked for that group of 26. Then, I moved to a new school, and tried the same system for a group of … Read more
Email can eat us alive. Here are some pointers to manage the inbox, based on my daily practice, rather than ideal “best” practices. I believe in “inbox zero.” Right now, my inbox is empty. My first step when I look at my inbox is to decide a destination for a message before acting on it. … Read more