One problem with email is that it is efficient for the writer, but usually ineffective for the reader. One way to minimize this mismatch is to
Communication
Effective Leaders are Specific
“Hey, Tom, if you could get some of those account reviews done by Thursday, that’d be great.” Sometimes to sound “nice”, we make requests like the one above. It’s casual (good), general (bad), with a deadline (good), but without a specific request (bad) or a way to measure (very bad). The result can descend into … Read more
Insecurity is Unbecoming of a Leader
Everyone has moments, or even periods, of insecurity.
Situation One:
Once, about 15 years ago, I was struggling to
Behavior and Feedback – Top Five + One
Several posts have had a focus on behavior and giving frequent specific feedback. These things are among the wisest a leader can do, and yet they can be quite uncommon. Here are five posts that deal with these issues, and the “plus one” is one of my favorite sources on the topic… What’s the Magic … Read more
Communication – Top Five + One
Communication solves problems; lack of communication causes problems. Communication is arguably the most critical skill we need to survive in the world, and leaders must master it. Here are five posts to help. Nervous about speaking in front of others? Effective Leaders Pause and Listen Things successful leaders avoid saying (Part 1) Things successful leaders … Read more
What Three Things Make the Biggest Difference? (Part Three)
This week, we look at the third concept of “The Big Three.” This is not new ground for this blog, and I encourage you to check out related posts: Effective Feedback is About the Future Leaders Model the Behavior they Expect Attitude is not everything. Listen to Batman and focus on behavior… What’s the Magic … Read more
Effective Leaders Stand Out (part two)
Last week, we covered the first four of nine simple things that an aspiring leader can do in order to stand out. Here are five more – I’m anxious for your opinions! 1) Whenever possible, communicate by phone or in person. Is the person you need to visit with in the same building? Walk up … Read more
Effective Leaders Stand Out (part one)
In preparation for a breakout session at an upcoming conference, I developed a list of ten things a leader can do to stand out and get noticed. Not in a “look at me!” kind of way, but in a way that will help the leader connect more to others, and to enable others to connect as well.
While all ten pointers are applicable to all potential leaders, there are four that newer, more fast-paced leaders, might relate to more than the experienced. So, those four this week, the rest next week. Here we go:
Effective Feedback is About the Future
The title is lifted verbatim from the tenets of Manager Tools, and the brilliant minds of Mark Horstman and Michael Auzenne. I encourage you to go to the source if you want to go deeper.
But the short version is this:
Any feedback on any behavior is most helpful to the individual and the organization if it is
Things successful leaders avoid saying (part 3)
Consistent negative talk will create a negative culture. A constant drumbeat of “don’t forget” “don’t be late” “don’t screw that up” “don’t talk to me right now” can be pretty discouraging. If you can rephrase things using positive words, a better atmosphere is created. Better atmosphere = more encouraging = more productive.