How to prepare for a meeting For leaders who want to hold successful meetings–rather than feel held up or held hostage by them–here are eight steps to take: 1) Get chapter and verse on all attendees. Review their recent activity on web sites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin. Know your
Many leaders want to change self-defeating behaviors and beliefs, but desire isn’t enough. Here are 10 ways to make changes stick: 1) Hire a coach or consult a mentor to help you locate and define the change you wish to make; 2) Brainstorm potential barriers; 3) Plan counter-moves for each
It’s the age of multitasking and efficiency, so leaders try to pair celebrations with meetings and other work-oriented activities. Unfortunately, these celebrations feel halfhearted and an awful lot like work. Instead of improving morale, these half-celebrations can drain or kill it. Draw a line of separation between celebrations and work.
When leaders get a new vision or goal, they usually want to get there as quickly as possible. They start envisioning the steps they need to take. These steps are big and bold and, for them, doable. But the steps aren’t always doable for their team. Take time to learn
As a leader, you know the importance of hiring good people (as well as the cost of making poor hires), so you lay out role and responsibilities for each position, using very specific and explicit expectations. You modify job descriptions to address past oversights or new circumstances. And yet, six
As a leader, you know the importance of hiring good people (as well as the cost of making poor hires), so you lay out role and responsibilities for each position, using very specific and explicit expectations. You modify job descriptions to address past oversights or new circumstances. And yet, six
Today’s leadership tip on how to avoid superheating new team members comes from thermodynamics. The old adage “a watched pot never boils” reminds us that time passes slower when you’re waiting. On the other hand, if the fire or stove is hot enough, the water does, in fact, boil, whether
In a TED talk, Dan Gilbert asks the audience if they would be happier winning the lottery or becoming paraplegic. If you’re like most, you’d answer lottery winner. And you’d be right…for a while. It turns out that a year after winning the lottery or becoming paraplegic, people are equally
Lots of leaders espouse the value of teamwork, but the quality and quantity of work that teams generate depends a lot on how teams are constructed and evaluated. In 1913, Max Ringelmann discovered that men pulled harder on a rope when they were alone than when they were in the
Leaders don’t always operate democratically, but most will solicit views from team members before making decisions. They may ask for a show of hands or “aye” votes. These votes often come after the group has gotten a sense of the leader’s and/or majority opinion. As a result, dissenters may not
Asking questions is critical to great leadership. Remembering to ask questions can be difficult for new leaders. If you are struggling with asking questions, try this acronym, APPLE! Ask the right question. Right questions are open-ended and encouraging. They help others imagine new solutions. Pause after you ask the question.
Everett Rogers came up with the Diffusion of Innovation model, which explains why and how a meme can move through a social system. Memes are generated by Innovators, and require a committed group of risk-taking Early Adaptors to propel them forward. The Early Majority are the next critical group needed
Two footed questions drive curiosity and they can convert even ordinary minds, into expert problem solvers. The idea is to engage both sides of the brain, to increase innovation. Would you agree that most people tend to ask questions with predictable answers? Boring to boot! Add a second foot to your
Think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as you read the following story: A client recently told me of her excitement at inheriting a VP’s office. In her organization, like many others, the CEO gets a couch, two sitting chairs, small conference table, and large desk; VPs get a smaller desk,
Think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as you read the following story: A client recently told me of her excitement at inheriting a VP’s office. In her organization, like many others, the CEO gets a couch, two sitting chairs, small conference table, and large desk; VPs get a smaller desk,
The most effective way, I’ve found, to stop triangulation is for the CEO to communicate that employees caught engaging in triangulation will be fired. It is amazing how fast the behavior changes!
Who gave more, the chicken or the pig? The difference between Bacon and Eggs is that the Pig gave more than the Chicken. How much are your coworkers willing to give? How committed are they to their work, in other words? And what are you doing to engage, align and
At a Global 100 company, a new senior executive sat down with his division heads a week ago and told them to WAIT. His mentor, who ran and built this company, shared that same advice with him. At that time, the senior executive was confused. “Wait for what?” he wondered.
As a leader, you must be attuned to the safety of your followers. It’s hard to protect them from each and every threat–physical and psychological–but you can take measures to reduce the risk of fatal heart attacks. Here’s how: 1) Inform your employees that taking a small baby aspirin a day will decrease their risk of
You hear about “political capital” almost every night on the news. You only wish Washington D.C.’s movers and shakers could pay down the national debt with this type of capital. Sadly, it seems to do the opposite—add to our debt by clearing red tape and authorizing more spending. “Political capital” exists
One-Third of Employees Lunch at Their Desk in a recent study done by Right Management. According to this study it is clear that these employees have not read the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. When companies have their employees eating alone at their desk it may show productivity
Business Partnership Communications I was in a business partnership for 18 years. As I learned then and I’ve been reminded frequently as an executive coach, partnerships thrive on communication. When communication is faulty or under-nourished, mistrust grows and partnerships get strained or fail. Sometimes a partnership clicks on all cylinders
My friend Paul Batz wrote this blog post about a dear friend of ours and all of it is true. Lynn Casey, CEO of Padilla Speer Beardsley is cringing as she reads this. She’s my all time favorite boss, and she HATES the word “boss.” She’s been in the news
Click to hear: ASTD TCC Podcast Gary Cohen Interview Company leaders today face new and increasingly complex problems. Most of these problems are intractable, if not, in the end, problems without real, lasting solutions. It is an extremely frustrating situation for today’s leaders, who are accustomed to finding answers and
As a coach, I am astounded by the level of pain people operate under…and keep hidden. Imagine that your coworkers feel as much, if not more, pain than you do. And start treating them accordingly: with compassion. Just because people put up hard shells at work doesn’t justify efforts to
As a leader, do you get bored repeating yourself over and over again? If so, you might be interested to learn that the best managers will follow-up any verbal conversation up in writing (according to a recent study reviewed in HBR). Some repetition, in other words, helps ensure that coworkers get
Leaders are trained to identify when revenues, EBITDA, number of new customers, and retention of customers are up or down. They are less likely to receive training in how to identify values conflicts. Values conflicts can have a tremendous impact on employee engagement, employee retention, and alignment. They can take
I recently met this amazingly engaging executive from Life Touch who had the privilege of spending seven years with Vince Lombardi. What great stories he had to share, as we circled a mile above San Francisco. We began to talk about Nordstrom and what great customer service they provide to
If a loyal employee is no longer contributing in a meaningful way—not because of lack of effort, but because of an inability to adapt to a new direction or new methods—the leader will try training, coaching, mentoring, or stretching assignments. If those fail to work, the leader has two choices:
Just because you can work effectively and efficiently without getting a reward does not mean that your team, department, or organization can, too! This is especially true of the younger generation. Don’t believe for a minute that is exclusive to them, though. If you are asking yourself, “Why can’t they
It is flattering to know that people on your team agree with you. It’s a shot in the arm for your self-esteem. But, like a narcotic hit, it can become addictive. The more approval you get, the more you come to expect it and feed off it. You may start
Many organizations have cut back on people, benefits, and professional development over the past few years. As the market heats up, and it is, those companies must correct those behaviors soon or they are likely to lose their best talent–according to a survey recently completed by Right Management. Right Management is
Craig explained the idea behind the Results Pyramid™. The Results Pyramid was developed by Partners in Leadership® a firm known for their outstanding training in accountability. The concept is that most organization spend a great deal of time on Results and Actions the top two segments of the pyramid.
Who are you having a hard time trusting? Is it a coworker, spouse, parent, sibling, child, customer, or vendor? How is it getting in your way? How can you make them more trustworthy? Now change the focus. Instead of thinking about how someone else is untrustworthy, focus on why it
On Friday, my wife woke the girls and me up at 4:30 am! This is not an unusual time for her to awake, but it is about two hours early for the rest of the family. She flipped on the TV in our master bedroom and made us tea and crumpets. She
If your threshold for failure is too short or small, you are likely doing yourself and your coworkers a disservice. When you feel tempted to intervene and make corrections or change course entirely, wait. Waiting allows your coworkers to discover failures on their own and take corrective action. Waiting will
Google, Microsoft, and app providers like Dropbox allow collaboration remotely—both synchronous and asynchronous. These tools are tremendously efficient and effective, but may leave team members feeling disconnected. The more we work alone in our offices, the more we need some face-to-face interaction, collaboration, and reassurance. Meetings help, but they can
New Organization to focus on School Superintendents Leadership. To learn more go to www.BoardofSchoolSuperintendents.com BOSS is the national organization dedicated to serving School Superintendents only. BOSS is here to help Superintendent of Schools expand their leadership capacity, refine their leadership skill, and support necessary changes in the school system they
The one who takes the notes controls the information. When you’re meeting with your boss, colleagues, or customers, take notes. Then, within 24 hours, send your notes to all participants. Ask if these notes accurately reflect the meeting and the actions that need to be taken (and by whom).
The one who takes the notes controls the information. When you’re meeting with your boss, colleagues, or customers, take notes. Then, within 24 hours, send your notes to all participants. Ask if these notes accurately reflect the meeting and the actions that need to be taken (and by whom).
The wonderful thing about executive coaching is you get to see and hear things that seem so totally implausible. After years practice, you begin to see where Hollywood scriptwriters get their material. It is called life. Recently, a story caught my attention about a boss and his subordinates that just
It is interesting to me that we use innuendo when it comes to firing people. Steven Pinker Professor at Harvard discusses the uses of innuendo in society it is often used when the person you use it with has power over you. In the case of letting someone go –
Nitin Nohria and Amanda Pepper of Harvard Business School’s Leadership Initiative collaborated with XPLANE to create this video in order to generate a discussion of the value and importance of leadership to address some of societys most pressing problems. “It is my desire to inspire people of all ages and
OODA stands for: Observe Orient Decide Act Colonel John Boyd, Military Strategist, created this model once he considered decision making for military strategy happened in recurring loops. The idea is that when moving to action you first observe the battlefield or what ever area you are operating in. Once you
OODA stands for: Observe Orient Decide Act Colonel John Boyd, Military Strategist, created this model once he considered decision making for military strategy happened in recurring loops. The idea is that when moving to action you first observe the battlefield or what ever area you are operating in. Once you
At Harvard Business School we watch the movie 12 O’Clock High before one of our classes and then we discussed the leadership lessons from the film. Albeit an old film it has great lessons for leaders. Gregory Peck (Wing Commander) and the US Air Force Commanding General tries to find
Third in the Leadership in Action series…
How does the way you show up and speak to your employees effect their engagement? This brief post will help you reflect on performance and people.
Leadership books, blogs, and journals constantly stress the importance of trust. If you’re not trustworthy, they say, why would anyone follow you? While trustworthiness is certainly very important as a leader, it’s also very important that YOU trust your co-workers. Exceptional leaders use questions 70 to 80 percent of the
Exceptional leaders use questions 70 to 80 percent of the time to increase alignment, engagement, and accountability among their co-workers. Without trust it is unreasonable to expect you would ask one of your co-workers anything of value because in your mind you will clearly be judging or discounting their answers.
Although the importance of a good leader cannot be denied, followers also play an equally important, if often overlooked, role in the success of any group or organization. We believe the strength of any team is in the followers and there can be no leaders without followers, but the vast
Carmine Gallo provides his seven secrets of inspiring leadership.
Exclusive Interview with three time best selling coauthor Joseph Grenny – Joseph says, “The most important capacity anyone can possess is the ability to influence behavior—that of yourself or others. And yet, most of us are lousy at it. Why?” In this interview you will find answers…
Exclusive Interview with three time best selling coauthor Joseph Grenny – Joseph says, “The most important capacity anyone can possess is the ability to influence behavior—that of yourself or others. And yet, most of us are lousy at it. Why?” In this interview you will find answers…
This is part three of our seven part series on Trust. Many leaders think of trust is something for them to gain rather than give. This series supports the priority of giving trust to support your goal to become an exceptional leader. Capacity is one of the core tenants of
You might think “activities” and “actions” are more-or-less synonyms. When you begin to understand the defining difference, you will never look at the words in the same way again. “Activities” are those everyday behaviors that you do, the mundane, no-change, no-gap-closing initiatives. Activities are like merry-go-rounds; you’re constantly moving, but making
You will constantly be offered challenges to your character. Either as a leader or employee you can’t afford to risk losing the battle if you plan to maintain trust with those you work with. Read more to find the connections between character and trust.
When you are considering how to face a challenge regarding ethics in the workplace, don’t start with the bullies! They may be too far gone to soften their mental biases towards manipulation, power struggles, and politics. Start with those in the middle and those who sit on the sideline that
“In the history of the world no one ever washed a rental car,” John Kunz would say to my business partner Rick Diamond and me as he groomed us to run a bigger company. John Kunz was President of Dun and Bradstreet, and he acted as a coach to us, as I
(Previous Blog Post w/ Stewart Levine) Part II Interview with Stewart Levine, author of Getting to Resolution Gary Cohen: What are the Top 10 Questions you ask–or suggest to your clients to ask–when needing to find resolution to conflict? Stewart Levine: What is it, and briefly what’s your “story” about
I would like to welcome Stewart Levine to our Just Ask Leadership Blog. Stewart Levine is founder of Resolution Works and author of “Getting To Resolution.” Stewart is a creative problem solver. He is widely recognized for creating agreement and empowerment in the most challenging circumstances. He improves productivity while
Trust begins with me. Trust begins with each and every one of us. Trust building is everyone’s responsibility. Here are a few key questions in which to start: How am I, as a leader or team member, practicing behaviors that foster, encourage and empower trust? Where am I experiencing areas
Building Trust in Your Organization – Interview with Dennis & Michelle Reina. I am excited to welcome Dennis S. Reina and Michelle L. Reina, principals of The Reina Trust Building Institute, who specialize in the development of trust in the workplace. Based on this work, they have developed a model
Reader’s Question: I am a sales manager for a business services firm in Minneapolis. I am responsible for all new business revenue for my company and I have 5 sales people that work for me. Of the 5 sales people only one is a star performer. The issue I am
Usually when employees fail to fulfill the expectations their job descriptions raise, their superiors work with them to improve their performance. If that fails, they are sent packing. Such firings–and all the hurt feelings, wasted time and tried patience that accompany them–aren’t always avoidable, but leaders shouldn’t overlook the part
Michael Useem makes a compelling case for when and how “followers” ought to lead their bosses. Since roughly 70% of organizational leaders report to higher-ups, Useem’s book Leading Up isn’t aimed just at low-level employees. I often coach leaders who must lead upward and downward in their organizations. It’s no
In A Few Good Men, Col. Jessep (played by Jack Nickleson) and Lt. Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) square off. Lt. Kaffee shouts, “I want the truth!” Col. Jessep responds, “You Can’t Handle The Truth!” and then proceeds to tell his truth… Col. Jessep: “Son, we live in a
By Steve Watkins Posted 10/15/2009 06:14 PM ET Hold people accountable and you’ll get more productivity and profit. Here’s how: • Define it. Make sure your people know what you mean. Accountability comes down to people doing what they said they would in the time frame they set, says Linda
By Steve Watkins Posted 10/15/2009 06:14 PM ET Hold people accountable and you’ll get more productivity and profit. Here’s how: • Define it. Make sure your people know what you mean. Accountability comes down to people doing what they said they would in the time frame they set, says Linda
Often, leadership experts look at trust as in “How do I get those that I work with to trust me?” It is my contention that trust for leaders starts with the leader trusting their co-workers first. Often, leaders don’t trust their team members. Not because the team members are not
Dan Ariel speaks about his book Predictably Irrational – a great book if you have not yet read it. In this video he describes behavioral economics. Another way to describe this is the science of behavior that the business world has not yet adopted. Dan Ariel shows us how humans
Emotions vs. Intellect in the Coaching Experience By: Peter Coleman As executive coaches, we are always looking for the right words to make our clients understand their situation, and to help them find their way out of the dilemma or to accomplish their goals. Just as the Japanese are reputed
The fastest and largest computer in the world processes 10 to the 16th bits per second. This happens to be the same speed of the human brain. The difference is that the computer uses 1.5 megawatts per hour which is the equivalent energy of 1,200 US house holds. When considering
Q: I lead a small company, and I manage it very tightly. In meetings, I find I am the only one offering ideas, while others do not contribute. Although my ideas have really worked to grow the company, I feel I am doing it alone. What should I do? A:
Q: Have you written on the annoyance factor yet? In my eighteen years running business affairs at three different studios, we always talked badly about the “leader” who could only ask questions and never come to a decision. I agree with your premise about Ask, Don’t Tell, but not taken
One of my best friends is a senior vice president for one of the world’s largest travel companies. He was recruited to do for them what he has done for three other organizations over the past five years: install a unique marketing system that increases revenues by hundreds of millions
Q: I am a sales manager for a business services firm in Minneapolis. I am responsible for all new business revenue for my company and I have 5 sales people that work for me. Of the 5 sales people only one is a star performer. The issue I am having
Q: I am a sales manager for a business services firm in Minneapolis. I am responsible for all new business revenue for my company and I have 5 sales people that work for me. Of the 5 sales people only one is a star performer. The issue I am having
