Whether your company has two employees or two thousand, you’ve probably observed that great results often come from highly functioning teams. And you’ve also probably recognized that aside from the technical skills that team members each bring to the table, each person’s personality style and “work style” – their preferred ways of relating to others, […]
Leadership Development, Team, Teamwork
One of the most important things I do is writing regular notes about major projects, my practice, my personal life, and more. Journaling – and I write mine longhand and using a manual typewriter – is something I’ve been doing since childhood. And it’s not the act of going back through them that I find […]
Journal, Leadership Development, Writing
If your sales director walked into your office right now and resigned which would you have: a heart attack OR a plan? Employee turnover is a fact of business life, yet many leaders find themselves blindsided when key employees announce that they’re leaving. Whether you have two employees or two thousand, creating a succession plan […]
Employee Turnover, Planning, Succession, Turnover
One of the keys to keeping turnover low is creating and maintaining an environment where your employees love (or at least like) to come to work every day. And the best way to find out how much they like working for you is to ask them. But many managers are afraid to solicit feedback more […]
constructive feedback, Employee Turnover, Feedback
Professional success in almost any field requires drive, determination and boundless energy. But when people focus solely on their careers, they may reach a point where they begin to ask questions like, “If things are going so well professionally, why don’t I feel happier?” Or “If I have so much more money, why can’t I […]
Personal Development, Stress, stress management
Firing an employee is one of the most difficult tasks that leaders face. And the problems created by terminations are substantial, from high turnover costs and lengthy vacancies to lawsuits filed by disgruntled ex-employees and even violent retaliation for being fired. Although violence is a rare and extreme reaction, the fact that it occurs at […]
firing, Preparation, Termination
Comedian Georgie Jessel said “the human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public…” And if you’re in a leadership position, chances are you find yourself addressing groups often, from the board of directors to your employees and their families at the company picnic. […]
Communication, Confidence, Public Speaking
If you’re a woman in a leadership role, it’s likely you have felt at some time your career like you were aiming for the number two position instead of the number one position. Yet, the tide has been changing in business over the last few years, as there have been more women stepping into top […]
leadership, Leadership Development, women in leadership
It’s a dog eat dog world… but that shouldn’t necessarily be the case if you’re a leader. In fact, your capacity for humility may be a key to driving your organization’s success. Practicing humility and the kind of mindset that makes you more self-aware and centered can lead others to connect with you more easily, […]
Humility, leadership, Leadership qualities
Giving constructive or critical feedback can be one of the more challenging tasks a leader faces. It can be tough to say it the right way, and we’re never totally sure how the feedback receiver is going to accept what we’re saying. Here are three tips you can use the next time you need to […]
constructive feedback, Critical feedback, Feedback