http://artpetty.com Leadership, Management and Professional Development Tue, 22 May 2012 11:58:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 copyright by Art Petty, 2011 art.petty@artpetty.com (Art Petty) art.petty@artpetty.com (Art Petty) 1440 http://artpetty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Lcpodcast144x144.png http://artpetty.com 144 144 http://artpetty.com/feed/podcast Leadership Caffeine Podcast Host Art Petty interviews leaders, leadership authors, management thinkers and other professionals about creating high performance teams and organizations and developing effective leaders at all levels, during this weekly program. The goal is to share practical, powerful ideas to help listeners improve their performance and the performance of their teams and organizations. Caffene, Ldrshp, Profesional, Dev, Ledership, Ldrshp, Caffeine, Proff'l, Dev Art Petty Art Petty art.petty@artpetty.com no no http://artpetty.com/2012/05/07/leadership-caffeine-7-suggestions-to-strengthen-your-groups-performance/ http://artpetty.com/2012/05/07/leadership-caffeine-7-suggestions-to-strengthen-your-groups-performance/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 13:13:08 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7653 Performance counts. Efforts are nice, but ultimately, you are evaluated on the results of your team, not the amount of work you put into achieving your results. Here are 7 ideas to promote high performance with your team:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/05/07/leadership-caffeine-7-suggestions-to-strengthen-your-groups-performance/feed/ 5 http://artpetty.com/2012/04/24/leadership-caffeine-listen-with-intent/ http://artpetty.com/2012/04/24/leadership-caffeine-listen-with-intent/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:54:38 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7503 Yesterday, a valued colleague described a fascinating professional interaction and used the phrase, “listening with intent.”While I imagine it is something on the level of “seek first to understand,” the phrasing works for me. It connotes a significant and deep personal investment in focusing on another human…something lacking from most of our interchanges in life and in the workplace.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/04/24/leadership-caffeine-listen-with-intent/feed/ 6 http://artpetty.com/2012/04/09/leadership-caffeine-for-a-change-do-something-unconventionally-unorthodox/ http://artpetty.com/2012/04/09/leadership-caffeine-for-a-change-do-something-unconventionally-unorthodox/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:11:35 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7458 We tend to love our life and work routines. They are comfortable and comforting. And while there’s a certain amount of routine that’s inherent in successfully running any organization, the best leaders seek and create opportunities to breakaway from the mind-numbing, sense-dulling pursuit of routine. Here are 5 ideas to stimulate your own-thinking on breaking the routine with your team:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/04/09/leadership-caffeine-for-a-change-do-something-unconventionally-unorthodox/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2012/04/02/leadership-caffeine-why-you-might-want-to-pause-before-voicing-that-decision/ http://artpetty.com/2012/04/02/leadership-caffeine-why-you-might-want-to-pause-before-voicing-that-decision/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:46:27 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7404 Teaching others to employ effective decision-making processes is one of the most important and often ignored responsibilities of those in leadership roles. Unfortunately, training your team to look to you for the calls on how to fix problems and move forward is much easier than teaching your team members to stand on their own for most issues.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/04/02/leadership-caffeine-why-you-might-want-to-pause-before-voicing-that-decision/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2012/03/26/leadership-caffeine-6-reasons-why-you-should-pass-on-the-happy-hour-invite/ http://artpetty.com/2012/03/26/leadership-caffeine-6-reasons-why-you-should-pass-on-the-happy-hour-invite/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:47:25 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7305 Just say “No” to the post-work invite from the team for the beer. While you’ll feel torn because you enjoy social time as much as the next person, pay attention to that little voice in your mind trying to get your attention with, “You shouldn’t, you’re the boss.” No moralizing here. I’ve simply known too many who shut this voice out and paid with their credibility and on a few occasions, their jobs. Not convinced? Here are 6 reasons why I believe you should pass on the post-work happy hour invite:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/03/26/leadership-caffeine-6-reasons-why-you-should-pass-on-the-happy-hour-invite/feed/ 32 http://artpetty.com/2012/03/12/leadership-caffeine-4-big-reasons-to-kill-your-weekly-status-meeting/ http://artpetty.com/2012/03/12/leadership-caffeine-4-big-reasons-to-kill-your-weekly-status-meeting/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:13:31 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7268 Few events do more to suck the life and energy out of a team than the boss’s weekly status meeting. If you are the boss, it's time to exorcise these from your operating routine.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/03/12/leadership-caffeine-4-big-reasons-to-kill-your-weekly-status-meeting/feed/ 12 http://artpetty.com/2012/03/05/leadership-caffeine-8-ideas-for-navigating-your-leadership-mistakes/ http://artpetty.com/2012/03/05/leadership-caffeine-8-ideas-for-navigating-your-leadership-mistakes/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:12:50 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7255 Newsflash: all good leaders make mistakes. A great number of them. Everyday. After all, there are people involved, and this would be really easy without the people. Fortunately, people are all that we have. The true test of your leadership character isn’t measured by the number of mistakes you make, but rather, by what you do moving forward once a mistake is recognized. Here are 8 ideas for effectively learning from and navigating your leadership mistakes:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/03/05/leadership-caffeine-8-ideas-for-navigating-your-leadership-mistakes/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2012/02/27/leadership-caffeine-12-shots-of-leadership-espresso/ http://artpetty.com/2012/02/27/leadership-caffeine-12-shots-of-leadership-espresso/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:34:40 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7226 Sometimes the best leadership guidance comes in short, strong bursts flavored with a few blunt reminders. Warning: consume too many of these at one time and your team members will thank you, productivity will go up and work might become a lot more enjoyable. Here are 12 shots of Leadership Espresso to help you get it right:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/02/27/leadership-caffeine-12-shots-of-leadership-espresso/feed/ 11 http://artpetty.com/2012/02/20/leadership-caffeine-what-do-you-do-with-a-team-that-has-failed/ http://artpetty.com/2012/02/20/leadership-caffeine-what-do-you-do-with-a-team-that-has-failed/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:50:09 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7206 We’re often too quick as leaders to throw in the towel on teams that have whiffed. That’s a mistake that may be more costly to performance and morale than the initial and temporary failure. Here are 5 signs that your failed team merits more time:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/02/20/leadership-caffeine-what-do-you-do-with-a-team-that-has-failed/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2012/02/13/leadership-caffeine-get-invested-in-developing-your-new-leaders/ http://artpetty.com/2012/02/13/leadership-caffeine-get-invested-in-developing-your-new-leaders/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:14:03 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7171 I’ve yet to run a workshop or program on leadership where anything approaching a majority of the participants describe their initial days of their initial role as a team leader, supervisor or manager as a period when they received much if any support and coaching from their own direct manager. Most describe this particularly precarious professional time as more like a “hit and run.” That's unfortunate, because the flame-out rate for first-time leaders is high and the fallout on those around them heavy. Here are 8 ideas for you to strengthen your support of your first-time leaders:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/02/13/leadership-caffeine-get-invested-in-developing-your-new-leaders/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2012/02/06/leadership-caffeine-teach-your-team-smarter-decision-processes/ http://artpetty.com/2012/02/06/leadership-caffeine-teach-your-team-smarter-decision-processes/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:29:17 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7055 Nothing happens without a decision. Nothing good happens without the right decision. And, in case you doubt the need to focus on making better decisions, spend some time skimming the news. If you’ve kept up with your health and fitness resolutions thus far this year, you know that even minor adjustments in diet and exercise pay big dividends. The same goes for our individual and group decision-making approaches. Here are 5 key questions and suggestions for strengthening your team's decision-making processes.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/02/06/leadership-caffeine-teach-your-team-smarter-decision-processes/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2012/02/02/leadership-caffeine-at-information-management-and-new-newsletter-resource/ http://artpetty.com/2012/02/02/leadership-caffeine-at-information-management-and-new-newsletter-resource/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:10:49 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=7001 Two news items here at Management Excellence: First, as of February 1, 2012, the good folks at Information Management are kindly syndicating selected posts from my blog at their resource rich website: info-mgmt.com under my name and the Leadership Caffeine label. And second, I'm pleased to announce the launch of a new resource to support your professional development...the Leadership Caffeine Newsletter.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/02/02/leadership-caffeine-at-information-management-and-new-newsletter-resource/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2012/01/29/leadership-caffeine-change-or-learn-to-say-would-you-like-fries-with-that/ http://artpetty.com/2012/01/29/leadership-caffeine-change-or-learn-to-say-would-you-like-fries-with-that/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:34:10 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6953 Much of the pablum that is passed off for guidance on leading others ignores the reality that the context in which we lead has changed from just a few years ago, and it continues to change faster than any of us can truly understand. While it’s a bit disheartening to realize that those of us with much time under our belts and more than a few laps around the block of life are vestiges of a bygone business era, we are. That doesn’t mean we can’t be relevant, but first, we have to understand and accept some of the important contextual changes in our world of business:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/01/29/leadership-caffeine-change-or-learn-to-say-would-you-like-fries-with-that/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2012/01/23/leadership-caffeine-warning-your-words-about-change-are-falling-on-cynical-ears/ http://artpetty.com/2012/01/23/leadership-caffeine-warning-your-words-about-change-are-falling-on-cynical-ears/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:28:48 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6940 Even the most credible of leaders have to step up their game when it comes to talking about and promoting change on their teams and in their organizations. Here are 7 Helpful Steps to Get Started on the Right Foot Talking About Change:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/01/23/leadership-caffeine-warning-your-words-about-change-are-falling-on-cynical-ears/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2012/01/16/leadership-caffeine-success-one-step-at-a-time/ http://artpetty.com/2012/01/16/leadership-caffeine-success-one-step-at-a-time/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:45:41 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6916 Too many people fail to overcome resistance and start moving forward. Instead of heeding Drucker’s advice, fear rents space in their minds, creating a never-ending litany of excuses that help ensure that their feet remain firmly planted in place.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/01/16/leadership-caffeine-success-one-step-at-a-time/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2012/01/03/leadership-caffeine-for-better-results-quit-telling-and-start-letting-go/ http://artpetty.com/2012/01/03/leadership-caffeine-for-better-results-quit-telling-and-start-letting-go/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:59:08 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6885 The odd quirk that seems to bedevil so many who occupy roles of responsibility for others is their overwhelming urge to tell other people what to do. While a certain amount of “telling” is OK, particularly during crises and anything involving safety or security, for the most part, your communication efforts should focus on listening and asking. Starting this year, shift the focus to you and your role and your daily habits, and for everyone’s sake, quit telling people how to do their jobs. Here are 9 ideas to help you in this endeavor.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2012/01/03/leadership-caffeine-for-better-results-quit-telling-and-start-letting-go/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2011/11/28/leadership-caffeine-the-critical-importance-of-cultivating-your-cultural-intelligence/ http://artpetty.com/2011/11/28/leadership-caffeine-the-critical-importance-of-cultivating-your-cultural-intelligence/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:54:03 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6793 Leadership Caffeine: The Critical Importance of Cultivating your Cultural Intelligence. Note from Art: this is the first of a series of Leadership Caffeine posts encouraging your development of the critical skills required for success in today's world.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/11/28/leadership-caffeine-the-critical-importance-of-cultivating-your-cultural-intelligence/feed/ 5 http://artpetty.com/2011/11/25/a-black-friday-jolt-of-leadership-caffeine-book-promotion-and-helping-hand/ http://artpetty.com/2011/11/25/a-black-friday-jolt-of-leadership-caffeine-book-promotion-and-helping-hand/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:27:03 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6778 Note from Art: It's a great time of year to think of the people doing the heavy lifting for you. What better gift than one filled with ideas, inspiration and a call to action in pursuit of great results. Any and all of my profits from the book sale here will be donated to a local Chicago-area Food Pantry during this Holiday Season.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/11/25/a-black-friday-jolt-of-leadership-caffeine-book-promotion-and-helping-hand/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2011/11/21/leadership-caffeine-you-have-no-business-leading-others/ http://artpetty.com/2011/11/21/leadership-caffeine-you-have-no-business-leading-others/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:58:46 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6762 Leading others is not an inalienable right that comes with seniority or through mastery of a technical discipline. It’s too bad that a good number of senior leaders struggle to offer a clear “No” to those unfit for the role.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/11/21/leadership-caffeine-you-have-no-business-leading-others/feed/ 5 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/31/leadership-caffeine-if-you-want-to-be-a-critic-go-watch-a-movie/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/31/leadership-caffeine-if-you-want-to-be-a-critic-go-watch-a-movie/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:42:16 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6724 The Leader as Critic is one of the most toxic, idea-crushing characters you’ll ever find in the workplace. This individual mistakenly assumes that title confers a License to Kill (perceived bad ideas) and he/she takes pride in shooting down ideas to protect people and teams from themselves. Here are ideas to help you recognize whether you are the critic. And if you work for one, here are some coping strategies.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/31/leadership-caffeine-if-you-want-to-be-a-critic-go-watch-a-movie/feed/ 4 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/25/leadership-caffeine-do-you-have-the-courage-to-kill-your-business-to-save-it/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/25/leadership-caffeine-do-you-have-the-courage-to-kill-your-business-to-save-it/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:30:05 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6719 Fresh off of my recent podcast interview with Geoffrey Moore on his new book, "Escape Velocity-Free Your Company’s Future from the Pull of the Past," I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with my informal Board of Advisors (2 CEOs, 1 GM and 2 Consultants and all experienced leaders) on this very topic…building a new business while running the old one. With my thanks for their input and ideas, here are the highlights:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/25/leadership-caffeine-do-you-have-the-courage-to-kill-your-business-to-save-it/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/17/leadership-caffeine-speed-kills-10-situations-to-call-a-timeout/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/17/leadership-caffeine-speed-kills-10-situations-to-call-a-timeout/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:15:23 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6646 Somewhere on the way to this world we now live and work in, “speed” became a proxy for success. Speed is undoubtedly important, but beware relying on it as the sole indicator of effectiveness. It’s a cruel tyrant, demanding fealty from followers, while discouraging critical and deep thinking and focusing solely on time-to-response as a metric of success. Here are at least 10 situations where you should resist the need for speed and call a timeout:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/17/leadership-caffeine-speed-kills-10-situations-to-call-a-timeout/feed/ 3 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/11/three-books-to-give-away-share-your-best-leader-story/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/11/three-books-to-give-away-share-your-best-leader-story/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:26:12 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6606 I allocated a few copies of, Leadership Caffeine-Ideas to Energize Your Professional Development, for faithful readers and contributors here, and I would like nothing more than to give a few away in return for something we can all enjoy...a "Best Leader" story.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/11/three-books-to-give-away-share-your-best-leader-story/feed/ 3 http://artpetty.com/2011/10/04/book-launch-and-an-offer-lets-get-the-conversations-started/ http://artpetty.com/2011/10/04/book-launch-and-an-offer-lets-get-the-conversations-started/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:41:42 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6581 The rolling launch of Leadership Caffeine-Ideas to Energize Your Professional Development continues, and I’m interested in talking to readers and their teams about all things leadership. I've got an offer for you to help jump-start the right conversations with your team:

]]> http://artpetty.com/2011/10/04/book-launch-and-an-offer-lets-get-the-conversations-started/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2011/09/30/new-book-from-art-incoming/ http://artpetty.com/2011/09/30/new-book-from-art-incoming/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:12:21 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/?p=6552 While both the paperback and Kindle versions of my newest work, Leadership Caffeine-Ideas to Energize Your Professional Development, have been available on Amazon for a few days, I’ve not yet pulled the trigger on a public launch. In fact, when talking to my marketing manager, I suggested that instead of a launch as an event, I would much prefer a rolling launch.

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