http://artpetty.com Leadership, Management and Professional Development Wed, 23 May 2012 22:31:28 +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/2008/08/25/back-to-school/ http://artpetty.com/2008/08/25/back-to-school/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:03:20 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/08/25/back-to-school/ One of the things we often lose as busy working adults is that sense of excitement about learning. It’s easy to let years and even decades slip by and focus on everything but our own self-development. Sure, we attend mandated training in our company and possibly even the periodic seminar to earn the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) mandated by our professional certifying organizations. Unfortunately, neither of those formats creates the exhilarating sense of learning and discovery that we may have had at some time earlier in our lives, but lost along the way to becoming responsible adults.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/08/25/back-to-school/feed/ 6 http://artpetty.com/2008/08/20/we-are-all-just-temporary-stewards/ http://artpetty.com/2008/08/20/we-are-all-just-temporary-stewards/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:48:57 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/08/20/we-are-all-just-temporary-stewards/ From my own perspective, I like the concept of thinking about our tenure as finite. It creates a sense of urgency and it helps focus on priorities. I’ve observed too many corporate managers that lost track of the fact that they are not guaranteed a job or even that their company will be there next week. Once you start acting like you own the bricks and mortar and the chair and desk that you sit at and even the people that work for you, your judgment clouds, your motivation weakens and your intentions become suspect.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/08/20/we-are-all-just-temporary-stewards/feed/ 5 http://artpetty.com/2008/05/01/staying-strong-in-the-middle-while-your-company-is-falling-apart/ http://artpetty.com/2008/05/01/staying-strong-in-the-middle-while-your-company-is-falling-apart/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 13:40:36 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/05/01/staying-strong-in-the-middle-while-your-company-is-falling-apart/ There are no magic answers for taking a horrible company situation and suddenly making it better. There are also no guarantees that your heroic efforts will save the day. However, as a professional and an emerging leader, these are the situations that test your skills, that challenge you to mature and that give you the tools to succeed the rests of your career. If you plan on walking through the door in the morning, show up prepared to fight for your firm. And when you walk out the door at night, remember the wise words of a good friend: "Family and health count, all the rest of this stuff is just politics and money." Keep it in context.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/05/01/staying-strong-in-the-middle-while-your-company-is-falling-apart/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/ http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:47:49 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/ A passionate employee is like rocket fuel for your organization. These rare and valuable people build your brand, strengthen client loyalty, stimulate repeat business and energize your workplace just by their daily participation in your business.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/04/29/the-raw-marketing-power-of-passionate-people-in-the-workplace/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/04/15/why-strategy-is-the-leader%e2%80%99s-most-potent-tool/ http://artpetty.com/2008/04/15/why-strategy-is-the-leader%e2%80%99s-most-potent-tool/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:24:51 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/04/15/why-strategy-is-the-leader%e2%80%99s-most-potent-tool/ Leading is more than just being the person in charge. It's about selecting and developing talent, providing direction and motivation, creating the effective working environment and providing consistent and timely feedback on performance. The "direction and motivation" component comes directly from the leader's understanding of the firm's strategic environment (market forces, competitors, customers) as well as the direction and strategies (goals/actions) that have been selected by an organization's management. Strategy is context that gives meaning and purpose to individual roles and group activities and goals.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/04/15/why-strategy-is-the-leader%e2%80%99s-most-potent-tool/feed/ 5 http://artpetty.com/2008/04/13/coping-strategies-for-the-project-manager-facing-an-executive-mandate-on-schedule/ http://artpetty.com/2008/04/13/coping-strategies-for-the-project-manager-facing-an-executive-mandate-on-schedule/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:57:42 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/04/13/coping-strategies-for-the-project-manager-facing-an-executive-mandate-on-schedule/ A management team well attuned to rapidly emerging market forces might recognize an opportunity that can be leveraged for significant gain and competitive advantage if the organization acts quickly. It is management's prerogative and responsibility to identify and motivate the organization to act and seize these opportunities, even at the expense of order and business as usual.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/04/13/coping-strategies-for-the-project-manager-facing-an-executive-mandate-on-schedule/feed/ 0 http://artpetty.com/2008/04/02/from-strategy-starved-to-strategy-fueled-its-all-about-communication/ http://artpetty.com/2008/04/02/from-strategy-starved-to-strategy-fueled-its-all-about-communication/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:27:10 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/04/02/from-strategy-starved-to-strategy-fueled-its-all-about-communication/ It's critical for leaders to recognize that organizations that broadly understand their strategy and employees that specifically understand how their activities and decisions impact strategy execution are going to defeat less-enlightened competitors. Strategy is not an abstract concept reserved for the deep-thought thinking sessions of senior leaders. Strategy is a powerful leadership tool to engage the hearts and minds of associates and to fuel performance.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/04/02/from-strategy-starved-to-strategy-fueled-its-all-about-communication/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/03/30/its-time-to-recognize-the-project-manager-as-a-leader/ http://artpetty.com/2008/03/30/its-time-to-recognize-the-project-manager-as-a-leader/#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:38:14 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/03/30/its-time-to-recognize-the-project-manager-as-a-leader/ The most challenging leadership positions are the informal roles where an individual leads based on his or her credibility and capability without the backing of a formal reporting structure. These positions are often characterized by a high-level or responsibility for results with little direct authority over the people doing the work. The role of Project Manager matches this description perfectly, with organizations increasingly looking to the individuals charged with project or program management to play key roles in executing on strategic priorities. Unfortunately, in many organizations, the role of Project Manager is inappropriately disconnected from the strategy process and is often viewed and treated by executives as a mid-level or administrative role. This is wrong. Senior executives would be wise to tap into the unique skills, insights and capabilities of the best Project Managers as they look to build out their leadership teams and to propel their organizations faster.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/03/30/its-time-to-recognize-the-project-manager-as-a-leader/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/02/19/would-you-work-for-this-character/ http://artpetty.com/2008/02/19/would-you-work-for-this-character/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:37:01 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/02/19/would-you-work-for-this-character/ "The only way that you will succeed on my team is if you are married to the job!" "The reason that I am not in any family vacation pictures is because I'm on the phone. If I'm in the picture, I have a blackberry stuck to my ear." Yeesh. What a jerk! The quotes speak volumes about this individual's leadership style, priorities and character. A "my way or the highway" approach, coupled with an "I will succeed on the backs of your labor and you will help me succeed or else," philosophy. It also speaks volumes about the culture in the organization that tolerates this leader's style.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/02/19/would-you-work-for-this-character/feed/ 1 http://artpetty.com/2008/02/16/the-product-managers-questions-for-success/ http://artpetty.com/2008/02/16/the-product-managers-questions-for-success/#comments Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:56:40 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/02/16/the-product-managers-questions-for-success/ Thanks to a good friend and the person I credit with the creation of the "Why is a Product Manager Like the Office Photocopier?" joke, I recently unearthed a listing of questions that we had established with the PM team to help teach and remind everyone of the True Role of a Product Manager.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/02/16/the-product-managers-questions-for-success/feed/ 3 http://artpetty.com/2008/02/03/are-you-a-strategy-fueled-leader-part-two/ http://artpetty.com/2008/02/03/are-you-a-strategy-fueled-leader-part-two/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:02:21 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/02/03/are-you-a-strategy-fueled-leader-part-two/ he Strategy-Fueled Leader is someone you want to work for and someone that you want to become. Working for one of these individuals is like existing in an alternate professional universe. If you are fortunate enough to connect with this type of leader early in your career, you are in for a remarkable education that will shape you for the rest of your professional (and even personal) life. Catch one later in life, and expect to find yourself reborn professionally, with a renewed sense of focus and purpose. If you are not fortunate enough to find one as a mentor, its up to you to make a difference in your organization by developing the habits, approaches and thinking of this powerful leader.

]]> http://artpetty.com/2008/02/03/are-you-a-strategy-fueled-leader-part-two/feed/ 2 http://artpetty.com/2008/02/01/cost-is-really-not-an-issue-when-it-comes-to-leadership-development/ http://artpetty.com/2008/02/01/cost-is-really-not-an-issue-when-it-comes-to-leadership-development/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:20:25 +0000 Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2008/02/01/cost-is-really-not-an-issue-when-it-comes-to-leadership-development/ Following a recent presentation to individuals in the Not-For-Profit arena on "Creating A Culture of Leadership Development in Your Organization," I was approached by some enthusiastic attendees who loved the content, but expressed frustration over the seeming unwillingness of their top leaders to focus on this issue. During the discussion, I heard the following comments: "Leadership development is viewed as expensive." "When we point out the need for and potential benefits from strengthening our leadership practices, the typical response is that leadership development is not central to our mission." "We are so busy chasing small issues, we don't have time to focus on people topics." I appreciated the openness of the individuals and was left wondering what it might take to help top leaders everywhere recognize once and for all that LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE!

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