The Leadership Caffeine Blog
Challenging Conversation Sound Bite #3: The Fallacy of the Feedback (Praise) Sandwich
A Sandwich that Will Give Everyone Indigestion In every challenging conversations workshop I run, the topic of the feedback sandwich (aka the praise sandwich) jumps up, and we spend time sharing perspectives on the use/uselessness of this tactic. You know the...
Challenging Conversation Sound Bite #3: The Fallacy of the Feedback (Praise) Sandwich
In every challenging conversations workshop I run, the topic of the feedback sandwich (aka the praise sandwich) jumps up, and we spend time sharing perspectives on the use/uselessness of this tactic. Here are some reasons I believe you should say “No” to the praise sandwich in your feedback practices.
Leadership Caffeine™-Coping with a Personal Leadership Confidence Deficit
Lack of self-confidence is a limiting factor in the leadership careers of many good professionals. This is a difficult and extremely personal topic. Here’s some added context to help you recognize that we all struggle with many of the same issues, however, with deliberate daily actions on the right issues, we can strengthen our confidence and improve our performance.
Customer Service Hell and Lousy Leaders
I confess to not understanding the management and leadership thinking that leads to the many unpleasant or at best, sterile experiences with retailers, healthcare providers and so many others types of organizations. It’s almost as if someone is in charge of ensuring a level of engagement with employees that is somewhere just north of rude and way south of pleasant. Here’s a glimpse at a few of those policies and my suggestions for some well-deserved quality time for the executives behind these policies:
Just One Thing-Do Something Extraordinary for Someone on Your Team
The lowest cost, highest return investment in the workplace is to help move someone closer to realizing his/her professional dream. This is simple and powerful and with creativity, often within your control to pursue for someone on your team. Here are some thoughts on why you should do this and how to get started. Remember, it takes “just one thing” on your part to make a difference!
New Leader Tuesday: You Will Be Tested-5 Ideas to Help You Succeed
You will be tested many times during your first go-round as the individual responsible for others. Know that everyone is watching your responses to these tests.
Handle them properly…even adequately, and your credibility for leading will rise. Get them wrong and you’ll become just one more faceless first-time supervisor in the process of being turned into grist inside the organization’s cultural mill. Here are 5 ideas to help you successfully navigate these tests:
In Memoriam-2012
In Memoriam-For those who we can no longer thank, we give our thanks. And for those walking among us, take time today and share your appreciation for their service.
Integrator Leaders-People Who Get Stuff Done
Regular readers know my perspective on those who lead without authority. I’m a huge fan. These are the people who turn good businesses great and who power teams with the kinetic energy created by their constant motion.
A Great Product Manager
Someone asked me about the importance of product management in my prior tech businesses. My answer was blunt. Great product managers see beyond customer requirements to the often unspoken needs, and they move organizational mountains to fill those needs.
New Leader Tuesday-Beware Under or Over Managing
The first year of your first job responsible for others (supervisor, lead, manager) is the early-awkward phase. Your technical or functional expertise and someone’s perception of your potential for leadership got you here. Your as of yet undeveloped or at least under-developed communication and coordination skills are what will carry you forward. Here are 5 suggestions to help you get this right.
Just One Thing: Services ARE Performances
Few things evoke as much negative emotion in otherwise kind and gentle souls as a bad experience as a customer. Focus in your mind on your last really bad customer service experience and you can sense the tension in your neck growing along with the rise in blood pressure. That bad experience becomes “the company” for us. What do your team’s performances say about you as a leader and about your firm?