Wake-Up Calls for Managers
For the hard parts no one prepares you for
When the path isn’t clear, the stakes are high, and the answers aren’t obvious—this is where managers struggle most.
Wake-Up Calls for Managers delivers practical, real-world guidance for navigating:
- Tough conversations
- Leading through uncertainty
- Building influence without authority
- Driving results through others
The Leadership Caffeine Blog
Finding Purpose in Your Role as a Manager
I'm always intrigued when my original article, Six Big Reasons Why You'll Love the Role of Manager, shows up at the top of my most-read list. It gratifies me that people are finding this article, yet I don't know whether they're clicking on it out of shock value,...
Finding Purpose in Your Role as a Manager
How do we access the power of purpose in our role when many above and around us might not be playing with the same sense of motivation? Here are some lessons from some great managers about finding and harnessing the power of purpose in their work. Read and think about how you might put their ideas to work.
Seven Management Lessons Learned on Vacation
Fresh from a week at the lake with 11 people in residence and up to 35 people on our beach for a party at one point, it’s nice to reflect back on the fun, memories and of course to tie-in some lighter management and leadership lessons. Here are a few lessons that jump to mind after our most recent experience.
100 Miles for Life-A Cancer Assistance Fundraiser
Note from Art: While I’m not racing for 100 miles, my friend and professional colleague, Ted Friedman is, and I’m pleased to offer my support for his efforts. I’ve known Ted for a good number of years and we’ve continued our connection even though our professional lives have diverged. We also share an unfortunate common bond…we both lost a parent to cancer.
If you’ve lived through the loss of a loved one or colleague to this miserable disease, you are no doubt aware how critical the caregivers and assistance providers are to the patients and to the families during these battles. Ted recently described his cause and his approach to supporting and helping those in need of assistance, and I’m honored to share his story and encourage you to offer whatever support you can afford. -Art
Leadership Caffeine™: Do You See Beauty or Blemishes?
If you’ve ever worked for or around someone who is an expert critic…one of those individuals who can look at a masterpiece and spot a flaw, you know how demoralizing the experience can be. They look at beautiful pictures or great outcomes and focus on describing the flaws. Here are 5 ideas for improving performance by overcoming your own tendency to look for the blemishes.
Send in the Clones. The Abuse of “Must Have” in Recruiting and Hiring
Aside from a few obvious technical and vocational roles, there are very few positions in most organizations that absolutely “Must Have” someone who has held the identical role in the same industry with the same job. Nonetheless, the use of “Must Have” remains a staple in recruiting and hiring. It’s too bad, because over-reliance on “Must Have” can lead to a chronic case of mediocrity or worse, a terminal case of recycled bad ideas from industry participants.
7 Tips for Nailing Your Presentation to the Board of Directors
While some people view an invitation to present to the Board of Directors as a prison sentence (or worse), this truly can be a career enhancing opportunity. However, like any challenging situation, preparation and attitude are keys to success. Here are 7 tips to help ease your anxiety and ensure you stay focused on delivering a great presentation.
Leadership Caffeine™: 4 Ideas for Navigating Organizational Politics
Much like the notion of “pursuing power,” the idea of “playing politics” conjures up dirty images of questionable behind-the-scenes machinations and a vision of toes or faces being stepped on by those engaged in a series of less than noble games. And while those environments exist, it’s been my experience that the political environment in most firms is a bit more collegial than the television-type drama we often associate with organizational politics. Having said that, don’t confuse collegial with noble or even nice.
It’s important for all of us to tune-in to the political environment of our organizations and learn the unwritten rules of success. The four ideas below were prompted by my observations while running a long-term project inside a very successful and aggressive large company.
The June Leadership Development Roundtable Challenge
If you like a good leadership challenge, take a few moments and click over to Dan McCarthy’s Great Leadership blog and check out the first in a new monthly program: The Leadership Development Roundtable Challenge.
Lend a Coaching Hand to Your First-Time Leaders
Your presence as a coach and a stakeholder in the development of the new leader will have a significant impact on the outcome for this emerging leader. And your positive example will be visible to all to learn from and emulate.
Leadership Caffeine™-Need Market Insight? Ride with a Sales Rep and Learn
I had just been hired on in a senior strategic marketing role in an industry new to me, and job one was acclimating to the market and industry dynamics and trying to understand what a customer looked like in this world. After the obligatory round of meetings with company executives, division heads and as many of their team members as I could convince to allocate some time, I recognized that the context, while appreciated, lacked the depth you can only gain from connecting with customers and industry players on their home turf. No rocket science here, just good common sense. Here are 5 valuable lessons I learned through the eyes and windshields of some top sales representatives.