The Leadership Caffeine Blog
Seven Things to Stop Doing as a Leader This (and every) Year
The late, great management thinker Peter Drucker once offered: "We spend a lot of time teaching our leaders what to do. We don't spend enough time teaching them what to stop." As you search for new resolutions and ideas to grow and strengthen in your leadership role...
Seven Things to Stop Doing as a Leader This (and every) Year
As you search for new resolutions and ideas to grow and strengthen in your leadership role in the months ahead, here are seven things I encourage you to stop.
Management Excellence Book Series: Power by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Power and influence are topics in the workplace that everyone recognizes but that few talk about. I suspect that after reading Jeffrey Pfeffer’s newest book, Power (available 9/14), this will change. I connected with Jeffrey recently to hear more about his perspectives on this career-critical topic, and came away with some great and practical insights and even a health tip! Enjoy the conversation!
Leadership Caffeine™: In Pursuit of Your Potential
You’re good, but do you have it in you to be great? I work with a lot of good professionals. These are smart people, all technically adept at their jobs and committed to working hard for their organizations. Only a few of these good individuals push themselves to become great.
The Importance of Strategy Fueled Leadership
I’ve written on the topic of Strategy Fueled Leadership several times, and fresh off of a great podcast interview with Gary Harpst, author of Six Disciplines Execution Revolution (stay tuned for my posting) and my recent interview with Jocelyn Davis for Strategic Speed, I am on my soapbox again. It is critical to link leadership with strategy and vice-versa and the failure to do this is one of the root causes of strategy and execution failure in organizations.
Leadership and the Marathon Runner: 7 Words to Lead By
I caught up with Eric Wallor recently, and during our inspiring discussion (I was the one inspired!), I was struck by the parallels between the life and lot of the distance runner and that of the leader.
I asked Eric to jot down his thoughts on what it takes to successfully prepare for and compete as a distance runner, and his words below offer priceless and timeless guidance for leaders in training everywhere. After all, as a leader, you’re always in training and the race is most definitely a marathon, not a sprint.
September Leadership Development Carnival
It’s nearly first and ten for the 2010 NFL season, and Dan McCarthy, the venerable proprietor of the Great Leadership blog is doing his part to get the party started with his September Leadership Development Carnival.
9 Great Habits in Boss Management
While some bosses are more challenging than others, you are well served to give it your best shot to understand as much about your boss’s working style, priorities, expectations and aspirations as possible. Here are 9 ideas that you can apply immediately to help improve your relationship with your boss.
At Least 20 Things to Stop Doing as a Leader
I love this quote from Peter Drucker: “We spend a lot of time teaching our leaders what to do. We don’t spend enough time teaching them what to stop.” Here’s my small contribution on what to “stop doing” immediately. Please add your suggestions to the list.
Management Excellence Book Series Podcast: Strategic Speed
I had the good fortune to connect recently with Jocelyn Davis, one of the co-authors (along with Henry Frechette, Jr., and Edwin Boswell) of Strategic Speed, for an interview, where we discussed the high failure rate of strategies, the meaning of “strategic speed,” and a number of other issues important to anyone interested in improving strategy execution. Jocelyn’s insights into the book and the world of strategy and leadership were fascinating.
Leadership Caffeine™: The Noble Pursuit of Power and Influence
Power and influence are not dirty words. Both are components of every organization’s environment and both must be carefully cultivated to succeed as a formal or informal leader. Power and influence provide the motive power behind organizations and initiatives and the lubrication that keeps the parts and people from binding and grinding and self-destructing. Here are 6 key reasons why cultivating power and influence is good for your career.