The Leadership Caffeine Blog
Insights and Observations from the Latest Manager Development Programs
During the past few weeks, I ran three different cohort sections of my live-online Manager Development Program. While initially geared toward new(er) managers, we had many veterans in the groups, all working on sharpening their skills around the fundamentals of...
Insights and Observations from the Latest Manager Development Programs
During the past few weeks, I ran three different cohort sections of my live-online Manager Development Program. While initially geared toward new(er) managers, we had many veterans in the groups, all working on sharpening their skills around the fundamentals of leading and managing. As always, the wisdom of the crowd adds value to the pre-planned content.
“Why Did We Fire You?” Talent Gaffes of the Big and Clueless
If it wasn’t so sad, it would be laughable. The question, “Why did we fire you?” expressed with surprise and genuine confusion was asked by a senior HR exec to a talented and fired sales rep at MegaFirm.
This sales rep was the “last one standing” that actually understood how to sell the products that MegaFirm had inherited with one of its many acquisitions. The products are still there, but the people aren’t. MegaFirm unleashed the neutron bomb from its powerful HR arsenal.
Seven Survival Tips for the Newly Independent
I suspect that we are all engaging with former colleagues, friends and family members that have recently been furloughed from the corporate world. A few that I have spoken with are struggling to adapt to the new reality and are finding themselves floundering as they struggle to replace the comfortable routine of getting up and going somewhere with wandering around the house wondering what to do and where to start.
Here are some ideas that I’ve either learned myself over time or have gained from others that have mastered the around of working and managing themselves without the services and security of a mother ship. I would love to hear your suggestions as well
No Leadership Training Budget, No Problem. Nine Tips, No Charge
As someone who is passionate about leadership development, it is heartening to see articles like the one that ran recently in the Wall Street Journal, indicating, “Despite Cutbacks, Firms Invest in Developing Leaders.” Good for these businesses and the leaders. The notion that it is always time to work on identifying and grooming leaders is healthy. However, if you happen to work in one of the firms that is not as fortunate or as enlightened as the ones highlighted in the article, don’t despair. You don’t have to have a stinking budget to improve your team’s/firm’s leadership development practices. You do however, have to have your head screwed on straight about this process, and you need to be committed to executing on it as a core, everyday part of your job.
Leadership Caffeine™ for the New Week
Let’s start out with an extra large cup of the hot stuff to help kick-start the new week. Oh, and one sugar, please, in acknowledgement of Valentine’s Day.
Consistent with the theme of this card, flower and candy holiday that my significant other enjoys so much, the focus this week is on relationships. It’s time to improve your professional networking, spend some time learning from your sales colleagues and work on repairing any broken relationships. Oh yeah, and don’t forget your significant other on Valentine’s Day!
Seeing Opportunities in the Storm
As we all come to grips with the calamity that is our economic situation, I’m finding bits and pieces of optimism in interesting places. Some of the optimism may be false, as people work to talk themselves into believing that things can’t get much worse. (Don’t fool yourself, they can and most likely will.) Overall however, I am excited by how some are beginning to face up to the challenges ahead of us.
The Five Tripping Points of Emerging Leaders
A colleague used the phrase Tripping Points in conversation the other night to describe what leaders and management teams go through in attempting to take businesses from one level to the next. Firms and teams run into natural Tripping Points in the form of infrastructure and know-how as they work to grow a firm from start-up to $10 million or from $10 million to $25 million and so on. I can easily apply Tripping Point thinking to the challenges that we as professionals face in advancing our careers and in particular, in developing as leaders. Awareness of your prospective Tripping Points is an important first step in creating your personal and professional development plan.
The Leader’s Mid-Week Survival Guide
Hey, it’s Wednesday. How are you doing on your leadership priorities this week?
If you are starting to feel the week slip away from you, here’s a blunt reminder and a few tips to focus on your true priorities. The week’s not over yet…and victory is still within your reach. It’s time to fight off the fires and push away from the urgent-unimportant.
Your Customer Service Tells Me All I Need to Know About Your Management Quality
Of my many quirks, one that I actually enjoy is my unceasing study of customer service. I love to observe customer service interactions and I’ve made it a habit to try and figure out why the good ones are good and the bad ones so miserable. Here are a few thoughts and few light-hearted examples to for managers everywhere to learn from.
Leadership Caffeine™ for the New Week
4 quick-shots of your favorite roast to jolt you into action in this new week. This week’s issue helps you jump start tough conversations, improve project post-mortem meetings, increase your active listening effectiveness and schedule staff meetings that people want to attend. And if you need a double-shot of motivation, visit the Leadership Caffeine category at the Management Excellence site.