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.
The Words of Leaders
We were discussing the failure of many organizations to stop old ways of doing things, even in the face of overwhelming proof that the old ways don’t work. My student mentioned that the appointment of a new CEO last year had at first been encouraging until it was clear that nothing would truly change. This unfortunate event is all too common.
Podcast: The Leader’s Guide to Managing Fear in the Workplace
This Management Excellence podcast episode tackles the challenging issue of managing morale and fighting fear in the face of economic and job uncertainty. Art Petty offers 13 suggestions for dealing with this insidious performance killer.
Monday-The Best Day of the Week, the Inauguration and Podcasting
Most people that I know just hate Mondays. You don’t even have to take a survey to confirm this point. Just watch people in their cars on the way to work or take a look around the faces buried in newspapers on the train. Here’s the short-list of why Mondays can be your best friend:
Where Do I Go From Here?
Not surprisingly in this economy, a great number of people are busy plotting their next career and life steps. Whether prompted by a layoff, a threat of a layoff or the recognition that conditions can all too easily result in a layoff; I’m listening to many people who are dancing with the idea of a shift in direction. Some have already pulled the trigger. Similar to the theme in my post the other day on Beating the Economic Blues, it is critical to do something…to take some form of action when change is on your mind.
Feeling the Economic Deep Freeze? Ten Actions that You Can Take to Thaw Out and Combat Your Blues
As the economy continues to crumble around us, one of the common themes that I am hearing from people at all levels and in all forms of positions and professions is that they “don’t know what to do.” Much like the weather outside, people are frozen in place. Fear will do that, and it’s definitely not healthy. Here’s my randomly generated and in no specific order list of 10 ideas for anyone seeking to thaw-out and start moving forward in spite of the sub-zero headwinds.
A Rave Against Miserable Customer Service, Lousy Leaders and Protectionist Policies
One of my favorite, provocative business thinkers, Gary Hamel, says what we’ve all been thinking about in his Wall Street Journal blog post, “Too Many Industries Suffering from Detroititis.” Hamel appropriately skewers the U.S. Airlines as suffering from this malady of poor customer service and short-term thinking, all propped up by the government’s artificial protectionist policies. I offer a few of my own thoughts on the “delightful” experience of flying U.S. carriers and what you can do in your organization to avoid the dreaded new disease, “Detroititis.”
Turnarounds and Talent is Overrated: Two Great Posts
Some days others have created such interesting posts, the best thing that I can do is to encourage you to head in their direction. Today’s posts from some great pros are too good to pass up. Point your browser towards both of these and enjoy!
Leadership and the Young Professional
very academic quarter for the past few years, a good colleague has invited me to be a guest speaker in her senior-level college management class and talk about leadership. I’m on the schedule tonight and I love this experience.
It’s great to have to stand in front of a group of early-career professionals and go through the humbling experience of recognizing that you are talking based on the road traveled and their view is on the unchartered horizons in front of them.
If Ayn Rand Could See Us Now
Stephen Moore, an economics writer for the Wall Street Journal does a masterful job in his January 9th Opinion piece, “Atlas Shrugged, From Fact to Fiction in 52 Years,” articulating what I’ve been sensing as our government has moved quickly in the past few months to assert control. The examples in Atlas and the parallels to what is happening today should send chills up the spine of any thinking being.