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
For Managers: Stop the Drama Storms by Bringing the Rules for Success to Life
The Bottom Line Up Front Culture in a group is too important to be left to chance. Managers must work together with group members to define what it means to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, and innovate in pursuit of their function's charter. While focused on...
For Managers: Stop the Drama Storms by Bringing the Rules for Success to Life
Culture in a group is too important to be left to chance. Managers must work together with group members to define what it means to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, and innovate in pursuit of their function’s charter.
Starting Strong as a New Manager
Here’s some guidance to help new managers move beyond that early feeling of disorientation and start strong.
Effective Leaders Resolve to Improve Daily
Annual resolutions are tempting but mostly empty promises easily discarded. Effective leaders work hard at identifying opportunities to improve daily. Here are some tools to help your cause:
For the New Year, Resolve to Become a Rebel at Work
The gravitational pull of the status quo is powerful in every organization. It takes rebels and rebellion to change. While breaking the rules always comes with risk, learning to guide others through constructive rule-breaking in pursuit of needed changes is a great way to grow your success.
In the Spirit of the Season
Wishing you all the gifts of health, peace, and prosperity in this holiday season. And for those of you who celebrate, a Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Ripple Effects
Sometimes we’re reminded that our actions in the present create someone else’s backstories and memories. As a leader and manager, you have the unique opportunity to directly impact the lives and careers of the people you encounter. Make certain your impact on people ripples positively through time.
Lock in 2019 Professional Development with Challenging Conversations
I’ve long been convinced we work our way to professional success one challenging conversation and one challenging situation at a time. (Think about it.) Of course, learning to succeed in those moments is the critical part. That’s why we put together our online/on-demand program, Crushing It with Challenging Conversations.
For Challenging Conversations, Respect Melts Resistance
The absence of respect breeds toxicity among individuals and across the workplace. Instead of being blinded by your brilliance it pays to take the time to look, listen, learn, and value the person across the table from you. You’ll be pleased with results, including the respect you’ll receive in return.
Navigating the Challenging Conversations of Strategy
In my experience, most strategy discussions go sideways. After all, they are typically about change and we’re wired to fear and resist change. There are however some practices you can adopt to help strengthen the quality of these essential and sometimes existential discussions. Here are 5:
Challenging Conversations—How to Tell an Employee It’s Over
Challenging conversations are inherent in a manager’s job, yet this knowledge doesn’t make it any easier when you have to sit down and let a good person know they’re not cutting it and it’s time for them to go. While you own doing everything in your power to coach, train, and support them, in some instances, the individual’s abilities don’t match up with your firm’s and the job’s needs. Here’s guidance on handling this tough situation with clarity and empathy.