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
Reaching for the Executive Ranks, Part Three—Developing as an Integrative Thinker
Earlier articles in this series focused on 'Developing as a strategist' and 'Strengthening Executive Presence.' This is the first of a two-part series on 'Strengthening as an integrative thinker.' -- Solving for the problems of direction, choice, and approach The...
Reaching for the Executive Ranks, Part Three—Developing as an Integrative Thinker
The essence of your role as a senior manager is problem-solving through decision-making. Cultivating your critical thinking skills is right up there with the need to lead effectively at scale, project the presence essential to building credibility, and galvanizing support In this article, I share a case study and some resources for strengthening as an integrative thinker.
Stop Talking and Start Drawing to Create Communication Clarity at Work
When you’re struggling to create clarity on an important topic or navigating a heated group discussion, it pays to stop talking and start drawing. This sudden shift in medium takes the negative energy out of discussion and focuses your audience on designing a way forward. Here are 7 tips to help you get to the whiteboard in pursuit of communication clarity:
New Online Course from Art Petty—Crushing It With Challenging Conversations
I’m excited to introduce: Crushing It With Challenging Conversations, a new online, on-demand course focused on helping you navigate and succeed in critical workplace communication situations.
Getting the Fear Out of Challenging Conversations—Free Webinar
The most critical issues in our workplaces tend to be the ones we’re not talking about! Challenging conversations offer a gateway to progress, yet too many of us dodge or deflect these discussions, in part, because we’ve not been trained on the tools and approaches essential for navigating these important situations.
Surviving and Thriving When Presenting to Executives
The invitation to present to your organization’s senior executives is a pivotal career moment for many young professionals. Crush it (in a good way), and you make a name for yourself and show up on the radar screen as someone on the rise and worth watching. Stumble, and you make an impression as well, just not the one you wanted to make. This article outlines ten tips to help you crush it with this great career opportunity.
Leadership Caffeine™—The Mess is the Opportunity
Before saying “no” to that messy situation, recognize that the mess is the opportunity. Being invited to fix a messy situation is like receiving an engraved invitation to success on a silver platter.
Using Your Communication Superpowers to Overcome Workplace Blockers
Great workplace communicators are tuned-in to the power of their communication superpowers and they deliberately deploy them in pursuit of individual, team, and organizational success. In this article, I share four powerful communication tactics you can use to melt the resistance of workplace blockers and gain support for your initiatives.
Three Communication Styles That Can Derail Your Career Progress
In any given workplace, there are a wide variety of communication styles on display. While the variation creates a rich environment for engaging and sharing ideas, there are a few styles and behaviors that get in the way of your communication and career success. If you or someone you know resemble one of the three styles: watchmaker, interruptor, or arguer, it’s time to get help and adapt your communication style.
Leadership Caffeine™—Seven Symptoms that Suggest You Have a Leadership Brain Clog
The clogged thinking of leaders translates into strategy and execution misfires and abysmal levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction. Ultimately, the best defense against developing a brain clog is your vigilance. Here are some ideas to help you root out any developing clogs:
Leadership Opportunity—The Leader as Composer and Conductor
The view of the leader as symphony conductor is appealing on multiple levels. One helps create beautiful music and the other enables high performance. However, there is one big difference between the leader and conductor—the leader must compose and conduct at the same time.