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
Senior Leaders: Your New Manager Development Efforts are Failing Your Firm
New manager development is hard work. The benefits to organizations that get it right include strengthened performance, improved engagement and retention, meaningful collaboration, and increased innovation. Oh, and the strengthened leadership pipeline is alright, too....
Senior Leaders: Your New Manager Development Efforts are Failing Your Firm
Unfortunately, many (read: most) organizations are mired in a broken model for new manager development, emphasizing one-and-done training and avoiding longer-range sustained development that blends coaching, mentoring, cohort collaboration, and even executive sponsorship.As a result, too many new managers are left to flail and, if not fail, at least under-perform, wreaking havoc on performance, engagement, and retention.
In Search of Good Operators in Business
We tend to elevate the visionaries in our world to mythological status, when in reality, a good operator is what is needed to save and transform your business. Here’s a reminder on the behaviors of good operators:
Dangerous Words in Business and Six Year-Old Refrigerators
We are often our own worst enemies, especially when it comes to making decisions around failed initiatives (or failing refrigerators). When you hear the words, “with a bit more time and money,” you should run the other way and don’t forget to grab your checkbook.
Leadership Caffeine™—The Cost of a Shortcut
The pressure for results can push people to make small compromises in corporate values. Once you start down this path, the results are potentially catastrophic for you in your career and for your firm. Just ask Volkswagen…
How to Save $1,500 on Leadership Books
The formula for success as a leader is not a secret. In every course, keynote and workshop, I hear people describe the behaviors of the leaders that inspire them. Their formula is consistent and simple:
Conquering Your Fear in the Workplace
Fear in our professional lives robs us of our hopes and dreams. It keeps us from realizing our potential. Externally imposed fear from boss bullies is toxic as well. Both are capable of being neutralized.
How to Get to “Yes” at Work
Improve your success rate with important workplace “asks” with this simple behavioral change:
New Video: 3 Ideas to Help Jump-Start Your Strategy Process
Helping a group align on the hard work of strategy is…hard work. Here are 3 ideas in my latest video update to help you get people working together early in the strategy process:
Profile: The Perfect Trio for Business Success
What do marketing services, running coaching and popcorn have in common? In the case of three young entrepreneurs, it’s all about building businesses, learning and enjoying their careers.
Quit Outsourcing the Work of Finding and Developing Talent
The hard work of finding and developing talent cannot be outsourced by the manager to other functions. Effective managers understand the connection between owning this hard work and generating team and firm success.