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
Seven Big Insights from the Latest Manager Development Program Cohort
One of my pleasures as an executive and emerging leader coach comes from the time spent in session with the cohort groups in my various programs. We wrapped our September/October Manager Development Program group yesterday (Our last cohort of 2023 kicks off on 10/25 ...
Seven Big Insights from the Latest Manager Development Program Cohort
One of my pleasures as an executive and emerging leader coach comes from the time spent in session with the cohort groups in my various programs. I am inspired by their passion for their work and hunger to learn and exhilarated by some of their perspectives. Here are seven big insights from the recent Manager Development Program cohort:
The Best Of: The Trust Building Power of Second Chances
If humans are in the picture, mistakes will occur. Whether the mistake is an error in judgment, a result of incomplete planning or, due to inexperience with the task at hand, your team members will make mistakes. Your response to a mistake sets the tone for the next stage of your relationship. Here are 5 ideas to help you move in the right direction in these emotionally charged situations:
Expertise and the Purple Squirrel—Guest Post by Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson of Under10 Consulting, shares his thoughts on the mythical “Purple Squirrel” of job recruiting fame. Steve offers some valuable thoughts for all of us on “keeping it real” when specifying candidate requirements. Enjoy!
Management and Quality Lessons in the Airbag Recall
With clear acknowledgement that I am just one of millions of consumers impacted by the Takata Airbag disaster (recall), I feel compelled to vent. I of course vent not by screaming, but by looking for the management lessons in the mess. There are more than a few marketing and management lessons embedded in the industry’s handling of this potentially life-threatening problem.
Leadership Caffeine™—The Hard Work of Leading Is All In Your Mind
The hardest work of leading you’ll ever do is not the coaching, problem-solving, communicating and other externally focused activities that occupy your days. Rather, the heavy lifting of creating success as a leader goes on in the space between your ears. Here are 5 key internal issues every leader must regularly renew:
Art’s Writing and Week in Review for March 12, 2016
It was an interesting week in the news and an interesting week to explore a variety of topics in management and leadership. Here are four for your consideration and some thoughts on the week in the rearview mirror:
Good Managers Watch the Actors, Not Just the Action
In my experience, the best managers are devoted students of the art of character study—not out of some desire to play armchair psychologist, but rather out of the desire to help. Here’s why…
Promoted! Clean House or Just Rearrange the Furniture?
One of the initial decisions you face when you are promoted to a leadership role with direct report managers is whether to focus on building around the talent you just inherited or clean house and start fresh with a team that is most definitely yours. Your approach will have a profound impact on your ultimate success. Here are some key considerations when facing this issue:
Art’s Writing and Week in Review for March 5, 2016
A free new e-book! And in case you missed it, the latest leadership and management writing from Art Petty, and some thoughts on the week just past.
Tough Leadership Day? Smile and Keep Marching
Let’s face it, bad days happen to all of us. How you choose to respond sets a powerful example for your team and most definitely impacts your results. You can grumble and groan or steel your resolve, smile and keep marching. I opt for the latter.