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
Don’t reinvent your career — Remix it.
For several years, I've experienced an increasing demand for career coaching from long-time clients. They reach out with something that sounds like "Art, I'm done with this work. I need something else that's not just a job change. I don't know where to start." I help...
Don’t reinvent your career — Remix it.
For several years, I’ve experienced an increasing demand for career coaching from long-time clients. They reach out with something that sounds like “Art, I’m done with this work. I need something else that’s not just a job change. I don’t know where to start.” I help people find that place to start and frequently guide them through to their ‘next’ role. It’s never a full-scale reinvention, but rather a deliberate process that ultimately remixes their skills, wisdom, and interests to find a role that meets their needs at this stage of their lives and careers.
How to create focus in your work (and personal) life to stimulate success
But, creating and maintaining focus is a battle. I often fail until I remind myself yet again of what’s important and then take action to cut out the noise and distractions. Here are some ideas to help you create focus on your path to success:
Leadership Development is Indeed Failing Us—Time for a New Approach
When it came to leadership development investments, as an executive, it grew frustrating to send people to name-brand organizations and have them return with a “nice experience,” a big bill, and no visible strengthened abilities or sustained changes.
The Problem(s) with One-and-Done Training for Manager Development—And Two New Programs that Solve Those Problems
One-and-done type training programs for manager development consistently fall short. A proper professional development experience blends expert instruction, cohort-based learning/sharing, coaching, and time. For time, the issue is months, not weeks. My thoughts and two new programs that deliver the right blended experience.
5 roadblocks that keep too many from making a career shift—and how to defeat them
For many who toy with the notion of a new career direction, there are roadblocks and gremlins that often keep them from moving forward. Here are five statements I’ve encountered in the past few weeks and my thoughts for moving beyond each. (Hint: you’ll hear a theme in my guidance.)
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.
It’s That Time of Year for Managers—Don’t Make These Mistakes with Your Performance Evaluations
The real work of getting performance evaluations starts long before you reach the time to write and discuss them. Nonetheless, you’re at the 11th hour. Here are some tips you can use at this late date to help you do your best for your team members.
Unlocking Excellence: Mastering Performance Feedback Strategies (Workshop)
No topic in my Manager Development Program generates more energy than performance feedback. Everyone knows feedback is essential. Almost everyone admits wanting help with strategies for the difficult (constructive) feedback discussions. Here’s a program to help:
Tired of the drama storm? Effective managers write the rules of the road with their teams
In my informal survey of coaching clients, workplace drama is all too prevalent and distracting. Managers are tired of officiating the he said/she said/they didn’t/I can’t work with… issues that creep up in daily work. They are looking for a solution—something that places responsibility where it belongs. I teach my managers to write the Rules of the Road with their team members to solve this problem.
Special Open Enrollment Workshop—Nine Reasons to Join the Feedback Skills Boot Camp
Join me for a powerful, practical professional development experience on 11/16 from noon to 3 p.m. Central for the latest Feedback Skills Boot Camp. Three hours and an amazing price (because it’s a group) to strengthen skills that will serve you for a career.