The Leadership Caffeine Blog

How to Get Ahead Without Being Perceived as a Jerk (Most of the time)

How to Get Ahead Without Being Perceived as a Jerk (Most of the time)

The question, “Do I have to be a jerk to get ahead?” is spoken out of frustration. There’s no doubt that in sharp-elbowed organizations, noisy, manipulative individuals can be the ones gaining the plum assignments and key promotions. If you want to get ahead, you don’t have to mimic their behaviors, but you do have to choose a strategy to compete. Here are some ideas to help you get ahead without compromising your values:

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Why Drucker’s “Managing Oneself” is Incredibly Relevant to Managing Your Career

Why Drucker’s “Managing Oneself” is Incredibly Relevant to Managing Your Career

Every year I read Peter Drucker’s classic article, “Managing Oneself,” as part of my personal-professional career navigation process. His powerful questions and frank commentary on what we need to do in our careers helps me reorient and reset on my priorities and activities. I’ve added five questions of my own that are relevant in our emerging world.

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Thinking Differently—It’s Time to Fire Up Your Firm’s Imagination

Thinking Differently—It’s Time to Fire Up Your Firm’s Imagination

There are more than a few reasons your firm or industry won’t make it through the next decade. While you won’t derail or defuse the power of the many disruptive market forces swirling in our world, it’s the lack of imagination for harnessing these forces that may ultimately relegate your firm to the business history books. Ironically, imagination may be the most controllable and most important of the tools you need to survive and even thrive in this world.

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Career Reinvention Journal—Why Some Succeed Where Others Fail

Career Reinvention Journal—Why Some Succeed Where Others Fail

A good number of people I encounter, talk about doing something different in their careers. For those individuals who cultivate the courage to pursue career reinvention, there are stark differences in the thinking and behaviors between those who succeed and those who don’t. Here are my observations based on several years working with dozens of aspiring career reinventors.

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8 Ideas to Help You Regain Control at Work

8 Ideas to Help You Regain Control at Work

It’s great to be busy, but excessive busyness comes from a flawed approach to your situation. Assert control over your priorities and time, and quit letting the lower priority items rent space in your mind. Here are 8 ideas to help:

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Leading and Succeeding in the Gray-Zone

Leading and Succeeding in the Gray-Zone

I’ve long believed learning to lead in the gray-zone inside organizations is a great approach for creating value, standing out, and getting ahead in your career. Here are 10 tips to help you tackle those vexing issues no one owns, by cultivating support and helping others succeed.

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Career Reinvention Journal—Moving Beyond Fear

Career Reinvention Journal—Moving Beyond Fear

Of all of the monsters lurking in the dark and keeping us from moving forward or onward to new career adventures, fear is the most potent. Kicking fear to the curb through deliberate action is key to overcoming the gravitational pull it exerts on our lives and careers.

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