Art of Managing Archives

Focus on First-Time Managers #3—Overcoming the Discomfort of Delivering Feedback

Apr 25, 2017

Cultivating the skills and confidence to navigate constructive (negative) and positive feedback discussions is a game changer for any manager. Unfortunately, most first-time managers have received little to no training for this important performance tool. The good news is that armed with an understanding of the building blocks of effective feedback discussions and ample practice, you can learn to master this important management skill.

Focus on First-Time Managers #1: Getting Started

Apr 11, 2017

Starting out successfully as a new manager is challenging. However, there’s one thing you can do to improve your odds of success from the first moment of your new role. Invest time to…

Leadership Caffeine™—What’s It Like to Be You?

Apr 9, 2017

Learning to appreciate and value differences on your team takes effort on your part. An open-door policy isn’t enough. You need to stretch. A good question to keep in mind is: “What’s it like to be you?”

Learning to See Ambiguity as Opportunity (video)

Apr 7, 2017

We’re taught from an early age in school what we need to do to earn the “A.” Unfortunately, the real world isn’t that structured, predictable, or kind. Learning to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty in business is essential for survival. Learning to leverage these characteristics is essential for success.

How to Set the Stage for a Great Day at Work (video)

Mar 13, 2017

A few years ago, I learned an invaluable lesson from a workshop group on how to set the stage for a great day at work. Enjoy and use it in great health!

Are Your Management Approaches Stifling Thinking?

Oct 19, 2016

Our behaviors as managers and educators often stifle creativity and innovation. Instead of conditioning people to conform and comply, we need to exhibit behaviors that do the opposite.

Confessions of a Maverick Hiring Manager

Oct 16, 2016

Relying upon traditional hiring practices and dogma can leave your organization starved for the talent necessary to navigate the challenges facing your firm and industry. Sometimes, you have to go maverick!

Working with the Enemy—5 Approaches for Navigating Difficult Relationships

Sep 24, 2016

It is a fact of life that we will not like everyone we work with and not everyone will like us. While workplace feuds are commonplace, effective and opportunistic professionals strive to navigate those situations in the best interests of their firms and careers. This article offers five strategies for helping you navigate awkward workplace relationships.

Leadership Caffeine™—Experience Cuts Both Ways

Aug 28, 2016

When we overweight the value of experience in hiring situations or in navigating strategy, we increase our risk of failure. The challenge we face as leaders and managers is to imbue ourselves and our cultures with a sense of curiosity and the means and confidence to experiment.