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Art of Managing—The Questions Come First

Jul 7, 2013

My first manager routinely asked a question that turned out to be a powerful teaching tool and a life-long reminder to pause before leaping. The question was, “Have you thought of everything?” While “thinking of everything” in a literal sense is impossible, her intent wasn’t to push us down to ground level in an endless field of details (as interpreted by my colleagues), but rather, it was to push us to think through and around a situation in as thorough manner as possible. Here are 5 situations where the questions absolutely must come first:

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Just One Thing: Focus

Jun 5, 2013

Much like my topic a few weeks ago about the importance of finding time to think deeply about the big issues in front of us, it takes deliberate and sometimes herculean effort to find focus in our work lives. Focus is a key ingredient on the critical path to success.

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Art of Managing-Hedging Your Bets Might Be Harmful to Your Firm’s Health

May 29, 2013

The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do, yet as Lafley, Martin and Riel describe, the notion of giving up options or closing off familiar paths is uncomfortable for us. It’s our drive to eliminate this discomfort by keeping our options open and flexible that might just be limiting our success or even setting the stage for failure. Here are 3 powerful thought-starters to help you and your team tackle the strategic issue of finding new growth:

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Art of Managing: Tackle the Big Issues by Creating Time to Think Deeply

May 23, 2013

Sometimes, you just have to call a time-out. While our tendency is to respond to the gravitational pull of our devices and the unceasing demands of the urgent and urgent-unimportant in our work lives, some issues simply require deep thought. Here are 6 ideas to support your effort to find deep-thinking time on the big issues for you and your team:

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Leadership Caffeine™-5 Priceless Lessons from Amundsen and Scott

Feb 17, 2013

In preparation for an upcoming presentation, I’ve become a bit obsessed with studying the 1910 expeditions and race between Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott to 90-degrees South (the South Pole). The lessons for leaders and managers practically leap off the pages of this classic example of coping with risk, uncertainty and volatility. Here are 5 lessons from these remarkable expeditions that you can apply in your work-life today:

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Leadership Caffeine™-Lessons from the Wilderness

Jan 27, 2013

Instead of teaching people to work within a self-contained system where the goal is to impose order, this new world demands much more of a sense and respond style of leading. Here are 5 ideas for cultivating tolerance for adversity and uncertainty on your team:

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Management Excellence Holiday Book List-Part 2

Dec 17, 2012

Here are a few more of my favorite things when it comes to professional development. Part 1 focused on leadership, strategy, getting to the next level and cultural intelligence. In Part 2, I range a bit further afield with an eclectic suggestion list of biographies. And remember, the best books on leadership aren’t found in the business section!

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Management Excellence Holiday Reading List-Part 1

Dec 16, 2012

In case you’re looking for gift suggestions for the professional in your life or, you’re thinking of spending some holiday time on your own professional development, I’m offering a few thoughts in a series of posts this week. In this first part, I stick close to the leadership and management world. Parts 2 and 3 will offer suggestions from the world of biography, innovation and self-development.

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