If you're an executive or top manager staring at a new group you've been assigned to lead and concluding you've got a lineup that looks destined for last place, it's time to take action. Of course, most of those actions involve the person staring back at you in the mirror. Here's a process that will help:
The general guidance on building effective teams is right, it's just often not specific enough. Here are 4 keys to building your great team that don't get enough consideration in most workplaces:
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:
Every week I offer ideas to encourage you to stretch and grow. For this week, my suggestions include volunteering to solve a vexing problem, experimenting with assignment rotation and taking your team on a field trip. Use them in great professional health!
Many workplace teams I observe are not much better than the typical nightmarish college class group project that most of us have lived through at one time or another. Here are 4 big reasons why workplace teams struggle and 9 ideas to help you do something about it:
The essence of good leadership includes not only bringing great talent to the party, but also creating an environment that encourages people to come together around a clear and compelling purpose. How hard are you working at moving beyond the targets and numbers to help your team discover and focus on its' unifying purpose?
Beware the dulling effect of a predictable routine on the performance of your team. It might just be the single most dangerous adversary standing between you and future success. Here are 5 ideas to help you breakthrough routine and encourage rethinking:
Performance counts. Efforts are nice, but ultimately, you are evaluated on the results of your team, not the amount of work you put into achieving your results. Here are 7 ideas to promote high performance with your team:
We’re often too quick as leaders to throw in the towel on teams that have whiffed. That’s a mistake that may be more costly to performance and morale than the initial and temporary failure. Here are 5 signs that your failed team merits more time:
People and teams fail on their way to success all of the time. That’s great. That’s how it’s supposed to work. The people and groups I struggle with are those who just fail. Often, the gap between failure and success appears wide, deep and ominous. This perceived gap keeps people frozen in place for a long while and then as time passes, fear turns to regret. Here are 9 ideas to help you jump the gap from failure to success.
