20 years ago the focus was on “being effective;” taking effective action to achieve our goals, make money, have a big house, etc. And so we pursued our goals at any cost, to be effective. We exploited the planet, the systems, maximized profit in short term, etc. Other people were resources to be exploited. Today … Read more
If you’re like many people, you expect a lot – of self and others – on the job. How much of the stress you experience comes from trying to juggle too many roles, goals, and projects simultaneously? While you may have a dozen or more items on your project list, remember that the maximum most … Read more
People don’t like to be uncomfortable. I cannot recall the last time I had a conversation a leader where the subject of “difficult conversations” about performance did not come up as one of their most feared situations. Second to that is concern about telling people that “change is coming.” Meanwhile, we face the reality that … Read more
A common concern I hear from my executive clients is that they have great difficulty with strategy time. The issue usually presents itself like this: “I can’t find the time to think when I’m constantly being interrupted.” OK, why are you constantly being interrupted? The response is usually a form of, “we have an Open … Read more
One of the other speakers at the Singapore HR Summit was Ngahi Bidois, who calls himself a New Age Maori Warrior. Ngahi — his full name is , Ngahihi o te ra Bidois, which means Rays of the Sun — is from New Zealand. 20 years ago Ngahi was a college-educated, high-flying, young executive-in-training with … Read more
Last week I was privileged to attend Kent State University’s annual Student Awards night. At this event the university recognizes the accomplishments of its many student leaders and student organizations; it also serves as the transition point for all Undergraduate Student Government (USG) positions. During the past school year our youngest son, Jared, was a … Read more
As more and more companies must make the difficult decision to reduce staff and send people packing, I’ve had many leaders come to me and ask for advice on what to tell people when they ask questions. When people suspect a lay off is pending, they shift into constant anxiety. Yet too many top leaders, … Read more