Why do so many leaders have such a hard time saying "no" to projects that just do not fit into the departmental operations? Some of us say “yes” to misfit projects because we want to protect working relationships. Others of us value our reputation or perception of being a “can-do player.” Maybe this misfit project is a unique opportunity, and we don’t want to be perceived as unsupportive. In some cases, we will take on a...
Leaders are judged on their results. Great leaders know they must work through a team of people doing hands-on work to get the results the organization needs. Let’s compare it to a train. The train conductor has to make sure that everyone is onboard, and that each car is connected correctly before leaving the station and before there is any hope of staying on schedule and reaching the destination. Connection, one to another, is key to...
“If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you are doing.” ― W. Edwards Deming Nature, especially human nature, is hardwired to find a process for surviving, growing, and winning. It is the responsibility of the leader at each level to see the vision, set the tone, find the process, cultivate it, and grow it. The process of building a successful winning organization is complex, multifaceted and involves several key elements....
Today, while working with our team in a Leader-to-Leader session, one of our seasoned leaders said, “I was creating my own leadership lid. I had intentionally set my ability to lead myself and others too low because I was afraid, I might fail. “ The leadership lid is that imaginary barrier we often put in the way of how we think and how we develop ourselves. The lid might be telling us that we don’t have the...
If you are being asked to do more, take on more, it is because you are a problem solver, you get results and you are seen as someone who can adapt and overcome. In short, you are a leader in the eyes of your organization, and it feels good. But organizations change; it may happen when they are experiencing major growth and expansion, or top-level leadership switches out. When this happens, the pressure is on the...
If you are not already a leader in your organization, you may have your eye on the job and all that goes with it. You want to wear a supervisor’s shirt, have the perks and extra pay that comes with it. You want the business card that says your name and the new leadership title. Maybe, deep down inside you want to be called “boss.” Let’s talk about the other things that come with the title. You...
Recently, I was talking with a business owner of a multi-million-dollar business. He has 150-200 employees at any given time. His frustration was with a few of his top inner circle leaders who wanted to be leaders in theory, but not in practice, leaving him wondering where their loyalties might lie. He said, “Some on my leadership team have a hard time drawing the line between having a working relationship with an employee and trying to...
“Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.” ~ Fulton J. Sheen In those lonely hard times, when you have to make those tough decisions that others don’t, it is important to have something inside of you that is bigger than yourself. When you have to be willing to take those actions that require courage others don’t understand, it matters. Good Friday reminds us that there is something bigger than...
A great leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. ~John Maxwell Once, I thought I was a really good leader. Then, unexpectedly I found myself having to layoff almost half of my department’s employees. That day, I decided to take control of my leadership skills, because knowing how to lead people keeps me and my staff working. It also keeps my customers happy. So, I tried being a better listener and...
There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being — to help another succeed. ~Alan Loy McGinnis It is the end of the Christmas season, New Year's Eve is upon us and giving/getting gifts is still a big part of the culture. Did you give your team anything? Without knowing your team, I hope you did, but I don’t necessarily mean a material gift, although I am sure that would have been nice. What...