"The best leaders are insatiable learners. They're never finished because they're always learning." ~Tom Peters One of the best ideas ever given to me years ago was to take my direct reports, my leaders, away from the workplace for a training session. Little did I realize that those two days would be the foundation for changing our negative toxic culture to one that would lead us to making some incredible hires and eventually allow us to win...
"The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes." ~Tony Blair, former Prime Minister England Leadership is about making hard decisions, setting boundaries, and prioritizing opportunities based on defined goals and vision. A significant aspect of effective leadership is the ability to judge well, or to develop the art of discernment in decision-making. Discernment is crucial when learning to say “no” to people and projects. This takes skill, discipline,...
The heat and friction in a leadership position can be staggering, especially when in the process of turning around an organizational culture. There are hard decisions to make that require sound judgement and the ability to be resilient. "Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work." ~Vince Lombardi According to The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner leadership is not an inherent trait, but a skill that...
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." ~William Arthur Ward Expressing gratitude for employees is essential for fostering a positive work environment and building a strong team. Finding the time to give the gift of gratitude is a challenge, but well worth the effort. Here are a few ways we can express gratitude to our people. Recognition Programs: Establish employee recognition programs that highlight and reward outstanding performance. I have done...
Over the years of leading organizations, small businesses, and after numerous employee huddles I have discovered that one verb is critical when defining successful leadership…respect. How a leader treats other people, garnering achievements, solid character, and competency goes a long way in developing the reputation of being a leader worthy of respect. Merriam-Webster defines respect as “a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation; expressions of high or special regard or deference”. Just like trust, respect...
Paula was tired. It was obvious to her that things at the organization were not working as well as they could be. It seemed each time she tried to upgrade procedures to get the organization more efficient and productive, the old status quo work culture deflated her initiatives. She remembers going to a conference and hearing how other organizations changed their culture, but she couldn’t recall any of the steps. Changing a status quo mindset is difficult...
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." ~ Stephen Covey When Tony walked into the gym, I noticed he had all his tools on a tool belt. He was ready to work. When he got to the wooden door, he repaired the unscrewed hinge. In minutes the door was working properly, he went to his next job. When Henry got to his work area he looked around and kept walking....
"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." ~Mother Teresa Giving recognition and appreciation in the workplace is a powerful tool that can have a significant impact on employees’ hearts and minds leading to higher morale, engagement, and overall organizational success. Over the years I have launched numerous recognition programs that have stood the test of time, maintaining their impact on our employees. Here are three key reasons why incorporating recognition practices in...
Delegating takes time, a precious commodity for us all. I know delegation is what I’m supposed to do, but if I do it myself, I know it’s done correctly, and I don’t have to do it again. The hardest part for me and I bet for you is to be willing to accept that mistakes may occur when delegating. But a truly effective leader knows that delegation is not just about assigning our people tasks; it’s really...
I remember as a leader being very frustrated that only about 30% of my staff were really engaged and did quality work. There was another 30% that were actively disengaged and seemed to just want a paycheck by doing the bare min to keep from getting fired. There was about 40% somewhere in the middle. It seemed I spent a lot of time with the bottom 30% having to deal with silly time-consuming issues. You may...