This belongs to the general series on the incredible power of partnership — of “paired leadership.” And this is the last for now in the mini-series on “leading a subordinate to partnership.” The first 4 are all available at danmulhern.com/category/reading-for-leading. I have been writing about helping lead a subordinate to become a partner. And last … Continued
This is a continuing series on “paired leadership” generally, and the last of 4 on creating a partnership with one who is subordinate to you. My launching point for this series has been how, for well over a decade, my oldest daughter and I were much more adversarial than mutually supportive. I wrap up this … Continued
In a continuing series on the power of creating partnerships – including with those who are “below” us. Recap: For the past two weeks I have been writing about how it’s possible to turn (nearly every) top-down relationship into a partnership, and that doing so generates greater substantive and relational results for both people. I … Continued
Paired Leadership — 3rd in a series — This series is written for people who can imagine that creating a PARTNERSHIP with a key report (or child or student) might generate much better results and much more satisfying relationships than “managing down.” What I call “Paired leadership” or partnership is mysterious, but when we take … Continued
Continuing thoughts on “paired leadership” – 2nd in an ongoing series. As I wrote last week, in some key paired leadership situations there are pure equals, like spouses and co-founders. But sometimes your paired leader or partner is “beneath” you in the hierarchy. You are each vital to the team and organization, and of course, … Continued
Happy New Year . . . and to help make it so . . . I will be writing much of this year on the topic that has for three years completely seized my imagination, my research, teaching, client practice, and family life. Paired Leadership. Pairs — sometimes pure equals like spouses, co-founders, co-ceos. Pairs … Continued
My friend Mike Tenbusch asked me if I’d write about his book in this space. I honestly can’t remember anyone asking me that before (although in 16 years of writing it, I’m sure someone has). So, Mike is first. I have often quoted Kouzes & Posner in this space who write, “leaders go first.” On … Continued
“Doesn’t being so positive with people end up meaning that you’re denying reality?” I was asked this at a Women’s Executive Leadership program at the Haas Business School at Berkeley last week. She was responding to my challenge: great relationships tilt heavily positive, so if you want to lead well, get positive! I was … Continued
Now we head down the stretch with that strange admixture of tugs and pulls: Thanksgiving, Advent, collecting from clients, Hanukkah, year-end reviews, New Year’s, bonuses, gift-giving, planning for 2017, and . . . shopping. Let me add one more strange pairing and that is leadership and happiness. Here’s an example of neither leadership nor happiness. … Continued
I often do an exercise in which I ask people to take index cards and write down the behaviors they have experienced from their managers which have dis-abled, de-energized, de-motivated, dis-couraged, or otherwise dis-sed or de-ed them. Stop for a nano-second and consider a manager who had this dampening impact on you! What did he … Continued