Friends, In almost 11 years of writing “Reading for Leading,” I think I’ve only once written about my wife. Much as I love and admire Jennifer, I’ve tried to keep her out of this, and I’ve appreciated that about 99.5% of my readers have as well. So, as she enters the last 10 days of … Continued
Mistakes – I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours Friends, We sometimes are exasperated that employees (and kids and friends) take criticism all the wrong way! Today I suggest a way to create a way better atmosphere for facing mistakes and problems. Here (in blue) is a quick recap of the past 3 … Continued
Of Skinner, Pavlov, and My Mistakes Friends, In last week’s “Reading for Leading,” I introduced a series on managing, and in particular balancing the need for constructive criticism with the need to support and energize employees. As an initial point I suggested this critical distinction: What we say is quite frequently not what they hear. … Continued
Friends, I had two great conversations this week, which I will relate today as the foundation for a month-long series to help you think about how you might manage better. Breakfast #1: Bill* and I were talking about a CEO we both worked for. “He was so hard to figure,” I said. Bill said, “I … Continued
Two Resources for Dealing with the Bad Boss Friends, Last week I wrote about how we unfairly take shots at authorities, and on the other hand how authority figures foolishly and frequently shoot the messenger. Today I’m writing specifically for those who report to a boss they really can’t stand (or for those who know … Continued
Why, I Oughta – and other authority instincts Friends, I was working with an office a while back where morale had sunk to awful levels. At one point in a full-group meeting I excused the management team so I could get a no-holds barred airing of the issues. Wham, did I get it! Both barrels. … Continued
Tap the Power – Oil and the Crow Friends, I was running up on Mackinac and thinking of my wife/governor’s recent successes landing a bunch of cutting-edge green energy companies in Michigan. Some people get fired up talking about sports, shoes, or sex. She gets passionate talking about things like “net metering,” through which a … Continued
I shouldn’t have been surprised that Meryl Runion, who has a series of books on “power phrases” and a website called www.speakstrong.com would shoot right straight to the red dot in the center of the target. She did, as I was interviewing her this past week on the topic of ASSERTIVENESS. (The show and twenty-five … Continued
Pop! Culture sometimes reveals everyday leadership better than any scholar. If you have ever wielded authority – as a boss, parent, owner, manager, principal, superintendent – and you have never viewed Oscar Rogers’ take on last year’s financial meltdown, then do yourself a 1-minute 59-second favor and watch this hilarious Saturday Night Live video before … Continued