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
“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 think she almost laughed at me. Kind of blurted an involuntary guffaw. But then my Teaching Assistant followed up her involuntary non-verbal display with sincere verbal reassurance. We were recapping the last 3 classes, all of which were led by students themselves. We were in strong agreement that the classes had gone well (as … Continued
There’s a wonderful movie out called Don’t Think Twice. It’s directly about Improv — so enjoy some very funny scenes. Yet it moves beyond Improv to Improv’s relationship with mainstream “show business.” And, as Keegan-Michael Key shared with Stephen Colbert it actually moves well beyond that to offer a bigger statement…one relevant to Reading for Leading: … Continued
As we swim in the national soup of a presidential campaign, the best learning about leadership lies outside the usual back-and-forth. Whether we are leading in an office or company, a school or family, a church or neighborhood, we have to grapple with IMPRESSIONS and FEELINGS and not just data and facts. I offer: an … Continued
I have been doing a lot of thinking about — and a considerable amount of coaching with — partners, or those I describe as “paired leaders.” Their relationships range from manager-to-direct-report, to diagonal reports, to straight-up peers. Most are “work spouses,” but I have also been coaching some actual spouses as part of my executive … Continued
Every parent’s nightmare: It’s the Sunday before Christmas and you’re at the mall. It’s 4:00 and you have to get two more gifts; you won’t have another chance with work deadlines, family coming in town, and a house that’s not ready. Your just-turned-three-year old, however, has been literally dragging her feet despite the little carousel … Continued