By Kevin Eikenberry You've got questions, and we've got answers. Hi, I'm Kevin Eikenberry answering the questions that new leaders ask us. Actually, it's our goal to help all leaders be more confident, successful, and productive. And we do that by answering questions, including this one. Am I a role model? Are you ready? Let's get started. The more general … [Read more...]
The One Skill You Need to Succeed
By Kevin Eikenberry So, did my headline makes you wonder? That was my hope. Maybe you are guessing what that one skill is. Perhaps you are thinking I am pretty presumptuous to suggest I know the most important skill you need. After all, I don’t know you, your experience, or what you do for a living. This skill is so ubiquitous that it doesn’t matter what you do, … [Read more...]
The Big Truth About Micromanagement
By Kevin Eikenberry You've got questions and we've got answers. Hi, I'm Kevin Eikenberry answering the questions that new leaders ask us. Actually, it's our goal to help all leaders be more confident successful and productive. Today, I'm answering a question about micromanagement. Are you ready? Let's get started. I've had many leaders ask me this question. What do I need … [Read more...]
Making Team Member Birthdays a Red-Letter Day
By Kevin Eikenberry One thing that we all have in common is that we have a birthday. Some people want to avoid talking about them, but most everyone cares about and wants at least some acknowledgement of their birthday. Heck, I know some people that have a birth month, not just a birthday! What can leaders do to acknowledge and celebrate team member birthdays? A … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Your Reading More Meaningful
By Kevin Eikenberry Have you ever heard someone say (or maybe you have said or thought it yourself): “That book changed my life.” While I do believe reading is important, I believe that statement is, by definition, false. A book cannot change your life (or my life). Only you can make that change. There are many books that have had an impact on my life as a … [Read more...]
Is Conflict Avoidance a Good Leadership Strategy?
By Kevin Eikenberry Conflict avoidance, as a general statement isn’t a good idea. Left unchecked and unaddressed, conflict tends to grow, not recede. But the question here is about you, as a leader, and whether conflict avoidance is a good idea. The answer is, it depends. If someone on the team is coming to you, telling you about what someone else is doing wrong -and … [Read more...]
What is the Best Way to Build My Leadership Skills?
By Kevin Eikenberry What is the best way to build my leadership skills? It is a question I hear often. It is an understandable question that comes from a great intention. And I hate the question. I don’t hate the intention behind it – in fact I love it. But the question itself? Not so much. Let me explain. This question is like so many other questions that I frame as the … [Read more...]
Stop, Drop, and Role: Putting Out Fires
By Kevin Eikenberry I’ve worked with well-meaning, highly-principled leaders for years. When I talked to these leaders about coaching and developing their team, I kept hearing that, although they know that coaching and developing their team is important, there are too many things that get in the way. They want to coach more, but they don’t have time because they are too busy … [Read more...]
When Does Leading Get Easier?
By Kevin Eikenberry Leadership is hard work. You may have heard or read me say it – and chances are you have experienced it – the transition to being a leader is likely the hardest transition of your professional life. To do it well requires dedication, discipline, attention, and a lot of skill. Then, the natural question is – when does it get easier? I’ll … [Read more...]
Be Nice: It’s a Leadership Skill
By Kevin Eikenberry I have noticed a theme in my life, and this theme has a great deal to do with your ability to lead your team successfully. The theme is stated simply on a t-shirt that I have that I wore at Halloween. It said: "Just Be Nice" I love the shirt and the message because I believe that we all need to be reminded sometimes of the importance of … [Read more...]