It’s little wonder that some people choose to send an email instead of trying to hold a conversation. After all, people often are looking at their computers or smartphones when you try to speak with them. Or worse, they interrupt you before you can finish a thought. Both behaviors are rude, so make sure that you are giving your employees your undivided attention when they stop … [Read more...]
7 Simple Ways to Be a Supportive Coach and Leader
As a leader, coaching is one of your most important duties. It's how you will help employees correct negative behaviors and enhance positive ones. It is how you will train new employees to take on their new positions. It is how you will guide two employees to work through a conflict. And the list goes on. While coaching, in general, is important, how you coach can mean the … [Read more...]
How Leaders Are Like the Most Talented Drummers
This morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees—including Pearl Jam, Janet Jackson, Journey and more—for its 2017 induction ceremony. That got me thinking about music and bands, and the role each member plays. The singers in the band are out front, and the lead guitarists often have the coolest solos, but without the drummer—or with an off-rhythm … [Read more...]
Does a Company’s Reputation Rest on the Shoulders of the Leader?
Karen Tiber Leland is a branding expert and author of The Brand Mapping Strategy: Design, Build and Accelerate Your Brand. When you think Facebook, you think Mark Zuckerberg. When you think Amazon.com, you think Jeff Bezos. Those and other examples of celebrity corporate leaders show that a CEO’s personal brand can work in concert with the corporation’s brand, helping … [Read more...]
4 Lessons Leaders Can Learn From Camels
Let me start by saying I am not a camel expert. Some of what I know about camels, I have learned from reading throughout my life. Some I learned while talking with people who know more about them than I do. I, however, have become more interested in the animal since I actually rode one. As with everything I do in life, from that experience, I drew some powerful leadership … [Read more...]
Leading Millennials? Give Them More Purpose In The Workplace
This is a guest post from Jackie Dryden, co-author with Bethany Andell of Get Your Head Out of Your Bottom Line. Millennials – those people born in the early 1980s to the late 1990s – have something of a mixed reputation when it comes to work. Studies show that they aren’t loyal to employers so much as to the job itself. They also want to find a purpose to their careers … [Read more...]
Credibility: Do You Have It?
This guest post is from the General Leadership Blog, a blog that offers leadership perspective and conversation on character and integrity from senior military leaders. Credibility is arguably one of the more important soft skills a leader must possess. It encompasses so many of the harder skills that if you make your credibility a priority as a leader – both up and down – … [Read more...]
5 Reasons You Should Care About Values
Values play a huge role in behavior and results; however, because values are personal, and not always clearly defined, the idea of values is often omitted from both leadership discussions and training sessions. As a new leader, it's smart to think about your values and the role they play in how you lead, and hopefully, this article prompts you to do that. A quick note first: … [Read more...]
How to Influence Others to Get Results
I was recently asked, How do I influence others to want to be better and recognize where growth needs to occur? It's an important question and one that I know many others have. The shortest answer is two-fold: Influence them by improving yourself everyday Spur their recognition through solid, ongoing coaching. Let me say a bit more. First of all, you … [Read more...]
FAQ Series: Four Ways to Encourage Positive Attitudes
A common question that comes up in my work with leaders, especially new leaders, is related to employees with “bad attitudes.” People ask the question in many ways, and they often phrase it something like this: “How do I get a negative employee to put a positive spin on things and get rid of the negative attitude?” It is a well-intentioned question. It shows that … [Read more...]