Regardless your age, industry, background or level within the organization, if you want to be a truly great leader, there are five core principles that will guide you to be your very best, according to Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, who have just released the sixth edition of their bestseller The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in … [Read more...]
How to Evaluate Workplace Training Programs
During a discussion with Bob Mason, who we interviewed for our “The Qualities of a Strong Leader: Deep Insight From a Long-Time Military Leader” post, he offered so much insight on leadership that we decided to write more than one post! Bob, along with Steve Alltop, formed The Daedalus Group, a provider of team-building, leadership and strategic planning training. He pulls … [Read more...]
7 Things You Should Have Done When You Were Promoted
You are several weeks or even months into your new leadership position, and you are struggling. You can't figure out why, but you don't feel like a leader (or your employees don't treat you like one), and each day brings challenges that you weren't quite expecting when you accepted the promotion. If that is the case, or even if you just want to become a more effective … [Read more...]
Nitpickers Usually Cause More Harm Than Good
By Jaimy Ford, business writer and editor. Having high expectations is certainly not a bad thing. However, when high expectations translate into nitpicking, it is a problem. When you or your employees are detailed-obsessed perfectionists, it puts unrealistic demands on everyone else, it wastes time, slows progress and leaves people feeling overwhelmed, annoyed or even … [Read more...]
The Most Critical Thing You Can Do During Your First Week as Leader
No doubt you have so much going on when you take over a team for the first time. Still, how you spend your time during those early days sets the stage for weeks, months or even years to come. Use it wisely by taking the time to build rapport and form relationships with your new employees. In your first week as a leader, sit down with employees individually, and ask each the … [Read more...]
Why All Leaders Should Think Like a Four-Year-Old
This is a guest post by Shay Howe, co-founder of Lead Honestly. During a recent family visit, my four-year-old cousin beat me in a game of "Guess Who?" ... well, beat doesn’t begin to describe what happened. He destroyed me with ease. I could say it was because we were playing a new version of the traditional game where you guess animals, food, clothing, or other objects … [Read more...]
[Infographic]: 11 Ineffective Leadership Styles
Our goal on the Bud to Boss blog is to share advice you can use to manage your employees in a way that maximizes their (and your) potential. At times, we have to take a deep dive into the types of behaviors that hurt their (and your) chances of success. This post is one of those. This infographic, put together by the folks at Colonial Life, details some of the worst leadership … [Read more...]
Is All Coaching the Same?
“Is all coaching the same?” Absolutely not. There is a difference between skills and knowledge, and there is definitely a difference when it comes to coaching employees to improve in either area. IMHO, it is easier to coach knowledge. You essentially are presenting facts, data and what works or doesn’t work. It takes less time to coach knowledge because it often requires … [Read more...]
National Blame Someone Else Day Shouldn’t Happen Everyday
Today, Friday the 13th, January 2017, is National Blame Someone Else Day. So, basically, if you don't want to take the blame for a mistake or failure, simply point the finger at someone else. While the spirit of the day is supposed to be in good fun, unfortunately, way too many people make everyday "Blame Someone Else Day," don't though? Even with many tenured employees, … [Read more...]
A Smart Approach to Reduce Change Resistance and Gain Buy-In
If you lead others, you're in the change business, and that means you will face your fair share of resistance. People will reject your ideas, fight the direction you want to go, disregard your expectations for new behaviors and more. Dealing with resistance is a normal part of leadership. When you initiate change that involves other people, they will inevitably ask: “What’s … [Read more...]