We all have limits. Those boundaries beyond which we just don’t go. After all, it wouldn’t be safe. It wouldn’t be prudent. It wouldn’t be easy. We set limits for safety purposes or for logical purposes, but most often, we set them because we need an excuse. We are scared or lazy or we lack confidence in our own abilities, so we need a reason (an excuse) to not try … [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...]
6 Steps to Improve Slumping Morale
You take over a team for the first time, and despite being very excited about your promotion and this new opportunity, you can't help be feel a little dread. Why? Because morale is seriously low on your new team. Major upheaval, layoffs, the previous manager or other negative factors have your employees feeling low, unmotivated, and maybe a little resentful. That is killing … [Read more...]
Question What You Know (err … Think) Is True
When you know that something is true and someone contradicts that knowledge, you likely reject, perhaps forcefully, what the person said without giving the statement much consideration. After all, you already know that the person is wrong, so why should you listen? In fact, you should actually set the person straight, right? As a new leader, who is trying to build your … [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...]
Leaders Recognize the Importance of Traditions
Memorial Day is an important day for all Americans to remember and honor those who fought and died for our freedom. In cities and towns across the country this weekend, a variety of traditions will celebrate and honor this fact. As a resident of Indianapolis, home of the Indianapolis 500, I love the rich history of traditions and rituals that are a part of the race … [Read more...]
[Infographic]: Inside the Mind of a Successful Manager
You're new to this whole management or leadership gig, and you may not yet know the ropes. However, you've been managed at some point, so you at least understand how a "good" or a "bad" manager acts. If you have ever dealt with the latter, you probably remember how miserable the bad manager made you. Review this infographic, created by the good folks at Pepperdine University … [Read more...]
You and Your Employees Should Be Taking More Risks
Management guru Peter Drucker once said "People who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year." The lesson here? You are going to make mistakes whether you take chances or not. However, if you don't take risks, you will miss opportunities to innovate and excel. You are better off to … [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...]
Are You an Optimist or Pessimist?
Unless this is the first thing you have read from me, you know my answer to that question. Harvey Mackay summarizes my feelings on this issue perfectly (see his words to the right). I believe your answer to this question is critical to the level of influence and success you will experience as a new leader, and in life, in general. To get you thinking about this, I'd like you … [Read more...]