As a leader, you create the culture that either helps your teams thrive––or barely survive. Obviously, no leader intentionally stalls or stymies a team. But even the best leaders occasionally make mistakes that freeze their people rather than free them to excel. Here’s how that happens: Avoid These 5 Mistakes Leaders Make That Cripple Teams […]
5 Leader Mistakes That Cripple Teams Read More »
In a world where someone can walk into a restaurant, shopping mall, or school and open fire on hundreds of innocent people, where jobs disappear overnight, where cancer appears suddenly on a scan, people grasp for order, stability, and control. They demand the same from communication coming to them––the email, instruction, or announcement should make
3 Tips to Communication Change That Aren’t Common Practice Read More »
Clark, my client, stopped by our office unexpected: “I have good news and bad news. The good news first. . . . A couple of partners and I just bought a small telecom—a spinoff of the division I managed before we all got laid off.” “Sounds like great news,” I said. “Maybe. If we can
3 Strategies to Connect as a Leader Read More »
I definitely made my share of bad hires in the early days as a business owner: The salesperson who never made a sale. The admin who stole our software for her sideline business. The marketing rep who continually fell asleep at her desk and did her personal errands while out of the office on “company
3 Interview Questions to Hire the Best Job Candidate Read More »
As most parents have learned, late-night conversation around the campfire can open communication lines. Consider those romantic strolls with your first love when you shared your deepest secrets and highest hopes for the future? Or how about those laps around the gym or through the hallways at school with your best friend, sharing what happened
Take a Walk for a Tough Talk Read More »
Could you be confusing that favorite story with an anecdote? Before I mention why it matters, you’re probably wondering why so many blogs and books in the last few years have urged you to learn to tell a great story. Here’s why. Stories make things stick. CEOs, entertainers, professional speakers, trainers, and leaders have learned
Are You SURE You’re Telling a Story? Read More »
Keith, CEO of a Fortune 500 financial organization, called with an intriguing project—one I’ve never been asked to repeat elsewhere, but one with fascinating results. The Project The CEO wanted to know how much I could discover about a person’s leadership style from their writing. “I don’t know; I’ve never had occasion to test my
Do Your Emails Reveal Secrets About Your Leadership Style? Read More »
Granted, leaders gain visibility for their message by speaking at a major industry event, international conference, or even a local community affair. But just as with movies, games, and apps, leaders increase their popularity and influence to a tipping point when employees share their opinions of that leader with their colleagues. That is, Robert interacts
Leaders, What Are You Communicating With “The Little Things”? Read More »
Leaders aim to make their mark on business operations, imprint their philosophies on their staff, leave their legacy on the organization. They hope the team will remember their leadership as unique, profitable, and pleasant. Understandable goals. But all too often, new leaders start out with similar clichés and concepts—lines that set their staff members up
4 Comments Employees Hate to Hear From New Leaders Read More »
Jill Lublin, Author, Profit of Kindness: How to Influence Others, Establish Trust, and Build Lasting Business Relationships Business procedures and management decisions are based on facts and not emotions. As a consequence, business communication strategies are also based on quantifiable factors. This reality makes even the self-proclaimed value-based organizations hard to articulate empathy. Through improvements in
Empathy in Business Communication Read More »
