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Kids Watch Adults for Clues About How to Behave and How to Succeed
It takes great discipline and more than a little practice to stay focused on a mission when there is substantial resistance and noise surrounding it. A change in direction, whether in a company, a school system, a family, even a church means that some will be supportive, while others will disagree with the change and […]
Continue ReadingHow to Challenge the Cultural Status Quo
“Everyone knows that the old ways don’t work anymore. We want new people and new ideas, but they are so often disruptive because they don’t fit our culture.” I hear this a lot. How do you preserve existing culture AND introduce meaningful change? You don’t. Pick one and get to work on it. Get a […]
Continue ReadingWhy the Popularity of Executive Coaching Continues to Grow
The popularity of executive coaching continues to grow, in part as a result of heightened expectations placed on executives with leaner staffs. Companies recognize the benefits a coach can bring to beleaguered leaders. Some companies use coaching as a development strategy for potential leaders. Some include it as a promotion benefit. In all cases, the […]
Continue ReadingLeaders, Find Out How to Open New Doors of Opportunity
Everyone is familiar with the Comfort Zone, that place of safety and predictability that we like to inhabit, especially during difficult times. The Comfort Zone consists of our daily routines, opinions, assumptions, and accumulated knowledge that guides most of our behavior. There are two other zones that I would like to introduce to you: the […]
Continue ReadingPersonal and Professional Growth Takes Time
Learning a new skill or adopting new behavior is a process. A process, by definition, consists of numerous steps usually followed sequentially and often requiring that one step be completed successfully before another can begin. Computer processes take a substantial amount of time to design; when complete they can make a lot of work seem […]
Continue ReadingHow to Think Before You Communicate
Watch babies sometime to see how they try to express themselves. I had the delightful opportunity to spend time with my 10-month old granddaughter over the weekend and I was fascinated to witness her advancing communications skills. It got me thinking about how we learn to share what’s on our minds. Babies cry when they […]
Continue ReadingProtecting Yourself From the Confusion Power Tactic
My head has been spinning lately as I watch our government do things that have never been done before and try to discern the reasons why. Forgive my naiveté, but when did we give the government permission to remove business leaders from their jobs? I missed that news. When did we decide that talking to […]
Continue ReadingLeaders Need to Practice Being Alert, Adaptive, Responsive, and Confident
The special Business Insight section of Monday’s Wall Street Journal highlighted technology as the driver of New, Faster Innovation. The ways in which we can collect data on customer purchases, reactions to new product developments and marketing messages, and the speed with which we can alter our offerings in response to customer demands are remarkable. […]
Continue ReadingPay Attention to What’s on Your Mind to Move Forward in Life
A month ago I had the privilege of time and space away from everything normal. I was in Hawaii visiting friends, seeing spectacular sights, and enjoying the power and peacefulness of the ocean. I purposely unplugged for the week and found it to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in some time. As […]
Continue ReadingFacilitation is Not Leadership. Learn to Act.
Challenging times call for clear thinking, bold action, and a steady hand on the wheel. The best leaders are conscious of these requirements and mindful in their practice of them. They conduct swift but thorough due diligence, think through implications of their decisions, then act. They do not equivocate, apologize, or back track, and strong […]
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