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How to Get Your Boss to Take You Seriously

A common complaint among young professionals is that their bosses don’t take them seriously. While some deal with this by denigrating their bosses and trying to ignore them, others truly want to find ways to be heard and valued. Here are some facts and suggestions for building credibility. Fact: Your energy creates a reaction. Some […]

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Leaders Must Develop the Skill of Feedback

By now you’ve probably heard about the Wall Street Journal article of April 20th chronicling the heaping of praise on the youngest working generation and how businesses are struggling to keep up with the practice. Written by Jeffrey Zastrow, the article refers to employers “dishing out kudos to workers for little more than showing up” […]

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The Notion of Thinking Globally and Acting Locally

I had the privilege today of listening to knowledgeable and accomplished business leaders talk about the opportunities and challenges of regional economic development in southeast Wisconsin. As is probably true for most economic regions around the globe, the story was one of terrific potential and knotty problems. Most of the problems are related to an […]

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4 Essential Traits of a Great Leader

Leadership is a demanding role that requires a discriminating blend of expertise, awareness, courage, and persuasiveness. Expertise is functional, experiential, or perceived. What you’ve gotten good at, that others recognize, defines the first part of the leadership equation for you. It answers the question: “Do you know what you’re talking about?” Awareness is about how […]

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To Improve Performance, Celebrate Discipline

There is something absolutely thrilling about watching a really good marching band, so imagine my delight in seeing eight drum and bugle corps from around the country perform at the Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg, Wisconsin on Tuesday evening, July 3. What a perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July! The performances were awe-inspiring. […]

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To Ease a Crisis You Need to Suspend the Drama

Have you noticed the hysteria in our headlines lately? Everything is a crisis. Not only is the sky falling, it’s emitting catastrophic earth-warming waves as it does so. People are stabbing, robbing, chasing, kidnapping, torturing, mangling, and pummeling each other. And when caught, they demand their rights. Others, less violent but no less hysterical, lie, […]

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