How to Be a Successful Manager-Removing Obstacles
If we asked experts what the first job of an effective leader is, the conflicting answers would be plentiful: Some would say it’s to set a vision and goals. To others it would be to motivate the group being led. A few would even venture to single out something more clever like surrounding oneself with …
The Key to Your Organization’s Successful Future
With a number of the talks I have been giving at companies and universities, I recently reconnected with my alma mater. Feeling a bit nostalgic, I searched to see if some of the on-campus activities that I was involved in were still around.
Some extra curricular organizations I was involved in had been around for …
Congratulations! You’ve Been Promoted to Management. Now What?
Congratulations! That promotion you have been working so hard for has finally come to fruition. You’re a manager! So now what?
Depending on the type of company you work for, you may be whisked off into a management training program or, and all too commonly, you may be left to fend for yourself with the …
Why Setting Expectations is Critical at Work
It’s often said that your employees don’t have to like you as long as they respect you. This is true, however, there are many pitfalls that will not only make your employees not like you, but lose respect for you as well. No one wants to be a bad boss, even if we don’t expect …
How to Manage People When You Have No Clue
“Wait, what’s a SORD order again?” I asked. “And where do we get the information I need for the account?”
“You get that from BOSS, but you can’t use BOSS-south only BOSS-north, otherwise you will get an error. But before you complete the SORD order you need to go into Telegence and process a request …
The Best Way to Lead is to Follow
Many people have this misconception about leadership.
They think leading others is directing the troops. Setting a vision, telling people what to do, and keeping everyone on track .While leadership is all of these, the real difference between good and great leadership is empowerment.
If the CEO of a company maintains complete control on all …
The Best Question a Manager can Answer: “Why?”
Let me lay out a situation that most of those that work at almost any company are familiar with: Company management undergoes a reorganization and change is coming. The change can be vast including entire groups or functions going-away, leaving hundreds or thousands without a job or could be something slight, like people have to …
5 Steps to Master Managing People Older Than You
It was the first day of my first job right out of college. Despite all the group projects and being president of different clubs, there was nothing that could have prepared me for what sat in front of me. Literally sitting in front of me were 15 customer service reps, all older than me, half …
Replacing a Legend? Be Legendary Yourself!
Having just experienced the Rose Bowl game and a win by my alma mater, I was overcome by love and a slight hero worship for Oregon’s coach Chip Kelly. How can you not love a coach full of gusto, standing at the helm of a ship that is hell bent on reaching greater heights? Yet …
Attracting and Retaining Talent Through Choice Management
Quite often, many of my thoughts are accompanied by song lyrics that I’ve heard over the years.
The two that come to mind when I think about the concept of choice are the following:
“I hate this supermarket
But I have to say it makes me think
A hundred mineral waters
It’s fun to guess …