I don’t normally write about personal matters, but it somehow feels fitting and appropriate to share some important leadership lessons that I learned from my grandma. My grandma recently passed away at the age of 92, while my family and I were on vacation. I wasn’t able to make it to the funeral, but I thought about her often during … Read More
Do You Need More Face Time With Your Staff?
I’m writing this article while away from our home office. I have been traveling more than usual in the last month because of various speaking engagements, and when I look at the month ahead, I’m gone even more. In fact, I will be out of the office about 80 percent of the time over the next two months – and … Read More
Identifying What People Like To Do
Excerpt From The Culture Question: If they are to find their work meaningful, a good portion of a person’s job should be congruent with the ways in which they think and act. Employees in client services positions should find gratification in helping people. Employees in data management should likewise find pleasure in the accuracy and orderliness required for their jobs. … Read More
Nothing is Permanent Except Change
Mr. Hawkins, my fourth-grade elementary teacher, is the first person I remember who would use the phrase, “Nothing is permanent except change.” While this statement may indeed be true, change is still hard and often frustrating. For organizations, change frequently causes stress and increased conflict, typically resulting in decreased employee engagement and productivity. One might wish to simply avoid change, … Read More
Purpose: Where To Start
Organizations can articulate purpose on many levels, from the value of individual tasks and roles, to the significance of entire departments, to the overarching purpose of the organization as a whole. When we understand the purpose of something, we can choose to engage with it more deeply and freely or disengage with clarity about why we don’t want to participate. … Read More
On Innovation & Failing 49% of the Time
During my childhood, my siblings and I never had a shortage of things to do. We had a garage full of tools and we lived right next to a small wooded area, both of which provided us with ample opportunities to experiment and explore. One spring, we spent days building a raft that we hoped to use in our small … Read More
“Moving Up” The Ladder
We are currently in the midst of hiring for a new position within our organization. I’ve already written about the importance of hiring people for the right fit – both for culture and aptitude – but lately I’ve been thinking about a different aspect of sustaining a culture of employee engagement, which is hiring employees who will be content in … Read More
Who’s Your Favorite ‘Teacher’?
My teenage children can’t help but compare their teachers. At least several times a year I hear, “Who’s your favorite teacher?” They talk about which ones they like or don’t like, which ones are encouraging or indifferent, and which ones are nice or sometimes not nice. Employees of organizations where there are multiple supervisors do the same thing. If someone … Read More
I’m Not Your Therapist!
When I speak and write about the role of leadership I often talk about the importance of caring leadership. I believe that the best leaders care about their employees. And that among other things, they are supportive in times of personal, health and family crisis. However, this does not mean that I am my employees’ therapist! A regular question I … Read More
The Great Motivator – Meaningful and Challenging Work
I believe the majority of employees desire to have meaningful and challenging work as a part of their normal job activities. Having some level of difficulty in their work is preferable to the boredom of an unchallenging job. As a leader I am very aware that employees having work that brings them satisfaction is not only a great motivator, but … Read More