I occasionally read the results of various awards for “The Best Places to Work” or “Top Employers” with cynical interest. These awards are typically given out by various business and national media publications, and while the intent to highlight great workplaces has merit, it is what is measured that I take exception to. In one recent “Best of” article I … Read More
The Key to 50 Years of Employee Loyalty
Several weeks ago, I attended a retirement party for my father-in-law, Gerry. I have attended a few of these in the past, but what made this one unique is that Gerry was retiring after working in the same workplace for 50 years. I’ve never known anyone else who has worked in the same place for that long, and I’m pretty … Read More
How to Manage Transitions Effectively
There are a lot of transitions going on in my life right now. For starters, my son is graduating from high school. While that’s a major transition for him more so than myself, it still impacts me. What’s more is that my daughter is going to boarding school (her choice) in the fall of 2019 – overseas no less. Wow, … Read More
Are You Guilty of Putting Work Before Health?
For those of you who have read my book, The Ordinary Leader, you know that I sustained a very serious concussion four years ago. After three years of diligent focus on rest and physiotherapy, my symptoms had mostly subsided, but I still struggled with dizziness, particularly when combined with fatigue, a lack of sleep, or too much time on the … Read More
How to Delegate Effectively
[Excerpt from The Ordinary Leader] I believe that knowing what to delegate begins with clarity about what not to delegate. Leaders need to focus their energy on those tasks that are most essential to the organization – those areas that would suffer if it were not for their leadership. Ask yourself, “What does my organization need me to do most? … Read More
Lessons from Grandma
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
Why Do You Like Working Here?
As part of our interview process, we always allow time for potential hires to ask the interviewing committee some questions. I was pleasantly surprised when one recent candidate asked, “why do you like working here?” This was not the first time someone asked this question, but it still caught me off guard because of how infrequently it comes up in … Read More
Why Workplace Values Are Important
Excerpt from The Culture Question: For a vehicle to do its job, it needs both an engine for power and a steering system so it can be guided. An organization is no different: its purpose is the engine that propels it forward, and its values are the steering system by which it is guided. Purpose defines why you do what … Read More