8 Questions You Should Ask Your Boss
Build a Better Connection with Your Boss By Asking These 8 Questions Your boss is an imperfect human being doing the best they can– just like you. Help your manager help you, but starting deeper conversations. These eight questions make remarkably easy...
3 Unexpected Uses For Word Clouds: Leadership Style
At the beginning of each year, I travel the country giving inspirational kickoff speeches in call centers. This year, the theme of my speech is creating “connections” with our customers and our teams. What better way to reinforce connections, than to...
How to Be a Better Middle Manager
Practical Skills to Be a Better Middle Manager “Sam” was beaming with excitement as he told me about his promotion. He was in the throes of a transition from supervisor to middle manager, He’ll now lead leaders. “But it’s scary,” he...
Intimidation at Work: Why Fear is so Contagious (and Video)
Beware of Trickle-Down Intimidation One intimidating leader leads to another. Intimidation is contagious. If you want to crush fear and distrust, be careful what you do and say, even behind closed doors. Even to the people who you think can “handle it.” ...
Getting Past Fake Talk At Work
Fake talk diminishes relationships, slows work down, and jeopardizes results. At yet, the B.S. factor is alive and well in corporate America. We need more straight talk about fake talk. Fake talk is attractive as an easy way out. But when fake talk’s the norm,...
When To Stand Your Ground
“Pete” a leader in a new job with a substantial increase in scope and scale, asked me this seemingly simple question: “How do you know when to stand your ground?” I knew he needed more than my first instinct of “just go with your...
The Screw Up Post I Shouldn’t Have To Write
If you ask any leader for the right way to handle a screw up, you’ll likely hear the following advice: admit the screw up apologize, do what you can to make it right. Try it. Tell a few leaders you just screwed up and ask for advice. Let me know if you hear...
Frontline Festival, Trusted Resources, And Your Vote
The Frontline Festival went on the road this month. It’s hosted by David Dye of Trailblaze. It’s all about Leading Up and Sideways. “Your leadership success depends on your ability to get things done with a wide variety of people – most of whom are...
