Why do we need to consider the pros and cons of telecommuting? One reason (although not the best one) is because it’s everywhere, and it’s not going away. In recent years, the shift toward remote work has gained significant momentum, with a noticeable increase in flexible work arrangements across various sectors. According to a survey…
Does Your Leadership Foster Innovation in the Workplace? Or Kill It Dead?
Does your company foster innovation in the workplace? I know you want to nod emphatically and assure me with a big “YES.” But a lot of you may have scoffed instead. Because statistics show a huge disconnect here: Just 54% of entry-level people say new ideas are “celebrated internally,” compared to 91% of senior executives Only…
Fear Kills Creativity: Leadership Lessons from Cavemen
The caveman and his family were settling in by the fire for the evening. Father and son had enjoyed a successful day of hunting, and Mom had brought a big stack of wood in from the rain. So the family was fed and warm as Dad talked to his son about the prototype spears they’d…
The 6-Year-Old in the Room
When I work with clients as they analyze whether a candidate is a good fit for a position, I hear one comment more than any other: “I’d like someone with industry experience.” “Why?” I ask “Isn’t it obvious?” my client replies, surprised by my question. Nope. Not in my book. The reasoning for this experience…
Crisis, Change, and Fiscal Cliffs: What Congress Isn’t Doing Wrong
The fiscal cliff. The sequester. The continuing resolution. Whatever name we’re using to describe Congress’s budget predicament of the moment, the media’s tone of consternation remains consistent and seems tinged with a sort of looming dread. As if these “crises” are like asteroid collisions or threatening weather events—things that are about to happen to us.…
Is a Passive Leader an Oxymoron?
For those who want to lead, passivity is deadly. If you consider yourself a leader, here are 2 phrases (and attitudes) you’ll want to drive out immediately: As soon as and If only. “As soon as (the economy is better/the government gets their act together/I get that promotion/etc.) I will…” “If only (the customer’s advertising…
