A smart problem solving approach might prove as practical and essential a leadership tool as any you can think of. Because one way or another, problems will arise in your business. In this post, we’ll look at: The value of a well thought-out problem solving approach A typical (and problematic) problem process A vision-driven approach…
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…
2½ Performance Review Tips that actually Improve Performance
Most managers hate performance reviews. Which can surprise a lot of employees, who also tend to view the whole event with a universal sense of dread. So, in a season when many are preparing for this regular professional event, let’s look at a few big performance review tips that not only make the whole experience…
Measurable Goals ≠ Quantifiable Goals
“How can I make my goals measurable?” That’s a question I get a lot. Sometimes, this comes up during performance review time. The manager knows the action she wants to see from someone on her team, describes it to me, and then wonders, “But how do I make that measurable? How do I quantify it?”…
Experience is Overrated
Here’s a conversation I have pretty often: Client “Hey, do you know any good candidates for this job I have open?” Bill: “What attributes are you looking for?” Client: “Well, of course, I want someone experienced in X. I’d also like them to be…[list of other traits specific to the role].” Bill: “Why experienced?” Client…
Catch Them Doing It Right: 3 Tips for Effective Encouragement
Famed psychiatrist Carl Jung has been credited with saying that criticism has “the power to do good when there is something that must be destroyed, dissolved or reduced, but is capable only of harm when there is something to be built.” Unfortunately, too many of us violate this truth of the human psyche. In fact,…