The Need for Challenge
The US economy is picking up steam and, as a result, more employees are getting a bit restless and considering “jumping ship”. We’re seeing a lot of advice on how to improve employee retention through better engagement. Everyone wants to know the “secret sauce” for...
What Could a Lateral Career Move Do for You?
For many years, careers were considered to be a series of upward movements, with each step seen as a rung on a never-ending ladder. The idea was to seek more responsibility, more money and a grander sounding title. While there is nothing wrong with this vision of a...
There are three types of people when it comes to developmental feedback. Which one are you?
I’ve had the opportunity to coach many people regarding feedback they receive from others. Often this process includes a discussion about their multi-rater (commonly called “360”) developmental assessment results. These assessments are often based on a set of...
Help! I’ve Had Three Managers in Six Months
Given the today’s rate of organizational change, it’s quite likely that your manager today may not be your manager tomorrow. This situation can be frustrating if you felt like you were just getting traction with your last manager and now she is gone. So much of...
Six Ways to Deal With an Ineffective Boss
I’ve been asked a number of times about how best to handle or work with an ineffective boss. This is a very difficult situation, because we feel stuck – we’re typically unable to ‘go around’ the boss without undermining his/her (and our) credibility, causing a...
Do You Hide Behind Your Smart Phone?
I remember a number of years ago attending a major corporate planning conference with members of the board of my company. I was a pretty young VP, new in the role, and more than a bit nervous about attending this typically intense event. Although I wasn't a primary...
What the Reclining Seat Issue Teaches Us about Workplace Behavior
You must have heard by now the several incidents of airline passengers fighting over seat space. I have traveled regularly on airlines for 20 years. While I’m lucky enough to get upgraded to first or business class on a number of occasions, it seems that with the...
Seven Ways Leaders Can Demonstrate Respect To Their Teams
I’m sure most of us have heard the statement that a good leader treats his/her team “with respect”. This sounds good, right? Everyone wants to be respected. Yet, at times, we treat our teams in ways that make them feel like we’re in more of a “parent-child”...
What Does It Mean to “Own Your Career”?
When I started my career about 25 years ago at one of the largest energy companies in the world, my manager sat down with me and essentially mapped out what my career was going to look like over the next 30-plus years. He shared with me the likely career path,...
Six Things That Every Employee Should Know about Running a Business
I have worked with many senior executives over the years. As they’ve shared with me their goals, hopes, and frustrations, I’ve also heard them comment that they wished their teams had more of a “business” perspective. What do these leaders want employees to know about...
Can Good Leaders Really Motivate Others?
I recently saw a column in the HR Magazine (Society for Human Resource Management, June 2014) that stated the quality most desired in senior leaders is the ability to motivate others. I’ve thought often about this – how do leaders motivate others? I recall a statement...
Identifying and Marketing Your Expertise
To really stand out from the crowd and propel your career, you need to be known as an expert in something that sets you apart from everyone else. A typical dictionary definition of “expert” uses phrases such as “an area of specialized skill or knowledge” or being...