Coaching can seem mysterious. No one wants to sink time and money into vague, meandering conversations with the elusive hope of becoming a better leader. What does it look like to have a meaningful coaching engagement that measurably grows your leadership capability? Let’s break it down. Step 1: Get stakeholder feedback. The higher you rise … Read more
Last week my husband’s organization returned to the office. As a large entity, this entailed extensive planning to ensure health-related policies were in place, technology was up to date, and the office building itself was ready to welcome workers. The return to the office has caused a little disruption for our family. During the pandemic … Read more
Some of us are privileged to work for companies that offer generous professional development. Others work for organizations that are too small to provide a deluxe suite of development options. Or even a paltry one. And in some cases, people work for companies that have the resources – but not the values – to invest … Read more
If you’re like most managers, you’re trying to figure out how to keep people productive and engaged while working remotely. And you may swing between two positions. On the one hand… You don’t want to bug people if they’re working contentedly and productively at home. Why create unnecessary meetings? Worse, maybe they’ll feel like you’re … Read more
I’ll never forget early in my management career, getting an email from my boss at 5:43 am. I was getting ready for work, just out of the shower, hair dripping wet, checking email before driving to the office. I was wound up a little tight over this new position and this new boss. I wanted … Read more
Leaders and managers are both critically important to an organization. While the competencies required in both roles can be useful in either position, there are clear distinctions between the functions. And knowing whether you’re more naturally inclined toward a manager role or a leader role can be helpful. This quick test can also help you … Read more
A fresh start in a new year allows us to draw a line in the sand and step over it. It’s a natural break in the calendar to rejuvenate our workplaces and our teams if we leverage it intentionally. I think the entire month of January lends itself to the reboot, so if you’re reading … Read more
So you’re in HR…in a company that’s small or mid-size. You’re probably very focused on the compliance side of HR. Compensation, benefits, required training…all that. But your company is growing and you’re wondering…or maybe your executive team is asking…what do we do about developing our leaders and their teams? Well, I think of the compliance … Read more
What a weird year. Some businesses are thriving. But many are sluggish. Uncertainty abounds. Questions are in greater supply than answers. When will this pandemic be over? What does the election hold for us? How can we compete and win in times like this? In uncertain times, some companies press the PAUSE button on developing … Read more
This is different from my normal blog style. A little more personal. Can you hang with me a minute? Because I think there are things here that we all need right now. We all suffer loss, and change. And if you’re a manager, you’ll certainly have someone on your team face loss. Here’s where I’m … Read more
