Learning to Say No
"No" is such a small word and yet so hard to say. Often we don't want to say no, even when that's the right thing to do, because we don't want to risk appearing incapable, unappreciative, or disrespectful. We don't always act as we even know that we should. Many...
Book Summary: “Change or Die” by Alan Deutschman
Talk about a book title that grabs your attention! Quite a few colleagues have recommended this book to me, in part because they know that meaningful change is difficult to achieve for so many people. The basis for the title "Change or Die" is that numerous studies...
Leadership: Flexible vs. Wishy-Washy
The concept of flexible leadership is increasingly relevant in organizations. Flexible leadership, however, is not the same as wishy-washy leadership. The former represents a strategic and adaptable approach to leadership while the latter suggests indecisiveness and...
Coaching Someone Who’s Hesitant to Get Help
When we discuss coaching someone, it is typically presumed that the person is open to being helped. But as managers and HR professionals know, that’s not always the case. There may be a hard-working employee who could grow much faster with a bit of support but is...
11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team
In cleaning out some old files, I came across a sheet of paper with a typed list entitled "11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team." I couldn't recall its source, but a Google search led me to a book by Ian Percy of the same name (subtitled Collaborating with Purpose...
Process Excellence: Pitfalls and Best Practices
Starting any process improvement initiative can be challenging, and it's not uncommon for organizations to encounter various errors and oversights. Here are ten of the biggest mistakes often made by teams in their early stages of process excellence initiatives: Lack...
“Do Better or Else!” (What Motivates You?)
One of my elementary school teachers that I most remember is Ms. Selby. She was a good teacher and I learned a lot in her class. And I actually liked her quite a bit...even though she seemed to be in a sour mood most of the time. But what I most remember about Ms....
What Makes Effective Questions…Effective?
Author and international expert, Ed Oakley, is a master at asking truly effective questions. In his book, Enlightened Leadership, he describes what makes effective questions, effective. Here are excerpts from Ed's book on this important subject. In simple terms, the...
A “Formula” to Change Your Life
Ok, are you ready for a bit of a "deep dive"? I want to take you beyond the go-go-go of your day-to-day life and have you step back from the seemingly endless items on your to-do list (at home or work) ...at least for a few minutes. It is easy to get caught up in your...
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