Nice Boss, Tough Boss: A Fairy Tale
Fairy tale mindsets create a powerful lens through which we view leadership. Do you let them affect how you act as a leader? If so, you may live LESS happily-ever-after.
What Motivates Jane? (a.k.a. The Telepathy Game)
Each day well-meaning managers across Corporate America play The Telepathy Game. In the absence of hard data on what motivates Jane — and with no ability to crawl inside her heart and mind to find out first-hand — a manager often defaults to ineffective and expensive guesswork. How can you find out what REALLY matters to Jane?
At the Intersection of Food, Influence, and Leadership
You need someone’s help. You may or may not be his boss. He’s known you for 6 minutes. He is very busy, and offering free food isn’t an option. Now what?
Do You Bring Enough of Yourself to Work?
Don’t airbrush vulnerability, emotions, eccentricities, a life history, and imperfections out of YOUR leadership style. Here’s why.
10 Days and 34 Words to Better Relationships
How do you increase the odds that others do things well (and quickly) for you? 10 days and 34 words that can help.
Radical Candor: Is it Ever OK to Use the Word “Stupid” When Giving Feedback?
Is it Ever OK to Use the Word “Stupid” When Giving Feedback? How to Get Away with Serious Levels of Candor.
“Thank-You” Magic: 5 Creative Tactics
Need some fast, easy, no-cost or low-cost tactics to boost morale, productivity, trust, and team relationships? My “top 5” favorite ways to supercharge an employee or group with appreciation.
How & Why To Make Your Own Manager Happier
Most leaders view meeting or exceeding their goals as THE way to warm their boss’s heart. “I just need to beat my annual targets, right!? Then I, my boss, and my direct reports will all live happily ever after.” While that may be true, it is not the whole story.