Our attention is a fragile resource. When we spread it too thinly, we can easily be distracted by myriad other stimuli. Not surprisingly, the result of working on too many things at once is that most of them suffer in some way. Most of us rely on directed attention when focusing on our work, or [...]
Choose Optimism
January 12th, 2012 | Posted in Confidence, Leadership Fitness
Fit leaders are optimistic and always try to see the glass as half-full. When a leader chooses optimism, he or she also chooses vitality and success. Martin E.P. Seligman, a former President of the American Psychological Association and a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, has been studying optimists and pessimists for 25 years. [...]
Train, Transfer and Track
December 30th, 2011 | Posted in Effectiveness
As leaders, we delegate to increase the total amount of work we can accomplish. By working with and through our team members, we not only achieve our goals more quickly and effectively — we also help our employees learn and grow. Unfortunately, many leaders struggle when it comes to delegating. If you are having a [...]
Tis the Season
November 27th, 2011 | Posted in Effectiveness
Tis the season to give feedback in many organizations. If you struggle with conducting feedback conversations, try our seven-step process and turn feedback into a gift. Step 1 Describe the Problem Describe the problem in a sentence or two. Remain as objective as possible and stick to one point-do not talk about multiple performance issues. Here’s an example: “Tom, I’d like [...]
The Right Question
November 1st, 2011 | Posted in Clarity
Fit leaders learn that asking the right question is often more important than knowing the right answer. A few years ago, one of my clients introduced me to David Whyte, a poet and a naturalist. Whyte shows us how changing the way we ask our questions can lead to strikingly different ways of seeing the world and our [...]
Overmanaging and Underleading
October 17th, 2011 | Posted in Clarity
What do leaders really do? This is a question I ask on the first day of every Fit Leader’s Program I conduct. Typical answers include: communicate a vision, resolve conflict, create budgets, recruit top talent, ensure sufficient resources, etc. With 20-30 answers documented on flip chart paper around the room, I proceed to teach John Kotter’s model of leadership which [...]
Jump and the Net Will Appear
October 7th, 2011 | Posted in Confidence
Even when leaders become clear about where they want to take their teams, self-doubt can stop them dead in their tracks. All leaders are subject to resisters and critics, both external and internal. But with a little bit of practice, you can learn to overcome these negative voices. In Jump and the Net Will Appear [...]
Getting Rid of Communication Static
September 19th, 2011 | Posted in Effectiveness
If you want to be a fit leader, it’s critical to clearly communicate your messages and ensure those messages are actually heard and understood by others. In my dealings with employees and colleagues over the years, I’ve discovered a number of strategies leaders can employ to remove ambiguity or “static” from their communications. After you [...]
Treading Softly
September 12th, 2011 | Posted in Clarity
When was the last time your organization changed? Last month, last week or just a few hours ago? The one thing many of us have come to accept in life is that change is one of the few constants. Whether we like it or not, staying flexible means staying relevant. Evolving customer needs, new and emerging [...]
Reading List: Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration
September 11th, 2011 | Posted in Reading List
Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration Bennis, W. Biederman, P. New York: Basic Books, 1997. This book brings home the point that none of us is as smart as all of us despite our obsession with solitary genius. The myth of the triumphant individual is shattered as the authors give example after example of [...]
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