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 [...]
Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse
September 7th, 2011 | Posted in Clarity
Most organizations make considerable investments in the selection of new employees. Whether it is the cost of advertising open positions, retaining a third-party recruiting agency or the hours spent internally on the part of multiple parties interviewing potential candidates, we’re talking lots of time and money. Why is it then that once these new employees arrive, [...]
DO Nothing, SAY Nothing, BE Nothing
August 29th, 2011 | Posted in Confidence
Having great aim is important; so is knowing when to pull the trigger. Sometimes, while we are considering when to begin, it becomes too late or the window of opportunity passes. Leaders are known by the actions they take. They don’t wait for permission. They passionately pursue bold new ideas. Think Steve Jobs. Taking initiative [...]
Reading List: The Answer to How is Yes: Acting on What Matters
August 29th, 2011 | Posted in Reading List
The Answer to How is Yes: Acting on What Matters Block, P. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2002. Block challenges us to stop using “how” as a means to avoid acting on what we already know is important. He shows how asking “how” often keeps us safe because instead of being led by our hearts into uncharted [...]
Please and Thank You
August 22nd, 2011 | Posted in Confidence
Most of us were taught when we were children that it was polite, and often to our benefit, to say please and thank you when interacting with others. Why is it so many of us find it hard to apply this knowledge in the workplace? It can’t be that it’s too hard or that it takes [...]
Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3?
August 17th, 2011 | Posted in Confidence
There are times when we find ourselves in the midst of an encounter with someone where we are suddenly surprised at the overreaction or defensiveness of the person we are speaking with. Often, we have no idea where this other person’s emotions are coming from. During these moments, we often have three choices. I will call them Door [...]
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