If you are doing it right, leadership is uncomfortable. Not in a weird, creepy way, but in an “I have to do things I don’t want to do kind of way.” These “things” are different for everyone, but every leader has things they have to do that make them uncomfortable. I think if we are …
What is it with some managers? Why do they hate fun? Anytime they hear about a quick basketball game, game of cards, or anything that doesn’t contribute directly to the result the employees are hired for; they freak out. Have they forgotten where they came from? Have they lost perspective about how mundane work can …
In November of last year (2017), I wrote an article about my team that articulated the trouble we were in. Poor performance all around. I also determined the course of action was to simplify the tasks and build a solid foundation. We had quite a bit of turnover which caused chaos within the team. Now, …
Everyone has covered the story of the Technical Sergeant at Nellis Air Force Base that went off on a racist fueled rant about her black subordinates. This is a popular story, and the official response from the base was to not only look at the individual but to take a more in-depth look into the …
I don’t believe anyone considers our government is the proper model to structure our organizations after. But there are valuable lessons in the failures of our government and the continued political grandstanding that rips the branches of our government to shreds. I’m currently awaiting news to see if I’ll be paid, but with the help …
Government Shutdown & the Organizational Leadership Lessons Read More »
Does it take too long to complete your processes? Do your supervisors fail to follow the procedures? Do you feel like you have a never-ending list of problems to address? Many managers face these issues and believe they have no choice but to work the problems as they occur and try to keep their heads …
My team is in trouble! Poor performance in almost every measurable category. Poor performance in the unmeasurable categories as well. Many, (actually all) organizations and teams struggle with poor performance. Mostly, there is an up and down tempo that varies in frequency depending on many factors. The problem with my team is lack of experience …
It’s Good. That’s the answer. There are always circumstances that will dictate whether there has been a positive or negative effect from changing your mind, but let’s look at this question from the general position of, should one be open to changing their mind. And from this perspective, the answer is unequivocally yes! In politics, …
The biggest problem with positional power is that most subordinates won’t say no. All of your ideas are good ones, all of the things you say, they agree. Once you realize the problems, you tell everyone your ideas to fix it, and they tell you, your plan was what they were thinking. They will always …
Work-life balance is a tricky subject. Many believe that the right balance between work and your personal life is about 50 hours of work a week. I’ve heard this number several times in my career and through other conversations. So, if we break down 50 hours a week, you end up with about 10 hours …