Posted: December 29, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Team Building

I am going to pretend I have ESP, and I will describe exactly what it is like to work for your company or the company you work for:  As each day begins, every individual on the team comes in positive, smiling, and excited to get to work.  They have their day planned and they know exactly what they should be doing.  They are always working on the most important task, and are not distracted by the internet, sports news, or gossip.  Not only does their company meet their goals, they CRUSH them!  When obstacles occur, you and your team quickly overcome them.  There is no finger-pointing or blame.  When you and your team are finished with your work, you are proud of what you have accomplished.  Most important, when each member of your team comes home after work, they feel good about what they have accomplished and their loved ones know how much they love their job.

For some of you, this sketch may accurately describe the experience people have working for your company.  For others…maybe not quite.  I have the privilege of working with companies that operate just as this model describes.  The good news is we can all be that special company.  Here is what all great companies do:Read More…

Posted: December 11, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement

“An insincere grin?  No. That doesn’t fool anybody.  We know it is mechanical and we resent it.  I am talking about a real smile, a heartwarming smile, a smile that comes from within” – Dale Carnegie

A few days ago I attended a seminar hosted by a trade association.  For most events that I attend I know some people.  For this particular event I was a stranger in the crowd.  That changed quickly. Read More…

Posted: December 2, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

Last week while I was taking an evening walk, I heard a noise that sounded like a “thump”.  Someone was backing out of their garage and did not see the other car directly behind them.  The driver was a young lady – I’d say about 17.  She immediately became hysterical and went into a panic.  Soon, her father bolted out the house. Read More…

Posted: November 26, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Management

Humility:  “To refrain from boasting.  To minimize personal accomplishments in favor of building others” (Webster’s definition)

Put yourself in this scene:  You are interviewing someone for a key leadership position in your company.  The person you are interviewing is poised, confident,  and articulate.  When you ask a question, they are sure-footed and think quickly on their feet.  Everything looks and sounds good, but in the back of your mind something doesn’t feel right.  In spite of this “bad vibe” you hire the person anyway because you are anxious to fill the position.  What happens when we ignore that “little voice”?  It usually ends up being a disaster.Read More…

Posted: November 13, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Are you the easy going, “don’t worry” type?  If so, you probably need to give some credit to those who surround you – particularly those of the strategist style.  It is almost painful for me to write about these folks.  They demand so much of themselves.  They are thorough, painstaking, hard-working tacticians who are very structured and instinctively good at analyzing people and solving problems. They believe in following the rules and are thoughtful and deliberate in their actions.  They evaluate everything and everyone.  A passion for accuracy is their driving force and they are particularly hard on themselves when they make mistakes.  They are usually diplomatic and communicate clearly.Read More…