For years, I’ve counseled leaders that “people will support that which they helped to create.” And although getting input from employees is one of the surest ways to increase a new idea’s success, many leaders don’t do so. Why not? I polled readers and discovered some interesting viewpoints. The next time you ask your team…
Great Leaders Don’t Multi-Task
We’ve all seen it before—the person driving down the highway, talking on the cell phone and performing some form of personal grooming as well. It’s called “multi-tasking” and we think we’re pretty good at it. As it turns out, we stink at doing more than one thing at a time. According to researchers Christopher Chabris…
The Power of Clarity: How an Expectations List Enhances Managerial Effectiveness
From time to time, I have discussions with an experienced director-level leader about managerial matters. As someone who has supervised technical professionals for more than a decade, this leader brings a wealth of experience, and I highly value his insights. Recently, during one of our conversations, he mentioned an Expectations List that he provides to…
Career Advice – Will My New Boss Believe My Bad Press?
Here’s a note from a reader with a career question: I just learned that I’ll be getting a new boss at the end of the month – someone from outside the company who doesn’t know me. This is a good thing, because, frankly, I’ve made some bad choices in my current job and I think…
How Do You Know if You’re Ready to Be a Mentor?
Throughout my career, I’ve had many fantastic mentors. My mentors helped me gain perspective, broaden my thinking and develop confidence. When designing leadership development programs, I often build a mentoring component into the mix because I’ve personally experienced how valuable the process is. Beyond Experience: The Mindset Essential for Effective Mentorship Companies often have formal…