“Hey, I need a sounding board. Can I run something past you?” This is pretty typical at work, especially if you’re a leader. But what if you’re not in a position of titled leadership? If you’re an individual contributor, congratulations! Somebody sees you as a trustworthy confidant. Should you offer advice or coach them? Is there…
The Best Way to Foster a Learning Mindset at Work
As a leader, what’s the best way to foster a learning mindset in your employees? Become a habitual learner yourself. Start by asking yourself, what’s the most significant thing I’ve learned in the last 10 days? By “learning,” I don’t necessarily mean attending an educational event. Rather, what have you recently discovered that will aid…
Planting Seeds of Greatness Requires You to See the Human in Your Employees
Skilled leaders are like farmers; they plant seeds of greatness in their employees. Then these leaders provide all the conditions necessary for them to grow. So says Kevin Ames, co-author of Appreciate: Celebrating People, Inspiring Greatness. One of the “seeds” that leaders can plant is that of giving appreciation to your employees. As leaders, we…
Leading the Overly Self-Critical Employee
“She’s hard on herself, but it’s because she demands excellence. ” “The team is relentless in their pursuit of perfection.” How many times have you heard others – or said something similar – and meant it as a compliment? When employees demand perfection of themselves, there’s a fine line between healthy striving and self-defeating perfectionism….
One Simple Way for Leaders to Build Trust
What’s the single most effective way for a leader to build trust with his or her employees? It’s to show that you genuinely care about your employees’ career well-being. And one of the simplest ways to do this is to maintain consistent, non-distracted face-to-face (or video chat, or phone conversation) time with those you lead….