When you hear the phrase “office politics,” what comes to mind? Do you imagine: Favoritism Back-stabbing “Makes me want to run and hide” Cronyism Self-interest It’s not a pretty list, is it? Whenever I talk with people about “office politics” their viewpoints have a negative theme associated with them. These words represent the dark side…
Leading a Meeting? Up Your Game by Knowing This Key Point
Meetings at your company aren’t going away. If anything, that much-maligned beast is growing in prominence, thanks to the remnants of the surge of video meetings created by the pandemic. Meeting attendance ranges from a weekly average of 15% when spread across all job types, to upwards of 70% of an executive’s week. So, yeah….
11 Ways to be a Giver at Work
In the New York Times bestselling book, Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, author Adam Grant makes the case for being a “giver.” He writes, “Givers don’t wait for signs of potential. Because they tend to be trusting and optimistic about other people’s intentions, in their roles as leaders and mentors, givers…
Should You Give Advice or Coach?
“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…