Some stories don’t reveal their meaning until much later. This story begins with a phone call and news I wasn’t ready to hear and took years to unfold, eventually setting the stage for a professional turning point I could not have imagined. The news: my Aunt Christine, youngest sister to my mother (and my beloved…
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Perfectionism – How to Break the Cycle and Get Moving Again
If you’re reading this blog post, perhaps you’ve been wondering if there is an upside to striving for perfection. If you’ve ever found yourself paralyzed by your perfectionism, here’s how to break the cycle and get moving again. Two types of perfectionism Are you a perfectionist? If so, do you think this trait serves you…
3 Reasons You’re Hesitant to Ask for Team Input
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…