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…
Communication
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…
Developing the Confidence of an Emerging Leader
For many years, I was an advisor for the Junior Achievement Company Program, which was an after-school economic education course. Throughout this time, I met and mentored many high school students on the cusp of adulthood. Over a three month period a group of 20 – 30 high school students met weekly to run a company…
Building Trust in Leadership: The Emotional Bank Account
When my children were in elementary school, there was a situation in my household where one of my children fibbed to me prior to bedtime. The next day, after discovering the truth of the situation, I found myself ever-so-slightly less trusting of answers being given by that child. I was shocked at my hasty conclusion…