People hate meetings. This is not earth-shattering news. Many of the complaints are legit: meetings are unfocused, too long, or unnecessary. Some of the complaints are humorous (but still true.) One of the lesser-mentioned reasons that merits consideration is meeting purpose. People get frustrated with meetings because they are unclear about expectations surrounding the reason…
Personal Effectiveness
How Shutting Up Can Make You a Thought Leader
Who do you consider to be influential thought-leaders in your organization? Is it the talkative people who contribute incessantly? No, these non-stop talkers probably don’t have your deep respect. More likely, it’s those who temper their talking and have a give-and-take approach to interpersonal communication. Those who can “read the room” and adjust when to…
3 Sure-Fire Ways to Ruin Trust with Your Team
Charlie is a charming, highly persuasive marketing executive for a growing technology company. He’s a delight to work with—until you tell him what he’s asking for isn’t possible. Then, his charm rapidly dissipates. On a good day, you’ll get a reptilian smile with, “I’m sure someone with as many years in the business can find…
No Leadership Title? You Can Still Influence Change
A People Equation reader wrote to ask my advice on the following: Our small company is growing and we need to learn to use organizational tools like spreadsheets more effectively. I’m comfortable using these tools, but many of my peers aren’t. The tools are out of their comfort zone, but once they learn the system,…
Hot Takes on How to Drive Successful Change in Your Organization
I’m reading a gem of a book by Phil Buckley titled, “Change on the Run: 44 Ways to Survive Workplace Uncertainty.” Phil is an author and change management expert. The great thing about his latest book is it’s designed to be read quickly and acted upon immediately. Here are my hot takes on how to…