What determines if a newly promoted leader will be successful? Of course, there are many factors. One consistent element I’ve observed in my leadership development role is this: new leaders often emulate their bosses. And this may be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on the example the more seasoned leaders provide. Leaders…
Character
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…
Leadership by Ranting is No Way to Inspire People
It’s tough to respect a leader who’s always losing his cool. Case in point: during college, I worked in a family-owned Italian restaurant whose proprietor had a fiery, larger-than-life personality. When he was frustrated, ‘Tony” was prone to emotional outbursts. One day, I received this upbraiding for not setting up the salad bar correctly: “You…
Renewing Your Leadership Purpose with Compassion
Years ago, when I was a 23 year old assistant human resources manager at a department store, one of our sales associates suffered a heart attack and died while at work. At the time, I was out of town, attending my grandfather’s funeral. Upon my return to work, my boss Mary told me what had…
Manners in the Workplace are a Competitive Advantage
In 2005, university professor and communications expert Dr. Beverly Langford published The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules to Business Success, to positive reviews. Fast-forward a decade, and Langford has once again stepped into the spotlight with a second edition of her book, The Etiquette Edge: Modern Manners for Business Success. In this age where manners…