What should a leader do when a team member just doesn’t quite “fit” with the company culture? That’s the question I address in this month’s Smartblog on Leadership article. It really boils down to leadership “tough love” – you can’t make excuses for direct reports who almost adhere to the organization’s values. Smartbrief’s leadership newsletter…
Integrity
Living Up to the Promise of a Leadership Title
Are the leaders in your organization living up to their titles? Yes, yes, I know. The organizational title is a dinosaur. But the reality is that very few organizations have learned to operate without the hierarchy. So, for those companies that still rely on titles, most employees have expectations about how people in senior management…
How do You Build a Culture with Integrity When Your Product Has None?
First of all, let me say this: I’m an American. I believe in free enterprise. If a company wants to offer a ridiculous product and people buy it, then let the market decide. But sometimes, I just have to wonder. For example, does the world really need not one, but two smart phone apps (called,…
THINK: 15 Ideas to Help You Talk Less and Listen More
A few years ago, my friend Erin Schreyer posted this saying on her Facebook page. That afternoon, the image found its place onto our family’s refrigerator, where it remains to this day. We’ve had many meaningful conversations using the “THINK” model. From spats with siblings, to ways to talk to a friend about a difficult…
Leadership Self-Control – Are You About to Lose It?
When it comes to exercising restraint as a leader, think of your self-control like a car’s gas tank: you’ve got to look at the gas gauge once in a while to see if you’re running on “empty”. That’s the analogy I use on my monthly Smartblog on Leadership post about ways to avoid losing your…