Of late, I have personally been involved in a number of projects which are incredibly time-consuming, require multiple opinions and approvals, and are not always tied to personal or collective ‘revenue reward’….yet they are non-negotiable in the need to ‘get er done’. Sound familiar? Yes….this describes a large percentage of what life requires of us […]
“You are the company you keep.” Most of us have heard that adage… probably from our parents as we were growing up. I know I did. Back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – parents wanted their children to surround themselves with friends of sound moral, ethical, and spiritual values. You know, those girls and […]
When I formed Alignment, Inc. almost 10 years ago, the word (and concept) of ‘alignment’ were, for the most part, reserved for body shops and chiropractors! Yet, successful leaders and my senior leader/CEO friends LOVED the concept as they said THAT is what distinguishes successful leaders, organizations, cultures, and strategies. Of course, I could not […]
TEAMWORK. Most of us know that true teamwork is the key that unlocks not only the collective potential – yet the individual potential as well. In my business experience, every successful team I was on – or that I led – was 100% attributable to the folks with whom I worked. Period. The rising tide truly …
Recently, I have been engaged with a few organizations and teams who are struggling to build good working environments. We have all heard the adage ‘team work makes the dream work’ and this most certainly is true. Most of us have been members of teams and organizations that were, in a word, dysfunctional. No one was happy. …
Recently, my home state of Arkansas was hit by a very strong snow storm (12 inches in my hometown of Hot Springs). Many were without power for days. Travelers were stranded. These situations can bring out the best and the worst of humanity. Many good Samaritans emerged, and sadly many opportunities for kindness and generosity were missed. Does this reality present itself in our workplaces, too? Does it matter?
Have you ever been dressed down by someone seemingly smarter than you just so that person could make a point? Have you ever been called out – or even worse – dismissed because you were behind the learning curve on a particular issue? Have you ever been interrupted or talked over, implying that your opinion or perspective was not worthy of even being heard? I have; and it is the worst feeling in the world.
How many of us have ever worked for someone or with someone that when we saw their name on the caller ID we dreaded picking up the phone?! Frankly, I believe most of us have probably been on both ends of the phone at one point of another – the caller AND the person being called. Lets face it: neither position ever feels good. What are a few basic steps we can take proactively to minimize having to make the “dreaded call”?
Recently I had a friend tell me, unsolicited, that I needed to consider a complete makeover…..hair, dress, make-up, and an overall updating of my appearance, given that I was growing older. After the initial hurt feelings, I began to wonder if she was not only right; it also led me to consider what other areas beyond just my appearance may need a complete overhaul as well.
Recently I stumbled across an article in the New York Times which I loved as much for its brevity as I did for its wisdom. Adam Bryant, of The New York Times, recently wrote a book which analyzes the broader lessons that emerge from his interviews with more than 70 leaders. So, from his perspective and research, what does it take to lead an organization — whether it’s a sports team, a nonprofit, a start-up or a multinational corporation? What are the X factors of strong leaders?