“Can I pick your brain for a second? What would stop me from using the Myers-Briggs assessment to choose my leaders?” The question sent chills down my spine. I’ve been asked that same question hundreds of times in my career, and it always has the same effect on me. As I talked through the differences between personality type and personality traits, I thought of all the introverted leaders in the workplace today. I thought of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Elon Musk. And then I thought of introverted leaders outside the tech industry. Stephen Spielberg, JK Rowling, and … Read More
What Leaders and Draft Picks Have in Common
If you watched the NFL Draft last week, you may have noticed an interesting statistic. Of the 32 players selected in the first round, 29 of them were multi-sport athletes. In fact, eight of the top 10 selections played more than 1 sport. The statistic alone is attention-grabbing. But what does it mean and can we find any talent management lessons from this phenomenon? Certainly it’s possible these individuals are so athletic and internally driven by competition that they would be elite whether they were handed a football, golf club or curling stone. Much like High Potentials in the workplace, … Read More
Getting Unstuck from Too Much Data
In spite of all the technological advances in the world, many people long for a simpler time. A time when people answered the phone readily without knowing who would be on the other end. A time when, if you needed something, you walked to the other person’s desk and looked them in the eye when making the request (and thanking them for their work). A time when the decision to move forward with a partner or vendor was largely based on the trust and relationship built between individuals. Today’s consumers make their decisions before contacting a supplier at all. In … Read More
Leadership and Unconditional Accountability
When most individuals envision what it would look like to assume a leadership role, they imagine the freedom to define a strategy that will garner success, the authority to make decisions, and the opportunity to develop and mentor others. Those are the exciting aspects of leadership that are often appealing to individual contributors. But the other side of that coin is the incredible responsibility that comes along with the title. You can’t have one without the other. But the issue of responsibility and accountability goes even further.
Thirty Acts of Empowerment
Today’s leaders don’t command and demand. They inspire and empower. They communicate a vision that enables each person to visualize the critical role they play in helping the organization achieve it’s mission. A powerful, inspirational leader helps everyone realize their “best self” and gives them the opportunity to shine every day. Here are 30 acts of empowerment a leader can deliver every day.
Build Morale During Madness
If you’re a college basketball fan, then March is the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the time when fair-weather fans and die-hards alike spent hours pouring over statistics and injury reports in an effort to chase the elusive perfect NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket. Now, if you’re a manager or work in Human Resources, March may not seem so wonderful. Over 70 million individuals fill out tournament brackets annually. Studies say that March Madness is the #3 tech-related office distraction behind texting and Facebook. March Madness has the potential to wreak havoc in an organization. Some researchers estimate that … Read More