When you’re on the management track or trying to work your way up the leadership ladder, you must be keenly aware of how you present yourself. You may stay at the office later than others, stand a little straighter, network more often, and dress more professionally. But many people forget one crucial soft skill that creates an unforgettable impression. The way you write creates a memorable image in the reader’s mind. Be sure the image you create is one of a thoughtful, competent, and professional communicator. Knowing the difference between there, their, and they’re is a great start, but there’s … Read More
It’s Not Enough to Think Like an Owner
“That’s not my job.” Is there any phrase more destructive in the workplace? If that phrase is the worst, then “That decision is above my pay grade” has to come in second place. Both phrases are heard frequently, and both do nothing more than alienate teammates, punish customers, and disrespect the company as a whole. CEOs want their leaders to think like an owner because it creates a unique mindset. Whether it’s a small business or a Fortune 100, when you think like an owner, you take ownership of your job, your attitude, your employees, and your customer. When you’re … Read More
Beware What You Reward
In Graduate School, I had a charismatic business professor who had a real-life story for every lesson. Today, I remember his stories first, and the lesson second. I ran into this professor at a recent conference and one particular story about measurement and reward immediately came to mind. “Did I ever tell you about the time I worked as a dishwasher in a hospital kitchen?” Suddenly, everyone in the room forgot they were in a graduate level business psychology course, and were transported to a 1970’s industrial kitchen with turquoise blue tiles. Jim was a young dishwasher who quickly learned … Read More
More than Words: Presenting Skills for Leaders
There’s no greater opportunity to influence others around you than when you have the opportunity to make a presentation. Whether in a small boardroom or in an auditorium filled with hundreds of employees, a presentation can leave attendees energized and motivated or confused and disengaged. We often spend too much time perfecting the words we will say in the presentation and not enough attention to the nonverbal attributes that speak volumes. Put the audience first Don’t craft your message the way you want to hear it. Customize the content to your audience’s needs, experience level, and interest. Making a pitch … Read More
The Problem with Mistake-Free Leadership
New leaders who are overwhelmed by their new responsibilities and fear the embarrassment of failure tend not to pursue success. Rather, they spend their first year just trying not to make a mistake. New leaders spend a considerable amount of time gathering data, seeking out historical information, checking with subject matter experts, and inevitably getting stuck in analysis paralysis mode out of fear. No one wants to make a mistake. Mistakes don’t feel good. But more importantly, we don’t want our mistakes to define us. So, to protect ourselves from any possible embarrassment we try to create mistake-free zones. There’s … Read More
The Power of Writing for Better Leadership
Early in my career, I worked with a top-selling Account Manager who was seen by many as being a bit quirky. His name was Larry and he was very organized and obsessively habitual. You could set your clock based on the time he walked in the door in the morning. It was the same every day. He ate the same snack every day and washed his car every single day. He had one daily habit that I didn’t truly appreciate until much later in my career. At the end of every day, he opened up a new Word document and … Read More