As part of a set of research interviews, my colleague at MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR), Martin Mocker, and I once asked technology staffers at 40 big companies what impact they thought they were having on their companies. Sadly, many said that they didn’t think they were having…...
Leading in Lockdown: How to support your team while strengthening your business
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, both individuals and organizations have been going through trying times. Today, leaders are presented with new challenges as well as opportunities to strengthen their teams. In 2020, with new norms emerging post-COVID-19, the world saw the rise of WFH culture. As with anything…...
5 Mistakes That Make a Leader Ineffective
Poor leadership by an immediate supervisor is the reason why 75% of people leave their job, according to this Gallup Poll, ranking bad bosses as the #1 reason employees quit. Why is there so much lousy leadership out there? Two reasons… at least. First, many bosses aren’t trained to lead. A study…...
Good Leaders Create Cultures in Which Good Decisions Are Made
Good leaders create cultures in which good decisions are made. The “trait theory” of leadership posits that good leaders are born with certain traits. The theory says that if we can identify those traits, then identify people who have those traits, we can select good leaders. The trait theory of…...
The Best 15 Ways to Increase Employee Loyalty
To increase employee loyalty is a critical component of an organization's success, and you need to make it a top priority. Happy and loyal staff who appreciate their jobs are eager to solve everyday problems while keeping motivation high on your team. How do you find these sets of employees,…...
Gratitude for Leaders: How to Win the Gratitude Battle
Ungrateful people are:Easily discouraged. Ingratitude creates constant disappointment. “What’s the use.”Resentful of the benefits or advantages others enjoy. Unthankfulness doesn’t enjoy the success of others.Entitled. Ungratefulness hates seeing others advantaged but expects advantage for itself.Self-obsessed. Ingratitude has little room for others because the world revolves around its own troubles, disappointments,…...
If you’re a bad leader, it’s up to you to fix it
The expectations on leaders and bosses these days is huge. They are expected to work long hours, be on call, sort out complex problems, juggle competing demands, all the while knowing there is permanent job insecurity. The day-to-day working environment often operates like a pressure chamber. Actions and reactions are…...
5 Critical HR Skills Every Manager Needs to Know
You did it! You landed a great job as a manager and have a team under you to direct and grow. But it’s crucial for you to keep gaining and developing the skills you need to create great employees. From navigating employee schedules to planning offsite meetings, a manager’s day is…...
Of All the Complaints I’ve Heard about Bosses, I’ve Never Heard this One
Of all the complaints I’ve heard about leaders, I’ve never heard anyone complain…“I wish my boss would stop encouraging me. I get too much encouragement.”It’s easy to miss the mark when you call people to face new challenges.Good intentions backfire. Unexpected resistance knocks you for a loop. Perhaps you misread…...
5 Ways A Remote Manager Can Kill Your Workplace Culture
Here’s the simple truth: the “new normal” is not new anymore. It’s just normal. According to a recent report from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the U.S. economy is now truly a work-from-home economy, with more than 60 percent of U.S. economic activity now coming from people clocking in from a home residence. And…...
The 5 biggest misconceptions about being a human manager
Too often we hide behind our titles and adopt a suit of armour that has been handed down by generations of strong managers. If we were to lose that suit of armour, and become human, then surely we will show weakness that will be exploited. On the contrary, human managers…...
How to Take Your Team to the Next Level in 30 Days
The Magic Wand: If you waved a magic wand over your team, what would emerge when the smoke clears?During a team meeting, make a list of words that describe the team you aspire to develop. (Yes, you love your team. But what would cause you to love it even more?)Describe…...
What Makes a Great Boss?
So, what does make a great boss? Is your boss “The Good Shepherd” or maybe “The Devil Wears Prada”? While some employees may love their bosses – especially when some line managers are willing to go the extra mile for their employees: “My boss offered to skip an important meeting and loan me…...
Distraction: Defeating the Beast that Contaminates Leadership and Dilutes Effectiveness
Meaningful contribution requires merciless elimination of insignificant action. The seduction of distraction is it makes you feel important while diluting usefulness at the same time. The habit of hurry drains fulfillment and frustrates engagement. No one achieves excellence by doing one thing while thinking about the next thing.…...
How to Be a Good Leader at Work
A strong leader in the workplace can bolster a small business's push for success. As a small business owner, you inherently find yourself at the top of the company's hierarchy. You may make the decisions, pay the bills, and run the company in accordance with your business plan for success,…...
Don’t Pretend Things Smell Good when they Stink – Instead Shift Focus
Focus on people before digging into problems.The leaderly response to stink is empathy for your team.The rush to fix problems devalues people, but empathy respects and connects.Exploring problems and seeking solutions comes easier when people feel respected and connected.Talk to the person in front of you before working on the…...
