Taking Over As Leader? Ask a Few Questions

May 24, 2022 | Leadership Development

Are you taking over for a leader who has left the organization? Are you inheriting someone else’s team? Or, are you stepping into a newly created leadership role? Whichever path you’ve taken to your new role, you need to quickly identify how you’re going to best serve your team. Because, let’s face it, you were put into your new role to get things done. Your job is to get things done in a position that someone else had or that was recently created. Either way, your new position title...

How Well Do You Know Your Team?

Oct 22, 2019 | Leadership Development

How well do you know your team members? Besides knowing their names and generally what their jobs are, do you have a realistic understanding of their workplace challenges, the projects they’re involved with, their professional goals, and their unique skills weaknesses or areas of expertise? No? I understand. It’s tough enough having time to get your own work done much less worry about your team members’ challenges. However, the sooner you understand your team members better, the sooner you’ll...

Who’s In Your Leadership Inner Circle?

Apr 24, 2018 | Leadership Development

My mom shared an impactful saying with me when I was in my teens. She said, “You are the average of the five people with whom you most often associate.” I don’t remember the specifics of the conversation, but I do know she was subtly telling me to continue to be smart in whom I chose to befriend. I’ve heeded her advice and it’s never let me down. This advice applies to us in the workplace and as leaders too. In the workplace and as leaders, you are the average of the five people with whom you...

What’s Your Legacy?

Dec 10, 2013 | Sales, Marketing & Customer Service

As we draw close to Christmas, I thought I'd share this article from my archives as it reminds me of a special person. It also causes me to focus on how important each person we come in contact with is... I received an email from Jackie, a former client, the day after Christmas. Her e-mail informed me a gentleman, who had attended one of the training programs I presented to her organization, over two years ago, had died of lung cancer. She wanted to tell me about Al's passing, because my...

The Power of a Leader’s Respect

Oct 29, 2013 | Leadership Development

It’s a really neat experience to watch management and team-building theories prove themselves true. It’s incredible to see the power a leader has just in his or her subtle behaviors to either develop a team or to crush one. It’s amazing the power a leader’s respect has on team performance. Recently, I had the chance to guide one of my client’s through their Strategic Plan update. Now the cool thing isn't that they even cared enough to update the plan; the cool thing is what the leader did and...