A Doer’s worse nightmare is reporting to an incompetent boss. They dread reporting to someone who lacks the skill, ability, and motivation to do the right things, the right way, for the right reason. Such bosses walk around in a fog unaware of the negative impact they are having on those who report to them. […]

Leaders in today’s complex workplaces are discovering that getting followers together in teams to develop a common set of goals is not only difficult, but it is frequently divisive and disruptive. The leadership challenge, then, is to blend the varied individual perceptions and expectations into a unified vision. The primary obstacles keeping followers from coming […]

Leaders looking for results in an outcome-based workplace are running into a growing problem with followers, who will not accept ownership when a job is done poorly. Instead, they pile on the excuses and float the whole mess back up the chain of command. Which could explain why more of the responsibility for getting things […]

Strained relationships are a normal, natural occurrence in today’s tension-filled workplace. An effective way to keep the interpersonal conflicts from driving Doers apart is to sponsor clarification forums on a regular basis. A clarification forum is a structured process where those within your sphere of influence demonstrate their support for conflict resolution and joint problem […]

The existence of a rumor mill is an indication that employees need an off-the-record opportunity to share opinions, test reactions and clarify concerns. The rumor mill is sometimes the only source of information available to those at the lower levels. Leaders rarely set aside the time and space for followers to compare notes, ask questions […]

The need to engage Doers in organizational decision making and problem solving is highlighted by the findings of a nine-year study by a Stanford research team headed by professor Jim Collins that analyzed 20,400 companies and identified only seven that have what it takes to succeed in tumultuous times. The first step toward a becoming […]

We tend to be less open and direct with people we don’t know, don’t like, and don’t trust, which is not fair to them. Being truthful with some people and not with others impedes your ability to communicate openly and honestly with everyone. This may sound silly and not worth getting worked up over, but […]

Doers know what they are being held accountable for and are able to determine for themselves how best to follow their leader. Underachievers seldom understand their own actions; so do not expect them to give much constructive thought to what their leader has in mind. So, you might ask, why waste time on dysfunctional employees? […]

Much like a house remodeling will expose termites, organization-wide undertakings such as quality improvement, team building, reinventing, or downsizing will flush out dysfunction. The problems that arise from the installation of a new phone system or a computer upgrade can shift management’s attention in a hurry. Large organizations are good places for dysfunction to hide. […]

Morale, motivation, performance, and productivity are separate issues and should be addressed independently, not tied together as if attending to one will impact the others. Individual morale and collective spirit are raised simultaneously when leaders and followers become aware of what they do not know and are motivated to learn new skills and practice new […]