* You are not likely to change anyone’s behavior until your first accept him for who he is and what he believes. Imposing your views on someone without first empathizing with him leaves the impression that you are the one opposed to change—not him. * Assumptions are the brain food of idiots. Without a genuine […]

Contemporary managers are facing the external pressures of a rapidly changing workplace. As the pace picks up, they are expected to keep on top of everything. Should performance and productivity fall off, the higher-ups assume someone must be doing something wrong. A typical reaction is to bring in a consultant to identify the problem(s) and […]

Succession planning is a future-focused endeavor designed to ensure knowledge upgrades become an instinctive part of everyone’s positional responsibility. Another proviso is providing support for those high achievers who are candidates for increased job responsibilities. As an organization considers succession planning, it is essential to form a cross-departmental succession planning team (SPT) consisting of executive […]

Only an idiot would enjoy working in a tension-filled environment. So, consider what it would mean should the conflicts you’re currently embroiled in remain unresolved. Pointing out the issue is risky, so you keep quiet and hope it goes away. Like you, few people are comfortable disclosing his or her frustrations in an open forum. […]

Highly placed executives often suffer from the “enough is never enough” syndrome. No matter how far up the ladder they climb or how much compensation they receive, they’re rarely satisfied and are still striving for more. We treat them like superstars expecting them to perform perfectly and be all knowing. Today’s headlines are ample proof […]

Our attitudes, beliefs and understanding of authority are largely shaped by our family long before any of us transition from learning to earning. How the elders solve problems and make decisions are natural elements of our “training.” Some families raise trustworthy children who fit in easily. Taught obedience, compliance, and loyalty they become the backbone […]

No matter how positive a spin you try to put on it, change is scary because it spawns ambiguity, inconsistency, and uncertainty, all of which raise the level of dysfunction. During periods of transition, management frequently gets blamed for failing to provide adequate, timely, helpful, and accurate information. However, when challenged, employees admit that even […]

So, what’s all the fuss over vision statements? Is it a big deal and should you care? To gain a personal perspective, think about your workplace and complete this statement: This organization is being managed as if its main purpose is to ——–.  If your response came quickly, can be explained easily and fills you […]

Your mother was right about first impressions being important, but they’re not always the ones you want to rely upon when it comes to building a working relationship. This is particularly true if you think the other person is an idiot based upon what you’ve heard from others. You really don’t get a clear sense […]