Category Blogs
Management By Metaphor
A metaphor is like a story or a fable, in that it doesn’t have to be factually accurate, just descriptive. Unlike clichés or sarcasm, which only convey meaning to those “in the know,” a metaphor carries meaning for all who share in it. It’s much easier for people to accept a metaphor because they don’t […]
Shining Light On The Shadow Competition
In a dysfunctional workplace there’s always a shadow competition going on between the high achievers and the low performers. The term “shadow” is used because management is usually in the dark when it happens. Fortunately there are several observable behaviors that will indicate when and why the shadow competition is taking place. For example, dysfunctional […]
Dead Wood Floats
The greater the level of dysfunction the more complaints you’ll hear from leaders and followers about each other’s shortcomings. The sad truth is that neither side understands the other because they both use disparaging terms that spawn misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mistrust. Unfortunately, after experiencing an adversarial relationship for so long, the most troublesome people have […]
The Meaning Of Informtion
One of the most common complaints from decision makers is that there’s too much information available and not enough time to derive meaning from it. That being the case, it’s even more critical that direction setters know how to pose the right questions at the right time to the right people. Our assumption that leadership […]
Building Trust-Based Relationships
Working with people who think, feel, and see things differently can be both stressful and anxiety producing. Unless a foundation of trust exists, those working under arduous conditions are likely to harbor negative feelings that may dampen their desire to collaborate. The Tenets of Teamwork described below provide the guidelines for building trust-based relationships Collaborative […]
Why Would Anyone Follow You?
Growing up in a small town, I hung out with guys who roamed the streets doing what bored teenagers do which often got us into trouble. Being too young to drive, we hoofed it wherever we went. Occasionally we’d do something serious enough to upset a neighbor who’d call the police. The wailing sirens sent […]
Be Open To A Teachable Moment
Working for an incompetent boss is not without hope. What can I do, you might ask? Well, for a start you can arm yourself with a better understanding of what causes someone in a senior role to be ineffective. That way you’ll know what skills your boss is missing and which ones you’ll need to […]
The Need To Belong Can Steer You Wrong
Workplace cliques are made up of like-minded people who think, feel and act in a similar manner. Thus, joining a clique is tempting for anyone with a need to belong. Cliques can be a source of positive, collective influence. If you belong to a clique that understands and supports the corporate vision, you stand a […]
You Won’t Grow, If You Don’t Know
Most people have little interest in learning new ways of doing things without some external motivation. Perhaps you’re the exception and are eager to know what it takes to be a self-directed learner. Stage 1: You don’t know what you don’t know.Even though you’re missing the mark, you’re unaware of that possibility. The potential for mistakes […]
Coming Together Prevents Falling Apart
Strained relationships are a normal, natural occurrence in today’s tension-filled workplace. An effective way to keep the underlying issues from driving people 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 […]
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