Have you ever had this experience? You have a purpose and a plan. You may have even mapped out the steps your going to take in order to get results. You’re actually pretty excited about it. But then you don’t make a move. Why is it so hard to get started? You may even begin to wonder if there is something wrong with you that keeps you from moving forward. Moving toward the better life that you have envisioned for…
As executive coaches and management consultants, we have worked with hundreds of individuals and organizations in our combined 35+ years of experience. As such, people often ask us what makes some organizations successful and others less so—despite similar conditions. We recently sat down to mull this one over—and came back to what we have seen over and over again. The secret to success comes down to one thing: a leader’s willingness to influence and to be influenced by every member…
Last week’s post was a look at NW Nice, an ailment which is affecting business professionals in the NW corner of the country. Well, we heard from many of you across the U.S. letting us know that this plague is common in all parts of the nation, but it is known by different names depending on geography. We also heard from people who saw themselves in the post and asked us to comment on managers and leaders who shut…
There is something of an epidemic plaguing businesses in the Pacific Northwest called Northwest Nice (NW Nice). NW Nice is an affliction whereby a business professional will smile and speak collaboratively about an issue or a person in a public forum but later, will attack and/or undermine the very same issue or person behind closed doors. The problem with this disease is that the afflicted rarely believe they have the ailment. They deny their behaviors and imply that “others”…
Joining an organization is a lot like a marriage – it’s a commitment that will span the good times and bad, there will be days when you are delighted to stay and days when you think about leaving, and you may have the opportunity to create a connection that is rich and meaningful over time. And, as in a marriage, many of us join an organization because the good feelings we had about the hiring manager and we can be…
I had a revelation the other day about pain and what people often refer to as “being stuck.” When I heard someone ask the question, “are they in enough pain to make a change?” It suddenly came to me how often I have stayed where I am in my life, in a mediocre relationship, unhealthy in my body, a difficult work place, all the time complaining about being stuck. So the thought that perhaps I wasn’t in enough pain…
We often hear complaints about bosses who only focus on what is not working and never acknowledge and celebrate what is going well. Other clients describe their experience of bosses who have nothing to say about their performance until they have made a mistake. Some clients even describe their belief that their bosses are lying in wait – ready to pounce on the one bad thing that happens; so, we thought we would take a few moments to look at…
Often, we hear from experienced managers that they are proud to say that they have learned to “trust the process.” Those same managers will describe that they have encouraged younger, greener mangers to do the same and have been shocked when problems arise. Unfortunately, this advice can get less experienced mangers in trouble especially if “trusting the process” isn’t fully defined, since most of them assume that “trusting the process” means just letting whatever happens happen. And that’s rarely successful.…
Many of you have probably seen the original Terminator (1984) movie. In it, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a cyborg that has come back in time to kill the future savior of the world. In one scene, the cyborg is in a rundown hotel room tending to some pretty nasty wounds when the hotel manager knocks on the door (wanting to know what the smell is that is coming from the room) and asks him whether he has a dead animal in…
Throughout our lives, there are times (sometimes many times) when we disagree with someone about an issue. Whether that person is someone we work with, live with, or relate to on a regular basis, knowing how to disagree with them without being disagreeable in an important skill that will increase your effectiveness and personal power. Two basic things are required to effectively disagree with someone without being disagreeable, the first is knowledge of oneself and second, communication skills. Let’s look…