Communication

You’re Not Listening: The 5 Steps to Reconnection

You’re Not Listening: The 5 Steps to Reconnection

Communication is simultaneously one of the most simple and complex activities we engage in as humans. Two or more people can talk about a topic and completely understand each other in one moment, and in the next moment recognize a disconnect has occurred. Colleagues who have trusting relationships will typically recognize this more quickly and get back on track. But often in organizations, leaders with contrasting priorities will continue to move forward without recognizing the growing divide between their work and that of their associates. They focus more on talking than listening. And failure to listen to colleagues ultimately impacts organizational productivity and profitability. (more…)

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Is Your Team Connecting, Whispering or Shouting?

Is Your Team Connecting, Whispering or Shouting?

As a leader, do you know whether your team is connecting, whispering, or shouting? A recent Gallup survey1 identified three categories to describe employees’ engagement at work.

  1. Thriving because they find meaning in their work, engage and listen to others, take pride in their performance and are willing to go the extra mile. Only one in five employees feel connected to their leader and the organization in this way.
  2. Quiet quitting because they’re just doing the bare minimum, are disconnected emotionally, or stressed. Surprisingly three out of five employees are not engaged. They’re whispering about their leader and the things they don’t like in their environment.
  3. Loud quitting because they’re causing harmful crises in the business, lack trust in their leadership, or aren’t fulfilling their role. One in five employees are actively disengaged and symbolically shouting their discontent to those around them.

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Authentic Leadership: Will the Real You Please Stand Up?

Authentic Leadership: Will the Real You Please Stand Up?

Does your team know your core values and personality style?

Is your behavior consistent in all your interactions with your colleagues?

Do you sometimes find yourself following a pattern of behaviors that others’ expect from you, instead of creating your own?

Do you experience a level of stress trying to perform to others’ standards? (more…)

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Three Inches of Doubt

Three Inches of Doubt

A skyscraper in lower Manhattan, New York City is reportedly leaning three inches to the north. The 58 story, 670-foot tower, known as One Seaport is only partially built. And in 2019, the tower’s contractor sued the developer alleging they allowed it to be built on a substandard foundation. The developer in turn alleged that the lawsuit was a distraction based on the contractor’s inability to complete the structure. You can imagine how the accusations are flowing from there. And the misalignment of the structure is compromising the installation of the building’s glass exterior. (more…)

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Are Your Organizational Values Still Relevant?

Are Your Organizational Values Still Relevant?

As leaders welcome the new year and identify priorities for themselves and their organizations, one topic stands out that may be badly in need of more attention. It’s their organizational values.

Organizational values are at the core of each company’s culture. They are the key principles that guide and direct the decisions made at all levels within the group, and lead to the desired business results. Astute leaders understand the importance of ensuring their values provide a foundation to govern behaviors both at an individual and team level. They are therefore purposeful in identifying the most critical beliefs that will drive performance to create the desired culture. (more…)

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10 Core Responsibilities of Leaders: Understanding Your Role

10 Core Responsibilities of Leaders: Understanding Your Role

As the leader of your team or organization, are you experiencing any issues similar to the ones on the list below?

  • Product quality is declining, and costs are increasing due to rework.
  • Delivery timetables aren’t being met as staff struggle to prioritize projects.
  • Leaders are competing for limited budget resources and quibbling about the value of their different initiatives.
  • Cybersecurity attacks have hindered your organization’s ability to deliver programs and services as planned.
  • Employee engagement is lagging, and turnover is increasing.
  • Communications initiatives are more focused on overcoming negative press than touting the value of your brand.
  • Ongoing customer complaints center around several core areas, and the proposed solutions aren’t working.
  • Your recently released, long awaited product is floundering in the market, unable to gain a foothold with the targeted demographic.

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Inclusivity at Work: Reflections from the Playground

Inclusivity at Work: Reflections from the Playground

Think back a few years to when you were in elementary, middle, or high school. The dynamics of navigating the playground and hanging out around school was often just as much of a challenge as mastering your classes. Sure, for some it seemed easy, but for others it was fraught with social stress of making friends, keeping friends, avoiding bullies, trying to be the bully, finding acceptance, and developing trusting relationships.

I recently read an article about a woman who recounted being bullied in school. This, along with other aspects of her personality contributed to psychological trauma as she grew up. Years later she decided to reach out to her childhood classmates to interview them about what they were experiencing during those years. This wasn’t an attempt to cause them any distress, but simply to understand how they viewed the same experiences.1 (more…)

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Great Leaders Offer Hope

Great Leaders Offer Hope

During the first five months of 2020 we’ve experienced multiple crises. People started the year preparing their vision for 2020, drawing a comparison with having 20/20 visual acuity. But I’m sure no one had this vision for five months filled with: Political uncertainty, a pandemic, economic meltdown, Supply chain interruption, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, killer hornets, senseless killings, protests, and riots

Any one of these crises requires good leadership to navigate through it. But for leaders in government, businesses, community services, health care, and families, to manage all of it together is overwhelming. Yet every organization has some role based on their purpose, to address these situations. And as people are looking for solutions, answers, and a way forward, it’s the responsibility of leaders to offer hope in the midst of turmoil. (more…)

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Recognizing Emotions: Preparing to Return to the Workplace

Recognizing Emotions: Preparing to Return to the Workplace

All across the U.S., after several months of orders to stay at home, shelter in place, and work remotely, resulting in many places of business being shuttered, the pressure is on to open up the economy again. The “save lives” focus is shifting to “save the economy.” Several states are venturing forward by opening public spaces and business-to-consumer locations.

Corporations are using a multi-pronged approach to prepare the physical environment based on data, building standards, logistics and artificial intelligence. Then they’re communicating with and training employees on how to work differently and reviewing their policies on how to get employees to actually feel safe. This may require leaders to accommodate a variety of personal needs to enable the organizations to be fully functional. (more…)

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“What About Me?” And 10 Other Questions Employees are Asking

“What About Me?” And 10 Other Questions Employees are Asking

As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest crisis in our lifetime, we’re hearing about many acts of heroism, kindness, generosity, and creativity.

Medical supplies are being donated by TV medical shows, skilled tradesmen, craft groups, and citizens; and manufactured by companies big and small to support first responders and healthcare workers.

Big businesses and individuals are donating money to support small businesses and people whose jobs and livelihoods have been impacted by mandated shutdowns.

Neighbors are helping neighbors, friends are supporting each other to check on their health, ensure everyone has food, and that other needs are met. (more…)

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