by Jane Perdue | Leadership
Recently I was reminiscing with a former colleague about some of the wildest and wackiest moments in our leadership careers.
I’d almost forgotten one…how a candidate for a senior level leadership position really blew it.
I was one of six women standing in the lobby of the high-rise office building. We were all waiting for the elevator.
It was 12:50 PM.
I had a 1:30 PM appointment to interview a candidate for the company’s VP, Customer Care position. This was the final interview before a job offer would be made. (more…)
by Dennis Perkins | Leadership
Today’s guest post is from Dennis N.T. Perkins, author of Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race, CEO of Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and teams thrive under conditions of adversity, uncertainty, and change. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he successfully completed his first Sydney Hobart Race in 2006.
Dennis N.T. Perkins
Imagine navigating a tiny boat through a sudden, violent storm at sea — with winds roaring at nearly 100 mph and waves soaring to 80 feet — to not only survive, but triumph over formidable competitors in one of the world’s toughest ocean races. (more…)
by Jane Perdue | Leadership
Three nearly identical stories about having a self-absorbed boss were shared with me in just two days.
Those stories were about individual and/or group anguish, trauma, frustration, annoyance, confusion and heartbreak caused by narcissistic control-freak bosses.
The stories made me sad.
The bosses described in these stories aren’t self-aware or open to feedback, so no amount of pixie dust will help them listen to well-intentioned feedback or coaching, regardless of how much we have to tell them or want to help them.
Send this letter to a narcissistic, self-absorbed boss
Because you need your job and because your boss doesn’t listen to your opinion anyway, let’s try a different tack. (more…)
by Jane Perdue | Leadership
Every month, two to five people quit the small manufacturing company, heading off to a new job. Concerned with costs and time involved in the revolving door of recruiting and training, the company decided to do an employee survey to see why people were leaving.
Wages and benefits weren’t an issue. People believed they had the right tools, equipment and training to do their job. (more…)
by Jane Perdue | Leadership
A March 2012 DDI study “Leadership Lessons from the People Who Matter” reports 40% of respondents say their boss has never damaged their self-esteem.
Only 40% with no damage???
Yikes, that means 60% of respondents have had their self-esteem—their sense personal worth and competence—damaged by their boss.
How disturbing.
In a business world where the fast forward button seems perpetually stuck and performance demands are ever-increasing, leaders can get caught in the quicksand of focusing on results, results and more results.
Look around your workplace. Is morale dropping? Turnover increasing? Are people doing just enough to meet minimum requirements? Are there fewer and fewer smiles in the hallways? (more…)
by Jennifer V. Miller | Leadership
Today’s guest author is Jennifer V. Miller. Jennifer, a member of the Lead Change Group, is the Founder and Managing Partner of SkillSource, an organizational development consultancy that specializes in leadership development, teambuilding and sales relationship management.
Jennifer V. Miller
Leadership is a tough gig.
I’m not talking about being in “management”, although that is a really tough job, too.
What I mean is leading – stepping up, making the difficult calls, doing the right thing even when nobody’s looking.
Are you a leader?
Even if you don’t have an official leadership title, I bet you’ve been called to lead as a parent, a volunteer, a mentor or a project manager.
If you wear any of these hats, no doubt you’ve been confronted with the realization at some point in our lives, we all lead. (more…)
