In November 1980 my wife, Margie, and I met Spencer Johnson at a cocktail party.
At that time, Spencer was a successful writer of children’s books while I was just starting out in the world of business. After meeting Spencer, Margie said to us, “You two should write a children’s book for managers. They won’t read anything else.”
With that, The One Minute Manager was born. (more…)
We’ve all had the unenviable experience of dealing with leaders who lack integrity. At the very least, that can be frustrating and demoralizing.
On the other hand, great leaders have the ability to inspire us, and nothing is more inspiring than a leader who walks their talk.
Jane recently wrote over at The Lead Change Group a post on Life, Love, & Leadership Lessons In Unlikely Places. In my book Wind In Your Sails: Vital Strategies That Accelerate Your Entrepreneurial Success, I help push entrepreneurs into their own unlikely places.
In my recent Lead Change Group post Synergy, I wrote of the need to challenge people out of their comfort zones. Pushing people into their “purposeful discomfort” as Jane wrote in her post. We will only make really change, including accelerating our businesses and organizations, if we as leaders challenge those who work for us. We have to make people uncomfortable in order to push them and ourselves into new areas. (more…)
There are many leadership styles just as there are many situations that require leadership.
At one end of the spectrum of leadership there are aggressive, autocratic individuals like George Patton and Margaret Thatcher. On the other end, there are leaders like Mohandas Gandhi and Mother Teresa whose styles are characterized by empathy and empowerment. Most leaders have a style that is somewhere between these two extremes. (more…)
Conflict is a given in most organizations. In families and relationships, too.
Each of us sees the world through the unique lens of our needs, interests, and concerns.
Depending on our level of tolerance, that diversity of thought, opinion, and perspective can be a powerful tool for innovation, inclusion, and results.
Or it can be a powerful downward drag on productivity and engagement. Research shows that a manager spends between 24 and 60 percent of his or her time dealing with the effects of conflict. (more…)
Sammy worked hard to be a good leader to the nine people in his department.
He was diligent in providing coaching, recognition, and advice. His door was always open to his team. He delegated work assignments to develop new skills. Sammy even handled his people’s work himself when they were sick or on vacation.
His direct reports loved him.
His boss didn’t want to promote him. (more…)
