In many ways, the world is wired against you taking risks. Will the annual audit ever be critical of you for not trying to seize that new opportunity that you decided was too risky? No. Audits are critical of acts of “commission” vs “omission.” You don’t want the financial report to show a big expense on a project that did not work out. But the audit will never fault … [Read more...] about Overcome Your Fear of Failure
Leadership
Manage Without Micromanaging
Micromanaging is a classic leadership mistake. You were hired to manage the team because you were an excellent individual performer. And now you want everyone to perform at the same high level. So you are constantly looking over their shoulders. You don’t want to micromanage, but you need to know what is going on – and that things are being done properly. What do you … [Read more...] about Manage Without Micromanaging
Get Out of Your Slump
When was the last time you told someone at work that you were doing great, and meant it? Are you seizing the day or sleepwalking through it? Are you maybe feeling a bit “meh” at work? Even the most dedicated professionals hit a wall. When work feels like a monotonous routine, or a sense of "fine" replaces genuine fulfillment, it’s a clear sign you’re in a slump. The … [Read more...] about Get Out of Your Slump
Improve How You Give Feedback
Giving feedback is one of the most important responsibilities of a leader. Unfortunately, most people avoid giving feedback and when they give it, it is done poorly. So here’s my feedback to those of you who fall into this category: It does not have to be this way! You have the talent and skill to give very good feedback! In this blog, we are going to focus on your team … [Read more...] about Improve How You Give Feedback
Leading Your Inherited Team
We all do a lot of work in teams, which is why I consistently recommend Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, to people. A recent article in Harvard Business Review focuses on a special situation for leaders – inheriting a team. This has happened to many of us in our careers and it definitely requires careful navigation. It is interesting that the … [Read more...] about Leading Your Inherited Team