We talk about it in sports, but it happens to all of us – we sometimes get into a slump. What to do? Baseball players are notorious for trying all kinds of wacky things to break a slump. One player threw away his “unlucky” jersey. Another poured lighter fluid on a bat and lit it on fire with “his” bat “watching.” This was supposed to scare his bat into action. And … [Read more...] about Breaking Your Slump
leadership
Improving Your Team’s Performance
One of the most important responsibilities of a manager is to give your team “growth assignments.” A “growth assignment” is typically thought of as an opportunity for someone to take on a project or responsibility that they have not done before. They need to learn new information and possibly develop new skills along the way. One of the most difficult challenges for a … [Read more...] about Improving Your Team’s Performance
Build Your Leadership Legitimacy
You might have formal authority, but do you have “legitimacy?” Legitimacy is one of the things that separates a good leader from an exceptionally effective one. As per a recent article in Harvard Business Review: “A legitimate leader engenders good will and a feeling of personal connection with followers. . . (Leaders) who enjoy legitimacy can motivate loyalty and … [Read more...] about Build Your Leadership Legitimacy
Fully Prep for Your Next Negotiation
Research shows that most people just “wing it” when they get into a negotiation, and this often leads to a suboptimal result. Here are some things you need to prep before you negotiate: *Do Your Research. For example, if you are going out to buy a car or a home, make sure that you do research ahead of time so you know what the market is like. If you are looking for a pay … [Read more...] about Fully Prep for Your Next Negotiation
Improve Your Change Effort
Leading a change is among the most challenging tasks executives take on. Change management guru, Dr. John Kotter, says that 70% of change efforts fail. Sometimes I wonder if the actual numbers are even higher. There are many changes you might like to lead – a change in culture, staff structure, new products and services, maybe a new financial model. But inertia and … [Read more...] about Improve Your Change Effort