With respect to an issue related to COVID-19, a colleague recently emailed me “Thanks for your leadership on this.” My immediate reaction was “I don’t really feel like I’m leading anything. I feel like I am riding in a whitewater raft – and the waves are treacherous!” The current environment is a lot like a whitewater raft voyage: *Lots of unknowns – who knows what is … [Read more...] about “Leading” a Whitewater Raft
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The Price of Incivility*
We have all heard (or experienced) stories of the “boss from hell,” but – according to research reported in Harvard Business Review* – rudeness in the workplace is surprisingly common. Whether it is thoughtlessness or outright malice, incivility takes its toll on a workplace. A poll of managers and employees from a wide variety of industries who experienced this showed … [Read more...] about The Price of Incivility*
The Courage to Speak Up
You see something at your organization that is just not right. Maybe it is a problem that everyone is ignoring, but the big bosses could be upset if you say something. Or maybe it is an ethical issue that you think needs to be seriously addressed. But what would be the reaction if you say something? We all know stories of whistleblowers or change agents who Speak Up – and … [Read more...] about The Courage to Speak Up
Avoiding Ethical Traps
We all want to be the most effective ethical leaders that we can be. However, one thing that can hold us back is that . . . . . we are human. That’s right, admit it – you are. As humans, we are subject to cognitive biases as we make ethical decisions. Understanding these biases and watching out for them can help you achieve your goal of being an ethical leader. Here are … [Read more...] about Avoiding Ethical Traps
Healthy Team Debates
We know that “constructive conflict” is an important part of effective team decision making. If individuals within a team do not feel comfortable proposing alternative ideas to one another then the first idea suggested might be approved or, maybe worse, whatever idea the boss suggests will be adopted. Many authors, including Patrick Lencioni (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team), … [Read more...] about Healthy Team Debates