Have you ever hit a wall with a project that’s important to you? Just couldn’t will yourself to take that next step? Or maybe you couldn’t even remember what the next step was?
How to Use Feedback to Achieve Your Own Goals
The Gift of Feedback
What if I were to tell you that getting feedback is a great way to achieve your goals? You’d probably tell me I’m full of it. Feedback is just something I have to get through so people will leave me alone.
Seriously, feedback can be a great gift. It’s a window into what you don’t know about yourself that’s impossible to learn any other way.
Feedback That Delivers
I promise only two more posts on the topic of feedback, at least for now.
But I won’t apologize. This is important.
Feedback can give you more of what you want: teamwork, collaboration and high performance. It can also give you less of what you don’t want: slacking, toxic relationships and unmet expectations.
If Feedback is Like a Land Mine, Why Bother?
Last week, I wrote about feedback as if it were the interpersonal equivalent of a land mine. If that’s the case, why bother giving feedback at all?
In spite of how challenging it can be, offering constructive feedback plays a valuable role in enhancing teamwork and collaboration, whether it’s at home, at work, or with your friends. Here are some reasons why:
Why Feedback Goes Awry and What To Do About It
Have you ever offered unsolicited feedback and had it blow up in your face?
Or spent hours preparing what you wanted to say then had it land badly even though you sugarcoated it?
Or tried time and again to get your point across about how someone’s behavior negatively affected you…only to end up in yet another “groundhog day” argument?
Leader as Coach Mastery Program Holds Public Course
For the first time ever, Leader as Coach Mastery Program is being offered to the general public--after 10 years of being delivered to DoD and more recently, Airbus Americas. Please consider coming and share the flyer with your organization.
This program has changed people's lives--professionally and personally. Space is limited, so register now! Contact me directly or download this flyer.
Facilitation team: Richard Karash and Deborah Reidy and Cynthia Way.
How To Stay Open When the Stakes Are High
Here’s a scenario that you may identify with. You’re sitting across the table from someone whose support you need to move ahead with an important project. Ten minutes into the conversation, you’re blindsided by that person’s objections.
Maybe it’s a budget proposal to your board treasurer. Or an important sales presentation. Or a conversation with your partner about moving to a new community. Whatever the specifics, the stakes are high and you’re under pressure.
Three Simple Ways to Gain Cooperation
For Those Who Are Left Behind
Thinning the Ranks
In early May 2015, the Massachusetts state system initiated an early retirement program for as many as 5,000 state employees, with possible additional workforce reductions to follow. It’s unclear how many people will be leaving. Estimates suggest that state agencies will lose from 5% to 20% of their workforce by June 30. That’s three weeks away.
The people who retire will take valuable knowledge and experience with them. Their leaving will also create big gaps in the social networks essential to accomplishing the work of the Commonwealth.
It's the Environment, Stupid!
Integrity is Not Only "Nice to Have"
The unfolding FIFA scandal raises questions explored in many of my leadership programs:
- What is the role of integrity in leadership?
- Is integrity simply “nice to have” but not essential to sustained and effective leadership?
- Maybe integrity actually interferes with business success?
- What is integrity, anyway?
These are universal questions transcending the FIFA scandal, which I hope becomes a cautionary tale for leaders in many industries.
Tired of Being All Things to All People?
An iPad at Every Seat
Not the Same Horse
I’ve recently gotten home from a California vacation. We spent three days at The Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang. We’ve always loved to ride on vacation.
This time we decided to try the whole ranch experience (more like a four star ranch with spa, golf, tennis courts and jackets for dinner, but still a 10,000 acre working cattle ranch.)
Distraction Contagion
An “Intimate” Dinner for Two
I’m sitting next to Jim at our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We’re having a quiet dinner, just the two of us after a rough day. I’m looking forward to sharing my news and hearing what he has on his mind.
Just as I open my mouth to talk, that really annoying “ding” signals that he has an incoming call.
Telling Your Story: Fake it Till You Make It
Anybody who follows my blog knows I’m interested in how introverts can hone their leadership style. If connection is the “special sauce” of leadership, then it’s essential to do so in a way that’s authentic to you. Short of a total personality change, what can reserved people do to amp up the connection?
The Secret to Success With a Difficult Conversation
An Important Message for Reluctant Leaders
When Someone Comes to You With a Problem...
Maybe you’ve experienced a similar situation: A friend you haven't talked to in a while calls and tells you he recently sold his business and moved five states away to be with his girlfriend. He sold his house, most of his furniture and got a new job. Months into his new life, the relationship fell apart and he’s now faced with…what?
The Tortoise and the Hare
“What would you like coaching on today?” I asked Jonathan.
“Well, my team is working on an important project. Everyone wants this to succeed and we’re even aligned around how to make it happen. But a couple of team members are chomping at the bit to implement this in the next three months. The rest of the team believes we need to take it a bit slower. Everybody’s frustrated and it’s causing all sorts of tension.”