To be a great leader, you need to develop many skills: emotional intelligence, the art of giving good feedback, influencing others, managing up, and more. Yet, above all those skills is one that with it, will carry you far, and without it, you will struggle. It’s one that gets harder the busier you get, and […]
“That is the worst thing that can happen to a company,” said Wisse Dekker. He’s the former president of Dutch electronics company, Philips. In 1990, he resigned after the company barely earned $3 million dollars in their first quarter. This was horrendous compared to the $130 million earned in the previous year. Dekker […]
The Chicago Cubs were “the Lovable Losers” of Major League Baseball. For over a century, the Cubs failed to win a World Series Championship year after year after year. The team was plagued by bad trades and consistent losses. Even notable players like Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, and legendary slugger Sammy Sosa couldn’t save […]
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. He was also a Holocaust survivor. In 1945, he, his wife, and his parents were sent to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in Czechoslovakia. As Frankl was transferred to a variety of concentration camps, he and his family became separated. Tragically, they all perished, while Frankl was saved by Allied forces in […]
It’s mid afternoon. Thomas walks up to you and says, “Can we talk for a minute?” Surprised, you invite them in to talk. Your mind starts running through the possible things they could want to discuss. You hope it’s just an innocent question as you have that meeting in 15 minutes. As your mind races, […]
When you hear “Lebron James,” you think superstar athlete. But, how about high performing leader? Rarely do people make the connection between James and big tech CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Brian Chesky. However, Fortune Magazine highlighted all of these men in their 2017’s World’s Greatest Leaders list. The magazine realized that they shared a common trait: […]
How do I look good to my boss? How do I stay on the same page as them? What do I do to avoid unwanted surprises with my manager? What are the best approaches to managing up well? These are common questions mid level leaders and individual contributors alike ask themselves when they start working […]
“I never authorized it, I never asked for it, I never signed any paperwork for it,” said Aaron Brodie. Brodie is a Texan 911 dispatcher. In 2012, he was sent a credit card without his permission. Upset, he contacted his Wells Fargo’s branch to cancel it. Strangely, they refused. However, the bank promised that if […]
What makes an effective leader? Typical answers include: a high IQ, a “hustle” attitude, and a big personality. But today, many experts are embracing another answer: high emotional intelligence. The concept of emotional intelligence or the emotional quotient (EQ) is relatively new. But, it’s the skill separating an average manager from an effective leader that […]
“Hire slow, fire fast.” If you’ve read anything on hiring, you’ve probably heard that mantra. It’s one of those sayings that gets injected into most hiring process conversations at some point. Whether you agree with it, or despise it, you’re still left with the same question: how do I make better hiring decisions? What interview […]
