-Plant Manager in Manufacturing
What is that secret sauce that creates a winner? Why do some incredibly talented people fail to launch, while some more average people become huge successes?
Let’s face it, some people are winning in life and some people are losing. Winning or losing in life is not determined by inherent talent or an alignment of circumstances. What often separates the winners from the losers? Excuses. Continue Reading…
“I didn’t have time to get it done.” Any leader who has coached employees or parent who raised teenagers has heard this excuse and been frustrated.
Let’s not fool ourselves anymore, when someone tells us “I didn’t have enough time.” What they are truly saying is “I had bigger priorities.” Continue Reading…
Some people are always stressed, while others always seem calm. Some people are anxious about every decision, while others seem content with the possibility of failure.
As I observe both types of people, I believe there are two self-created issues that set us up for stressful days and nights. They are mindsets that we have control over, yet many of us fail to control. Continue Reading…
Craig’s boss left the company suddenly due to an ethics issue. Now Craig was leading the team. The team had been on a down hill slide for a while. But now, both performance and attitudes were in a nosedive.
“How can I turn it around, Dave? People are angry, hurt, and wondering about their futures. I feel the same way, but now I’m in charge! I’ve got good people, but they are beaten down. Customers are heading to the competition ever since they heard about the ethical issues of the last guy.” Continue Reading…
Titles mean something. Team Leader, Manager, Supervisor, Vice-President- they are all titles bestowed on those who are called by an organization to lead. They have the official duties and responsibilities that go with the title.
John Maxwell says leadership is influence. If that is true, are the people with the titles the only ones called to lead? No. The title gives them some positional authority, but leaders are needed at every level of an organization. Continue Reading…
What if I fail? There are no “If’s”! You will fail. We all fail. We all fall flat on our faces at some point. Some of us have more scars from those falls than others.
I am convinced that whatever success I have achieved in this life can be traced back to the failures that preceded the successes. Thomas Watson once said, “If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.”
If leaders, employees, spouses and children changed their attitude from fearing failure to embracing it, they would all increase their success rate. Continue Reading…
“I’m just not the leader type.” Some people say this because they misunderstand leadership. Some people say this because they don’t want the responsibility that comes with being a leader.
Let me clear something up. We are all called to lead! Avoiding leadership is next to impossible. Many people say leadership is influence. If that is true, then we should all consider ourselves leaders.
No matter where I am or who I am, I have influence. There is truly only two ways I can influence someone. I can either make them worse or make them better. Continue Reading…
The world is full of self-important, self-absorbed, and self-promoting people. I prefer humble people. They are truly a breath of fresh air when I meet them.
Humility seems to be a virtue that is losing ground in today’s world. Humble people do not make for good TV. The media prefers to make the bold and the brash the lead story. These are the people who make the headlines.
The bravado superstars show on Sportscenter or CEO’s demonstrate on MSNBC or Fox News makes for good ratings. I just don’t think it makes for very good people. Continue Reading…
“I will do everything I can to help you be as successful as you want to be…right up to the point I realize I am working harder at it than your are.”
I developed this point of view as a result of hanging on to employees for too long. I believe everyone I work with deserves my best. But at times, my desire to help them goes way beyond their desire to improve.
I always use three checkpoints before I make the final decision to fire someone. If these three criteria are met, it is best for everyone - my company, my team, the individual and myself - to fire them. Continue Reading…
The team was sure their boss had emotional issues. “He could fly off the handle at any minute! If he doesn’t like you, your life will be hell. He really has a bad temper.”
The leader was losing his team. He called it passion. They called it unpredictable. He did not want to ignore his feelings. They wanted him to be more predictable.
As a leader, there are times when my feelings are irrelevant. I give up the right to be controlled by my emotions when I take on a leadership role.
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