-Project Manager at a Regional Engineering Firm
I spent a long time believing that if I was good at something, I needed to tell people about it. I thought it was a sign of confidence. Looking back, I realize I turned a lot of people off with that attitude.
Few people would argue that confidence is not an important trait for successful individuals and leaders to possess. But like many positive traits, confidence out of control can be a weakness. I had to learn that confidence and humility can coexist in the same person. Continue Reading…
I am an optimist. If you have read my blogs in the past, you know this. Few people follow pessimists anywhere. Pessimists usually keep themselves and those around them from making any progress or experiencing growth.
I understand that past experiences may cause some people to be pessimists. But I do believe being an optimist or a pessimist is a choice. That choice will often determine the quality of a person’s life and their impact on the lives of others. Continue Reading…
5 years experience. 10 years experience. 20 years experience. Which one is better? There are many times when no experience may be better than 20 years.
An employee with 20 years of tenure can help or hurt a team. That’s why I hate the idea that tenure alone is used in making employment decisions. Tenure means little without growth!
In my fifteen years of leading sales people I rejoiced with my new hires when they had a great first year. But, experience also taught me that early success could be the worst thing for some people.
Success in sales or in any aspect of business is often determined by a person’s response to failure. Those people who experience early failure and adapt, often turn out to have the best careers. Continue Reading…
My un-resume is my list of screw-ups. They are things I am not proud of.
Periodically I share my un-resume with the world. Most people who speak and consult on leadership are sure to present their successes to their clients. I’m doing something different.
Yes, I’ve had success through the years and received awards and recognition as a result. But rarely did my successes teach me as much as my failures. Rest assured, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to learn!
The death of a good idea is a tragedy. Many individuals bring forward great ideas only to see them assaulted by three different assassins.
I have watched the assaults and done nothing. Yet, I wondered why my team was stagnating and not moving forward. I was asleep at the wheel.
These assassins were individuals, groups and/or processes. All three were the result of an inattentive leader-me. But once I learned how to identify these assassins, I was able to save some great ideas from the clutches of death. Continue Reading…
Some people are joy suckers. They can enter any situation and suck the fun right out of the room. It is a gift really. A gift I appreciate as much as a good case of pink eye. The unfortunate thing is, a bad attitude is just as contagious.
We can all have off days. This is not what I am talking about. I am talking about people who choose to have a bad attitude on a consistent basis. A bad attitude is a choice. I discussed that in: Your Attitude Is A Choice: Make A Different Choice.
But what is the cornerstone issue someone is dealing with? What does that person need to change to become a joyful person versus a joy sucker? They need less - self.
Sam spoke to both the VP’s he had targeted during the three day planning meeting in Orlando. He was able to tell them exactly what was happening in his department. There was no doubt he had impressed them with his knowledge of the company, and how he handled his troops.
When Sam got to the airport, he called his wife, Joanne. She asked him about his trip. Sam smiled, “I nailed it.” Joanne smiled and asked for the details.
Meanwhile, the two VP’s were sitting on a plane together comparing notes. Continue Reading…
Looking back, the eye rolling was inevitable. Everyone on the leadership team knew the idea was unlikely to work.
Our boss had sparked the doubts. “We need to initiate a mentoring program. The Human Resources department can work on developing a program we can roll out in the fourth quarter.”
We were all thinking one thing: “Oh no. Another program.” Continue Reading…
“What can I do? If I step up and try to lead my peers, I don’t think they will follow. I’m not as direct as you are Dave. ”
The quote above is representative of a lot of conversations I have inside of companies who ask for my help. There are many people who know they should be a leader among their peers. They just aren’t sure how to accomplish it. Continue Reading…
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