We all know that when someone describes their boss as a micromanager, it’s not a compliment. The word conjures up a vision of a person feverishly working at their desk with a scowling supervisor standing over them, breathing down their neck. Even though I just painted an unappealing picture of micromanagement, there are times when learners really do need both clear direction and close supervision on a task or goal. As part of our company’s SLII® training, we teach that people who are new to a task or goal need specific direction from their leader. Think about a time when you wanted to learn ho ..read more

As leaders, we’ve all seen it happen: Your direct report starts a new project or task, filled with excitement about what they can achieve. While they may not have all the skills they need, they’re enthusiastic about learning what to do, taking action, and achieving their goal. A few weeks go by. The next time you check in with your direct report, you discover that their progress on the project has stalled. As the two of you talk, it becomes clear that your direct report is finding the work more difficult than they thought it would be. They are no longer engaged and they’re having a hard time s ..read more

Innovation requires change, and change is hard. I often joke with audiences that the only one who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. But unless they want outdated products, stale services, and dwindling revenues, leaders need to encourage innovation throughout their organizations. I say “throughout their organizations” because it’s a mistake to rely solely on top leadership and product designers to come up with innovative ideas. That’s like sitting on a gold mine and digging down only six inches. Some of the greatest new ideas have come from deep within organizations, not from the C sui ..read more

It’s commonly assumed that the top leaders in organizations are the ones who come up with the best ideas—ideas that lead to positive changes such as new products, bigger profits, better customer service, higher employee engagement, lower turnover, etc. But this is a misconception. Executives at successful companies know that all the brains are not in the C-suite. These leaders work side by side with their people, empowering them by sharing information about the company, asking for input on important topics, and keeping the lines of communication open. They believe people at every lev ..read more

Trust is essential for any healthy relationship. Warren Buffet once likened trust to the air we breathe. “When it is present,” he said, “nobody really notices. But when it’s absent, everybody notices.” In a working relationship, it’s up to you as a leader to make the first move to extend trust. This often comes as a surprise to many leaders, who assume they are automatically trusted by others because of their position or title. In fact, the opposite may be true. Because you have more position power, people may be wary of you. That’s why it’s so important that leaders extend trust first. What I ..read more

It’s January, a time when individuals, teams, and organizations set goals for the year ahead. Things usually start off well. Rested from the holidays, we commit to our goals and begin with enthusiasm. All too often, though, we soon get caught in what I call the “activity trap.” We are busy working on tasks—but not necessarily the tasks that will lead to achieving our goals. This applies to both leaders and direct reports. The following three steps will help you and your people keep your commitments and achieve your goals this year. Step One: Set Crystal-Clear Goals The number one reason people ..read more

Catching people doing things right and praising them is a timeless principle I learned and began practicing and teaching years ago. It is a powerful tool for bringing out the best in others. So instead of making a personal New Year’s resolution this year, I want to make one to share with leaders everywhere: Make 2024 “The Year of Catching People Doing Something Right.” I don’t want this resolution to pertain solely to our direct reports, though. Let’s also catch our peers doing something right. Let’s catch our bosses doing something right. Let’s catch our partners, kids, relatives, and friend ..read more

Most of us can remember a time when we had every intention of accomplishing a specific goal, but didn’t follow through. Perhaps we were beginning to get serious about joining a group, learning a skill, or improving ourselves in some way—but when it came time to act on the idea, for some reason we lost interest. My good friend Art Turock taught me that this behavior usually is the result of not knowing the difference between interest and commitment. We were very interested in the idea, but not committed enough to put it into action. We didn’t keep our commitment to our commitment ..read more

Hard to believe, but it’s already November. Where has the year gone? Every year in November I write about the importance of having an attitude of gratitude. But I certainly understand how wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, mass shootings in the US, and other tragedies dominating the news can make it a lot more difficult for folks to focus on feeling grateful. What can we do to keep our thoughts from sinking downward? I’m going to offer up a few ideas in the hope they will help motivate you to move toward feelings of gratitude for the simple things you have to be thankful for. Margie once cr ..read more

Self-awareness is among the top leadership skills required from future leaders, according to Blanchard’s 2023 Trends Report. Yet the lack of it is one of the biggest challenges leaders face as they step into increasingly higher management roles. Not only is self-awareness a prerequisite for effective leadership, it’s also essential for effective human interaction of any kind. The best leaders have a high degree of self-awareness. These leaders understand themselves and their needs, strengths, weaknesses, and temperament. They are aware of their thoughts, feelings, and personal motivators. They ..read more