Some leaders are uncomfortable providing feedback to their team members. Follow this feedback model to make giving feedback easier. If we want people to improve, we have to give them feedback. Giving feedback can be really difficult because we feel like we might hurt someone’s feelings. We tend to shy away from uncomfortable conversations. We don’t want to tell somebody who we really like and respect that they’re falling short in some regard. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

We have been taught to find answers to problems, not to question the problem itself.  Today’s guest post is by Roger L. Firestien, Ph.D., author of SOLVE THE REAL PROBLEM: Because What You Think Is The Problem Is Usually Not The Problem. Based on my experience working with thousands of people and hundreds of organizations, when it comes to solving problems, 99% of the time what we think is the problem is actually not the problem. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

Our reader poll today asks: Have you ever been involved in a company acquisition (either being bought or buying another company)? Yes, and it went great 12.25% Yes, and it went okay 43.54% Yes, and it went terrible 20.75% Nope, never happened to me 23.46% Mergers can work, but they take work. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

  Strong teams often have team members with strong personalities. Learn how to build your team’s conflict resolution skills.  More often than not, high-performing teams operate in high-pressure environments. And many times on a high-performing team, you have some strong personalities at play. When you combine pressure and strong personalities there are plenty of opportunities for conflict between the members of your team. Your job as a leader is not to mediate those conflicts and be a referee. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

  Breakthrough leadership is about seizing the WOO – Window of Opportunity. Leaders can only seize the WOO to build their team by being fully present. Today’s guest post is by Brian Biro, author of Lessons from the Legends: New Applications from the Timeless Wisdom of John Wooden and Pat Summitt. Is it possible that your life, relationships, health, and business can flourish as never before, despite even the most difficult circumstances? Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

Our reader poll today asks: How do you deal with employees who are ungrateful for the opportunities they’re given? I don’t say anything and hope they figure it out. 13.88% I go out of my way to highlight the opportunities they’ve been afforded. 37.80% I offer a gentle prod that they’re coming across as ungrateful. 19.62% I share direct feedback that they’re behaving ungratefully and need to change. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

Giving your team the authority to make important decisions improves trust, satisfaction, and accountability. Members of high performing teams are going to be the most satisfied when they feel like they can have an impact on the outcome of their work. And to get to that point you need to understand the difference between accountability and responsibility and then how authority interplays with both of them. Accountability is an external force. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

Dr. Sam Adeyemi offers insight to business executives and C-suite professionals on the next generation of leadership development planning. Today’s guest post is by Dr. Sam Adeyemi, author of Dear Leader: Your Flagship Guide to Successful Leadership. How would you describe the up-and-coming leaders within your organization? Dynamic? Global? Inspiring? Unique? Now, here’s the big question: Do you think the same could be said about your organization’s leadership development? Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

Our reader poll today asks: Is your organization in the process of expanding or contracting? We’re growing and investing a lot behind that growth 39.03% We’re staying pretty stable and making some targeted investments 40.65% We’re cutting expenses and fighting to hold our market position 20.32% Beware of cutting too much. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World ..read more

To build and foster a high performing team, sometimes you have to step back and let your people do their thing.  For you to get the most out of the members of your high performing team, you need to empower them. Remember, on a high performing team, those team members are typically very self-motivated, and they like being self-directed. You need to understand how letting go of your agenda, creating space for them to flourish, and then accepting that there are different ways of doing things is going to bring out the best in your people. Rea ..read more