It’s often said—and rightly so—that trust is earned when actions meet words. That simple formula is painfully obvious when political “leaders” try to camouflage their incompetence and/or duplicity with circuitous talking points. It’s obvious in divorce court testimony. It’s obvious in customer complaints about poor products and shoddy service. Like it or not, our world…
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Like most people these days, I place premium value on my time. Call me strange, but occasionally I find myself recalling a favorite quote from Henry David Thoreau, the 19th century naturalist best known for his reflections on simple living. Thoreau warned against trivializing human activity when he said, “As if you could kill time…
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If you think people respond best to leaders they perceive as virtuous, you’re right. If you assume virtuous behaviors are contagious, you’re right again. Dr. Kim Cameron has research findings to prove it. He’s professor of management and organizations and cofounder of the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan. And he’s invested…
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Employee “engagement” has been an elusive goal of business organizations for decades. Yet despite the introduction of a wide range of “comfort perks,” the levels of engagement haven’t budged much. But have we been measuring the wrong things? Eric Karpinski thinks so. He’s the author of Put Happiness to Work: 7 Strategies to Elevate Engagement…
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Employee engagement, we’ve been told for decades, is an imperative key to business success. It’s the extent to which employees feel passionate about their jobs. It’s the level of their commitment to the organization. It’s the discretionary effort they devote to their work. It’s all about psychological ownership. This not just “feel good” stuff. High…
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From my memories of being a high school athlete, two coaches stand out. The first was technically sound. He knew the sport well, but his people skills were somewhere south of zero. When recalling his leadership style, the word “tyrant” comes to mind. The second coach was a novice with the sport, and quick to…
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In my four decades of leadership consulting and coaching, I’ve come across a wide range of CEOs. At one end of the spectrum are those with a wonderful blend of people smarts, business savvy, and a knack for building a make-a-difference business. At the other end are misfits who are CEOs in title only. Some…
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If you’re like most every other adult on the planet, you’ve been frustrated in dealing with one organization or another. Maybe it involved getting your driver’s license renewed. Or getting a refund on that gizmo you ordered online. Or navigating the entanglements of rules and sub-rules of an insurance claim. Or (not so) simply making…
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Great leaders don’t set out to be leaders. They set out to make a difference. Yes, I know. That sounds like one of those high testosterone posters in the employee cafeteria. But it’s absolutely true. And it could serve as a guide for anyone who’s less interested in personal plaudits than in exercising influence for…
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