Leadership
Why I dislike the term “managing up”
Managing Up is a term that reinforces the channels of authoritarian hierarchy. I prefer to use a term a professional dancer told me: back-leading. Here’s why.
Leadership
Two questions you need to answer as a manager when taking over a team
Stepping into a management role and taking over a team can be far more complex than many people assume. These questions and exercises can help ensure success.
Career
Improve your leaders to improve your organization
How one-on-one coaching can help improve your leaders, which will improve your organization in ways that no retreat, training, or reorganization can.
Community
Volunteerism comes in all shapes and sizes—giving away your time for free
Saying “I’ll volunteer when my business is off the ground” is like saying “I’ll start coaching youth teams when my kids are grown up.” Now is the time to get involved.
Career
Embracing the middle manager’s role as ignorant speed bump
The middle manager’s role is to manage both up and down the org chart. This means questioning authority and speaking truth to power, as well as managing staff.
Career
Learning to love a year-end review, and a daily practice to keep your self-confidence high
I love year-end reviews. They’re a time to reflect on successes and be inspired to grow and improve. Here’s how you can love them, too.
Career
Hire for potential, not years of experience… but then what?
Experience is the best teacher. If you hire for potential and not experience, be ready for them to make mistakes. How will you support them through it all?
Career
Crisis decisions lead to unintended consequences
In a crisis, avoid reactionary decisions as much as possible, to reduce unintended consequences. The long term damage may be far worse than pausing a moment.
Career
Do not be afraid. Remote work and hybrid work are not new.
Thousands of businesses already have hybrid work forces, but leaders and consultants can’t stop clutching their pearls over how “hybrid” will change business.
Communication
Your perfectionism may be driving your employees to mediocrity. Don’t rewrite their work.
Your perfectionism may be driving your employees to mediocrity. Don’t rewrite their work.