I love to garden so I find this time of year a bit sad. Although many of my plants and bushes have turned into pretty shades of brown, yellow, orange, and rust color, it still is upsetting that winter will soon be here. I also can’t stand pulling out my vegetable plants that are all … Read more
I recently completed a series of trainings for a trade association centered around effective leadership practices. When we were working on the communications module, it became clear that these individuals were being asked for information multiple times which was taking them away from more important responsibilities. Collectively we discussed why this occurs so frequently. Was … Read more
Forget what Hallmark and others say that January 1st kicks off the new year. I always feel that the new year for me starts the Tuesday after Labor Day. This view started even before I became an Adjunct Professor but obviously it means even more now. It is a time for a fresh start with … Read more
When my parents had parties, my father used to joke that my mother cleaned so much that she even cleaned the third-floor silver. My mother took great pride in our home so if someone told her that the house was immaculate, she was thrilled. I admit that when I have company over, I only clean … Read more
It seems that there is an uptick in the number of employees complaining that their bosses are micromanaging more, or at least trying to be a bit more controlling than they used to be. I used to think that it was this way because leaders’ roles are multi-faceted so trying to minimize mistakes and reduce … Read more
Think about this – you have a piece of fruit that has been sitting on your counter for a while. On the outside, it looks “perfectly fine”. No brown spots or blemishes. You bite into it and you think it is OK but on the second (or third) bite you encounter mold. You immediately get … Read more
I have seen this expression in a few places, mostly talking about breaking through the glass ceiling. The issue is that no two people will do it the same way, so it is challenging for leaders to develop their people in order for them to be promoted. In other words, we all have our unique … Read more
I have been thinking lately that more and more people are hard of hearing, maybe due to listening to loud music or noise pollution. However, I realized that the real issue is that many people just are not listening. In fairness, educators especially in elementary, middle, and high school focus on what used to be … Read more
As a corporate trainer and an adjunct professor, one of the things I stress is applying what you learn. I tell my participants/students that if they “throw their notes up on a shelf and never look at them,” then it has been a waste of time – both theirs and mine. I then suggest that … Read more
I am currently reading Jack: Straight From The Gut which is the autobiography of Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric. When he became CEO, Jack had a philosophy that if any of their 40+ businesses were not #1 or #2 in that industry then they must either be “fixed, sold, or closed”. The … Read more