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
I don’t care what industry your company, non-profit, government agency, etc. is in, the bottom line is that everyone needs to provide the best customer experience. Although I have blogged about values, and mission and vision statements, the sole purpose of any organization really is to give their customers/clients/partners the optimal effort necessary to make … 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
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
The Roman poet, Ovid, wrote: “…the harvest is always more fruitful in another man’s field.” The proverb the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence is often shortened to simply: the grass is always greener. So how often do we envy what others are doing? Do we always think things, jobs, status, etc. … Read more
As we are fully aware, there are many stressors in our lives, both personally and professionally. It amazes me how some people handle these stressors extremely well while others are always on the verge of having a meltdown. Is it harder to remain sane when we are confronting so many more changes and challenges than … Read more
When was the last time you received a compliment? More importantly, when was the last time you complimented someone else? High fiving a colleague, subordinate, friend, or family member and then saying “good job” does not really do much. Yes, you acknowledged that they did something great but there is a much better way to … Read more