“Are you ready to be a transference object?” Fred hesitated. The coffee shop seemed to become dead silent. One week earlier, Fred had been offered a dream job, as part time CEO of a startup, working for a proven star…
Blog Archives
Keep a Thin Skin
Leaders shouldn’t be “thick skinned” — not if that means shrugging off negative feedback that might actually be correct. Leaders need to be emotionally resilient, unattached to outcomes, and assume positive intent. Our tool here is “The Ladder of Inference.”…
Creating a CEO Calendar
Create and measure success, month by month, with a CEO (or Executive) Calendar. Being a CEO (or manager or front line worker) typically means having more things to handle than you can actually pay attention to. Most humans can track…
How and Why to Benchmark
Part of your end-of-year routine should be to take stock. What did you learn in 2012? How will you make 2013 better? This is a form of benchmarking. Comparing yourself to yourself, and to others, and looking for ways to…
Leader’s Bookshelf
Effective leaders are constantly learning. To help you keep learning, here are five of my favorite books, old and new, for growing a CEO’s or a manager’s capabilities. Pick one up to read over the holidays, or on your bus…
How to Master a Sense of Overwhelm
My client Jean was overwhelmed. The big meeting was tomorrow, the stakes were high, and there was so much she didn’t know. “My mind is racing, and I’m paralyzed,” she told me. “I can’t eat. I can’t prepare. I don’t…
How to Rise Above Circumstances
Dave was in a bind. His top architects were all idle because his drafters were behind on their work. Clients were going to get their plans late. Dave explained that his drafting department was a little short handed, and he…
How to Participate in a Meeting
I always hear how much meetings suck. (If you lead meetings, you’ll find detailed guidance on making your meetings better here, here, and here.) But what if you’re not leading the meeting — what if you’re just suffering through it?…
How to Be Grateful
Steve was on the brink of being fired. At best, he would be stripped of his coveted management role and revert to being a staffer — as he had been for over a decade. It wasn’t clear if he would…
Three Steps to Writing a Perfect Thank You Note
Few things differentiate you more than the way you make other people feel when they interact with you. Many top CEOs and politicians make a point of writing personal notes to people who have done them favors. A short, hand-written,…
If You Will Lead – with Doug Moran – Nov 25,2011
Tom discusses leadership and character — and historical examples and lessons — with returning guest Doug Moran, who will share examples from his new book “If You Will Lead.” Doug is an expert on building character and the influence of character on l…
5 Steps of Negotiation – with Karen O’Keefe – Oct 28,2011
Five Steps toward better Negotiation – we revisit this topic with expert Karen OKeefe. OKeefe spent 20 years negotiating logistics contracts in one of the most competitive industries, and brings her experience to us – including how to prepare for a ne…
- Write a Perfect Thank-You Note, Again Tue 21-May-2013
- Why the Boss is Always Wrong Tue 07-May-2013
- On being Firm Thu 18-Apr-2013
- Six Steps to Solving a Problem Mon 15-Apr-2013
- The Changing Face of Luxury Sun 07-Apr-2013
- How to Harness Visual Leadership Sun 31-Mar-2013
- Stop Putting People First – Put Profit First Wed 27-Mar-2013
- Why your Employee is Always Right Tue 19-Mar-2013
- When is Anger Okay in the Work Place? Thu 14-Mar-2013
- Keep a Thin Skin Wed 27-Feb-2013