3 Books That Make Great Graduation Gifts
College graduation is coming up, and after last weekend working with 21 students in Michigan through our Governor’s Economic Summit I have been thinking a lot about what I experienced and ways in which...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New word for your leadership toolbox – Capacity
In a recent conversation I was sharing a story with a mentor and friend about how I handled a difficult moment in a facilitation. As I reflected back on how I reacted to the individual causing the...
View ArticleLeaders – How are your people feeling? 3 Tips for starting this conversation
In a career transition program I facilitate in Michigan, our second day starts and ends with the question How do you feel?. It is a critical and strategic because it challenges people to put one word...
View ArticleHelping Talent Emerge
I have spent the last year leading a mid/late career transition program – which puts me in a room with 25-40 individuals that are committed to returning to work after being off between 6 month and 7...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beware of MORE Leadership
I was once asked during start-up of my own business what my sales plan was. I thought for a second about my business plan, the problems that I wanted to solve, the clients I wanted to help – - and...
View Article7 Books That Make Great Gifts For A New Job
My personal graduation party count is in the teens now and I am not done. Strangely I find myself energized with each new party because it gives me a chance to connect with a graduate, hear some of...
View ArticleIngredient #1: Owning your development
The career conversation is a tricky one. After all, the organization provides you a check for doing your job today, and talking about tomorrow is not often on the radar of the leader because they have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A lens for your talent conversations: 30-30-40 Conversation™ Rule
I spent a year working with some friends on a product to help people have conversations. It hit me as my kids grew up that having meaningful conversations actually became harder as they grew up. I...
View ArticleExcuses or Reasons? Two practices to help you listen
My words started the conversation “Did somebody feed the dog yet?” The response started with the words “Well, she did not do what I asked her and . . . . . “. It was the language of an excuse. The...
View ArticleShould we do an employee survey?
I always say great conversations start with a question, and this one was offered up to me recently and it really got me thinking . . . . . Why should we do an employee survey? Let me first state a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
An Open Door is not enough – How about an Open Ears policy?
Early on in my own entrepreneurial journey a client asked if I read Inc. Magazine. When I said no and listed the other, more traditional publications, he just replied “If you are going to be an...
View ArticleThe Gift of Our Time
Today a new trU Tips comes out, and the topic is mentoring. One word that will be prominent in this edition is the word GIFT. My work is in the space of development and transition (some call it...
View ArticleThe “Am I crazy?” Talk
One of my earliest posts was around how so many people appear, for lack of a better term, crazy at work. The post was Nobody Behaves Well In The Corner. In researching the topic I found data showing...
View ArticleCreating Space for Honest Conversations: Some Tips
As a leader, you are not a psychologist. When we spend too much time trying to get into the heads of our people we are destined to drive ourselves and everyone else crazy. That is the message I tell...
View Article3 Questions to Transform Your One on One
For at least the first half of 2014, my focus of posts will be around the one on one conversation and individual development. Since I published the Talent Scorecard, I have become convinced that...
View ArticleWhat Seth Said – and more . .
I listen to many experts/sources – Seth Godin, Wired Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Parker Palmer, Huffington Post, Thomas Friedman, Emily Bennington, my Mom, the Wall Street Journal. There are more, but...
View Article. . . and When We Want Feedback – Step 1
(Thanks to Seth Godin for planting the seed for this post – this is post 2 on this topic, see Post 1 if you want to start at the beginning) I have talked to dozens of groups about feedback, and in...
View ArticleLeaders and One On Ones – Know your voice
I was timing at a swim meet this past weekend for kids between 8 and 13. What do you think my primary role was? Timing? Actually – no. My primary role was encouragement and support. Making sure...
View Article#joymatters
I met a guy named Rich Sheridan two years ago, and have had the pleasure of touring his company (Menlo Innovations) several times. Menlo is a software company that has developed a very unique culture...
View ArticleLots of Reasons, No Excuses
The conversation around performance is always a tricky one. When I walk into a new working relationship with a CEO/Leader, I often hear the word accountability as a desired outcome. When I explore it...
View Article