Archive for September, 2007
Team Building: The Headache of Policies and Procedures
Monday, September 24th, 2007There is nothing wrong with the idea of policies and procedures. But they should be guidelines, helpful ideas to turn to in time of doubt – not a needle’s eye to squeeze the actual corporation through.
Leadership Skill: The Vision Thing
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007I’ve got some good news and some bad. The bad news is that we’re lost. The good news is that we’re making great time. The point of this old saw is that team talent, efficiency, intelligence, and clout are pretty useless unless the team has some clue where it is going and how it is [...]
Management Skills: Management and Leadership
Thursday, September 20th, 2007There is a difference between management and leadership. Management is a science, whereas leadership is closer to an art. Management is about the how of doing things, whereas leadership is subtler and has to do with the why. The last thing I want to do is disparage management science. The truth is, one cannot be [...]
Change Management: Human Speedbumps to Change
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007The most constant factor in each of our lives is change. At work, at home, at play, daily transitions occur that make things different. Some variations are large and significant; most are small and simply intrude upon our daily routine. In order to understand our reaction to change,
Leadership Skills: The Myth of Leadership
Sunday, September 16th, 2007Leadership is the vessel for many of the worst team myths, for a logical reason. As keepers of the team vision, leaders make up a lot of stuff. Here are some of the worst illusions foisted on us by leaders about leadership 1. Teams require a single individual to lead them.
Leadership Skill: Empowerment Uncertainties
Saturday, September 15th, 2007Between the subjects of goal setting and decision making is an enormous crevasse, into which teams fall, then fester and stink up the joint. This is the area of boundary management – or in the case of team failure, mismanagement.
Leadership Skill: Get a Personality
Monday, September 10th, 2007There are lots of ways to lead. The best way is to try to lead in a way that takes advantage of your natural personality. In other words, don’t be what you ain’t. Learning how others behave, how they think, what they focus on and find important, however, will make you a better leader.
Get ‘er Done: (Leadership Skill) How to Motivate Others
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007This is the second installment of my current writings on leadership skills. As before, I would appreciate any feedback and/or examples you can provide me. I will be using this and future writings on specific leadership skills to create my next leadership book and include them in future workshops.
Leadership Skill: Why Should I Trust You
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007Open invitation: I’m in the process of writing an e-book about leadership (tentatively titled On My Honor); from both the technical side and the people side. The people side will be based upon scouting principles…things like trustworthy, loyal, etc…you know the 12 scout laws we learned as kids…and which values seem to be missing in [...]
The Accidental Leader: What to Do When You’re Suddenly in Charge
Monday, September 3rd, 2007by Harvey Robbins and Michael Finley It could happen today. You are called into the office, and the boss tells you that due to unforeseen circumstances, starting today you will be in charge of a team, a project, an office, a committee, or a business unit. Without any warning (or preparation on your part) you’ve [...]
Team Building: The Eight Engines of Teamwork
Saturday, September 1st, 2007There are quite a few methods currently in use to create high performing teams. All the way from outdoor experiences like ropes courses and climbing mountains to the classroom and on the job experiences. Some, obviously, work better than others for your situation.
Team Building: Team Jerks
Saturday, September 1st, 2007Nowhere is is written that you have to get along with everyone. There are people in the world who should not, who must not, be on any team — ever. These are people who lack interpersonal skills. They are not necessarily bad people, although some (the dark angels I’ll talk about in the next newsletter) [...]