Here’s our recent article as contributors to HR Professional Magazine.
And Ethan will be on Fox 25 News this Sunday Night in the Boston Area. Check him out at 10 PM. The story is about Facebook and Communication.
Posts under ‘Leadership’
Delegation: Our Most Recent Article
“I’d Like My Life Back”
“We’re sorry for the massive disruption it’s caused to their lives,” Hayward said.”There’s no one who wants this thing over more than I do, I’d like my life back.”
That’s what former BP Chief Tony Hayward said. What’s wrong with it?
Now watch it.
He was apologizing, and his apology was about him. I assume he [...]
Which Is More Important: Communication or Character?
I recently found this quote from Whole Foods co-founder and CEO John Mackey. In discussing how he hires leaders he said,
I understand people a lot better today than I did 30 years ago. Back then, I was more impressed with people who were very articulate. In many companies, the person who talks the [...]
Are You a Leader?
I’ve started blogging at whyilead.org/blog. It’s a research study for leaders and a community I’m building with one of ING’s Heads of Learning.
The excitement about this project has been really fun, and we have a problem.
What we keep finding is that people who are doing some of the best leadership don’t consider themselves leaders. Other [...]
They Don’t Know What You Know
You cannot assume just because you’re in the same environment, they get it.
Your unique perspective, whether you clean the floors or run the organization, has value and the people making the decisions need you. They may not know it. They can’t know it unless you tell them.
In the last few days I’ve had a 2 [...]
If You Force Him, He Will Crumble
You have a teammate that struggles speaking in front of other people. It doesn’t matter if it’s a short presentation with people in your office or if it’s with clients, the very idea of public speaking makes him want to become an ostrich.
If you’re the boss, don’t force him. Worse, don’t tell him, “You can [...]
Tell Them Why
Nothing paralyzes a team more than when they don’t understand why their work is important.
The twist: The way you say it matters.
Some people want the logic. Other people want the emotional reasons. Some people will only listen if “the why” comes from someone they trust.
If you want to get the most out of the people [...]
It’s On Us
If the people around you don’t take communication seriously, you can’t convince them by saying they should.
Worse, you’re the boss and you say, “What’s wrong with you. Don’t you know how important communication is to the success of our work?”
Worst of all, you give up on someone.
At work and in our lives, there are people [...]
Is Your Communication Flat?
Lesson six, the final idea from the Miles Bryant paper contrasting American and Native American leadership: A collectivist decision-making process.
If you want a process that is truly flat, the communication can’t be unpredictable. If you are the leader, and in one fit of rage you pull rank, telling your team that it’s going to be [...]
Does the Future Matter?
Lesson five, the penultimate idea from the Miles Bryant paper contrasting American and Native American leadership: a reduced sense of the importance of time.
Does the future matter? Of course, but what about on this project right now? When we, as leaders, worry about what someone is doing with her time right now, when we doubt [...]