Leading with courage involves overcoming our own fears, apathy or feelings of hopelessness as we pursue a course of action that we believe is right. It is the ability to handle events in the moment and not recoil when the going gets rough. Courage is the ability to face difficulty, uncertainty or pain without being overwhelmed or being knocked off course by external factors. The word courage comes from the French meaning, to give heart. Leading courageously gives “heart” or encouragement to others. Today’s times require courage – the courage to take risks, to put yourself in harms-way if necessary, to pursue your dreams, to lead others, to be the very best “you,” you can be. Read the rest of this entry »
Emotional Intelligence
March 19th, 2013For the 5th time that month, Jack, the COO, asked to meet with Samantha, the Director of Business Development to address progress and concerns. “Sam” is dreading the meeting because she feels little appreciation about the progress she has made with building accounts. Worse yet, there is always “one more thing” that Jack corrects her on or wants her to do. Sam has attempted to give Jack feedback on how she feels to no avail.
Sam is seen as a high potential in her organization and has met or exceeded goals set each year. Jack’s lack of sensitivity or empathy is starting to get to Sam. For the first time in her three years with the organization, she is entertaining other opportunities when recruiters call. Jack has no clue that Sam might leave for another position. He feels justified in his approach because it “produces accountability.” Jack sees himself as a successful manager of people and an outstanding leader in overseeing the overall effectiveness of the company. Read the rest of this entry »
Innovating with Virtual Teams
February 7th, 2013Distance matters. An effective leader who has regular face-to-face contact with employees might not be as effective in cyberspace. Good conventional leadership skills are necessary, but not sufficient to lead others at a distance. When you add “leading innovation” into the mix, you can be at a real disadvantage leading virtually. Innovation is an essential competitive advantage for companies and requires collaboration. Getting people to collaborate, not to mention innovate, is especially challenging when people are at a distance from each other – physically, socially, and culturally across time zones. Read the rest of this entry »
Building a Team
January 6th, 2013Interested in succeeding in what you do and brightening your future? Now’s the time to assemble the right team – for your success and for the growth of your company. I was recently asked to host a panel on “Building a Team” for the Tampa Bay Community Network. The series revolves around entrepreneurship and keys to success. Expert panelists included Key Associates, Inc.’s partner, Michelle Royal of How do You Innovate?, Dr. Jody Tompson, Professor and head of the Namoli Center for Strategy at the University of Tampa and Pearl Para, internal consultant for the USF Small Business Development Center. In essence, the program looks at what goes into an effective team and how to assemble one with limited resources. The panel shares some helpful tips on what works and what doesn’t. Read the rest of this entry »
Building a Strong Culture in Your Company
December 13th, 2012Holiday rituals bring up stories that bind us and help us to connect with each other in new ways. Recently, I hosted a holiday get together for one of the CEO Forums that I facilitate. Spouses and significant others were also invited. The dialogue was lively with many conversation strands going on at one time. About half way through the time together, I asked the entire group if they were willing to share a past holiday story that was significant to them. Read the rest of this entry »
Leadership & Influence
November 4th, 2012In the twenty plus years I have been involved in the design and delivery of leadership programs, I’ve noticed that what separates the best leaders from their less effective counterparts is the ability to influence others. Read the rest of this entry »
Learn a New Interviewing Process to Hire Top Talent
September 20th, 2012Hiring mistakes can make or break a company. Hiring for a critical position or hiring with limited resources can put even a strong company in peril. A hiring mistake can undo the momentum gained from landing several new customers and quickly eradicate hard-earned profit margins. A hiring mistake can turn trade secrets into public knowledge and jeopardize the core competitive advantage of a business. Read the rest of this entry »
Our Habits Are Who We Are in Life
July 18th, 2012With Steven Covey’s passing this week, I’m reminded of his outstanding work, particularly the 7 Habits book which had global impact on the thinking and actions of so many. Which is your favorite of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? Perhaps a quick reminder might be useful. The following comes from Wikipedia. Read the rest of this entry »
Stay Here to Get There Successfully
July 1st, 2012I was about to slip more than 1,000 feet down a cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. My husband Lewis and I just arrived on the island of Kauai and we couldn’t wait to hike the Nā Pali Coast with its ancient Hawaiian foot trails. The Nā Pali is on the North Shore of the island and has the most amazing views of tropical mountains juxtaposed against the navy blue ocean. Read the rest of this entry »
Culture Fit or Trap?
May 28th, 2012“Wow, we just spent two months pouring over resumes, getting recommendations from headhunters and interviewing candidates. We finally selected someone and now after 45 days, we have determined that he is not the right fit?” The exasperated CEO asked, “How did this happen?”
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Solutions