Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Ashley was excited. Her degree wasn’t even hanging on the wall yet. She packed her suitcase with just enough clothes so she wouldn’t pay an extra $40 luggage fee at the airport. One last trip before getting a real job. Ashley’s degree was in Public Relations. Her dad Steve was a cardiologist. Successful, wealthy, and happy [.].

Positioning 298

Positioning Public Relations Leadership Leadership Development 298

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 7, 2012

Posted in Self Leadership On Sunday, our church choir and an orchestra filled an entire service with Christmas carols. As they sang songs that I cherish, I was hit with a sudden realization that there are parts of the world where people are not allowed to sing those songs, or to come together and hear them. …I choked, [.].

Leadership 298

Leadership Development 298

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 3, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Sustainability gets a lot of attentions these days… and rightly so. As a society, we’re bringing greater consciousness to the preservation and endurance of the environment, energy, and more. Yet, there’s one precious natural resource that rarely gets the same attention. And for too many people, it’s reaching dangerous depletion levels.

Energy 298

Energy Leadership Development Environment Resources 298

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 19, 2012

Posted in Change Management Communication is key to execute a change project. Believing that your team will implement change without fully understanding the objectives or the reasons for the change will lead to failure. Here are 5 tips for communicating effectively and giving your change project the best chance of success. Build a story about what you believe, and [.].

Tips 295

Tips Execution Objective Project 295

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 4, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] Oops I knew Gary wasn’t happy. Early in my career, when I first began leading team-leaders, one of them was clearly struggling – he looked frustrated, sounded frustrated, and it didn’t take a genius to know something was bothering Gary. So I asked if I could buy him lunch and hear what was on his [.].

Tips 295

Tips Leadership Leadership Development Career 295

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 4, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Leadership has always involved helping others see the big picture and leading through change. Most leaders don’t effectively do either. They talk about it and explain it, but to change someone’s behavior usually involves changing their situation. When you try to change things, you are tinkering with behaviors that have become automatic.

Leadership Development 294

Leadership Development Development Leadership Management 294

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 17, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Over the weekend I published an article titled Finding Our Way Back to Hope as my way to process the events of the tragic shootings in CT last week. I was thinking about the many ways we can each lead the way for ourselves and our communities back to hope and offer a few of [.].

Leadership Development 294

Leadership Development Article Process Development 294

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Posted in Career Development Workplace Issues At the beginning of the year, the Regional Director had asked me to stay behind at a meeting where I had been voicing my opinion about why a major learning project hadn’t delivered. He proceeded to give me and a colleague the task of getting the project back on track in the next 12 months. [.].

Leadership 293

Leadership Project Career Development 293

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 28, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] I have only come across a handful of brilliant leaders and managers in my working career. The ingredient these people shared was, they were intrinsically drawn to “doing the right thing”. The “right thing” for these leaders and managers wasn’t always popular. The act of choosing for them was sometimes personally agonising, but they still made those [.].

Management 291

Management Leadership Development Career Development 291

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 8, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development This is part 2 of a series on the history of the Lead Change Group outlined by examining the book Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us by Seth Godin. Check out the previous post here. For all the posts click here. “Tribes are about faith – about belief in an idea and in a [.].

Godin 291

Godin Leadership Development Books Development 291

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 2, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development This is the first post in a series on the origins of Lead Change. A list of all of the posts along with an explanation of the series can be found here. Early in Tribes, by Seth Godin there is a section titled The Opportunity, onpage 8 of my copy. Seth Godin mentions how there [.].

Godin 290

Godin Leadership Development Development Leadership 290

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 18, 2012

Posted in Change Management Leadership Coaching Leadership Development Team Dynamics Value Creation Workplace Issues In your organization, how much employee input does management get before deciding a course of action? Not much? You might want to rethink that.

Leadership Development 289

Leadership Development Course Team Development 289

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2012

Posted in Career Development Change Management Self Leadership Value Creation Are you a corporate refugee or executive in transition who thought the grass was greener on the entrepreneurial side of the fence, only to find out it wasn’t as easy as you expected? It’s an interesting problem. You had the title of CXO/CEO/CFO/COO and everything that comes with it: The corner office, a closet full of silk [.].

COO 289

COO CFO CEO Entrepreneur 289

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Posted in Team Dynamics Dan Rockwell wrote a blog a short time ago entitled “Overcoming the Downside of Excellence” in which he said, “Participants, on the other hand, build the future by offering insightful evaluations coupled with positive suggestions. Momentum: “Should have” ties to the past. “Next time” maintains momentum. Bonus tip: “What worked” and “What didn’t work” [.].

Participative 289

Participative Tips Leadership Blog 289

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 21, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development I wish you could be Scrooge… I really do. You may not understand what I mean when I say that, but most likely you understand WHO it is I’m talking about. Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy old businessman in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” paints a masterful picture for us of a cantankerous old coot [.].

Leadership Development 289

Leadership Development Development Leadership 289

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 15, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development This is the third part of a series on the origins of the Lead Change Group based on one of the key books that inspired me to take action: Tribes by Seth Godin. For links to all the posts, check out this page. When I went into business on my own as a consultant in [.].

Godin 289

Godin Leadership Development Consultative Books 289

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 26, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development We have another 26,000 years to get it right – what is your vision for Year 1? The end of the Mayan calendar has caused great consternation around the world, with people cashing in their investments and giving them away; others going into major debt doing everything they have always wanted to do; or some, [.].

Leadership Development 288

Leadership Development Development Leadership Goal 288

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 10, 2012

Posted in Self Leadership Challenge my mind. Intrigue me. Pique my curiosity. Move me. Make me laugh. Just don’t try to sell or subscribe or impress me before you’ve done any of those things! I’ve been doing lots of research as I write my next book, which includes visiting new web sites and blogs. On some (too many!) I was bombarded with [.].

Blog 288

Blog Books Leadership 288

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] Often in leadership circles, we place those who achieve success on pedestals and we talk about what they did right. We study their actions. We admire the decisions they made and the opportunities they’ve had. We learn from them and they challenge us. Do you ever notice that some of these people never fail? They [.].

Leadership 287

Leadership Leadership Development Development Succession 287

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development This is the fourth part of a series on the origins of the Lead Change Group based on one of the key books that inspired me to take action: Tribes by Seth Godin. For links to all the posts, check out this page. On page 42 of Tribes, Seth Godin remarks that there are no [.].

Godin 287

Godin Leadership Development Books Development 287

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development I am often approached by employees asking what I look for in future leaders in my organization. I’ve got great results… but … ”how can I get promoted?” Over the years, I have shared a long and growing list… Demonstrate… unwavering integrity confident humility passionate vision teamwork down, up, and sideways energetic creativity change leadership zealousness [.].

Teamwork 286

Teamwork Leadership Development Creativity Development 286

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2012

Posted in Leadership Coaching Leadership Development Self Leadership Team Dynamics Workplace Issues “You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto, Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto, Let’s call the whole thing off!” This tongue-in-cheek song, written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1937, playfully looks at how something as small as the pronunciation of words can cause a big relational discord.

Leadership Development 285

Leadership Development Team Development Leadership 285

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 3, 2012

Posted in Change Management Leadership Coaching Some time back I was giving a presentation to about 80 people who worked for a large state agency. I was asking them about problems they saw in their routine work, problems that wasted their time and state resources. One employee wanted me to understand how frustrating it could be working in government and told [.].

Resources 285

Resources Management Leadership 285

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] Jennifer Miller published the Leadership Carnival this month over on her People Equation blog. Check out all of the great leadership content and thank Jennifer for pulling this great content together. Here in West Michigan, the temperatures are turning chilly and in our household that means one thing: hot cocoa!

Leadership Development 285

Leadership Development Development Leadership Content 285

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 31, 2012

Posted in Leadership Coaching Leadership Development Self Leadership Tragedy comes in all forms. Some are the result of human decisions, such as making a bad investment that financially ruins a company, or a decision to take lives as we saw unfold in Newtown, Connecticut. Some tragedies are out of our control, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis.

Leadership Development 284

Leadership Development Development Leadership Company 284

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] One of the great challenges of management is the pressure to make decisions – and to do so quickly. Most of us dread the vacuum created when we know a decision needs to be made but for some reason has not been. This existence of such vacuums is indicative of not operating in the NOW [.].

Leadership Development 284

Leadership Development Operations Development Management 284

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] Accountability is closely tied to employee engagement. Unfortunately, this critical and deeply personal relationship is too often overlooked. If we want employees to be sustainably engaged they must be able to experience themselves as the real, pulsating, thinking, idea-generating, responsibility-taking assets.

Idea Generation 284

Idea Generation Leadership Development Article Development 284

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Reviews [link] The Apple in the Orchard by Sonia DiMaulo is a lovely, illustrated storybook, suitable for kids and grown-ups alike. Through the story, readers, both young and old, learn about finding the courage to emerge as a leader. As part of Sonia’s on-going virtual book tour, I wrote a book review on the Aleweb Social Marketing [.].

Review 281

Review Books Leadership Development Marketing 281

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 25, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Self Leadership One of my favorite Christmas television specials is the classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer narrated by the late Burl Ives. I love the story, I love the characters and I particularly admire the qualities of the lead characters Rudolph and Hermey the elf. Why do I admire the characters and what does this Christmas [.].

Leadership 241

Leadership Leadership Development Quality Development 241

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Self Leadership Tis the Season In a recent survey, 65% of Americans said they would choose a better boss before a raise in pay. I venture to guess that the teams these folks work in could be far more productive. If you’re reading this, you’re already on your way to improving that statistic. Can you find another [.].

Productivity 150

Productivity Products Leadership Survey 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] One of the great challenges of management is the pressure to make decisions – and to do so quickly. Most of us dread the vacuum created when we know a decision needs to be made but for some reason has not been. This existence of such vacuums is indicative of not operating in the NOW [.].

Leadership Development 150

Leadership Development Operations Development Management 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development A great many years ago, a baby boy was welcomed into the world. Upon his miraculous arrival, many people rejoiced, and groups traveled long distances to present their finest gifts to this special newborn called a king. A young man called Little Drummer Boy also wanted to present the kind of extravagant gifts that others [.].

Travel 150

Travel Leadership Development Development Leadership 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development This is the fourth part of a series on the origins of the Lead Change Group based on one of the key books that inspired me to take action: Tribes by Seth Godin. For links to all the posts, check out this page. On page 42 of Tribes, Seth Godin remarks that there are no [.].

Godin 150

Godin Leadership Development Books Development 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development Reviews [link] The Apple in the Orchard by Sonia DiMaulo is a lovely, illustrated storybook, suitable for kids and grown-ups alike. Through the story, readers, both young and old, learn about finding the courage to emerge as a leader. As part of Sonia’s on-going virtual book tour, I wrote a book review on the Aleweb Social Marketing [.].

Review 150

Review Books Leadership Development Marketing 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 21, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development I wish you could be Scrooge… I really do. You may not understand what I mean when I say that, but most likely you understand WHO it is I’m talking about. Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy old businessman in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” paints a masterful picture for us of a cantankerous old coot [.].

Leadership Development 150

Leadership Development Development Leadership 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development I am often approached by employees asking what I look for in future leaders in my organization. I’ve got great results… but … ”how can I get promoted?” Over the years, I have shared a long and growing list… Demonstrate… unwavering integrity confident humility passionate vision teamwork down, up, and sideways energetic creativity change leadership zealousness [.].

Teamwork 150

Teamwork Leadership Development Creativity Development 150

Lead Change Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Posted in Leadership Development [link] Do you compare? Do you let others force you to make judgments about yourself. Do you tend to consider yourself in relation to other people? Do you worry about how you are perceived or what type of impact you will make? Do you ever let uncertainty keep you from taking action? I wrote a post [.].

Leadership 150

Leadership Uncertainty Leadership Development Development 150