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Using Underdog Narratives To Motivate Teams

The Horizons Tracker

The use of underdog narratives is a popular leadership tactic that has been proven effective in motivating teams and organizations. These narratives can become an integral part of a team’s collective identity, but there is still much to be learned about how they impact the attitudes and behaviors of team members.

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How to “Manage” A Blue Lobster

Mills Scofield

He never yelled at me again (though he did keep yelling at the rest of the team), and became one of three manager-mentors that shaped my career at Bell Labs and AT&T — and taught me to manage others and myself. He’d handle the politics; I’d handle getting the work done with my team. We all started leaving.

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Hot Seat: Jeff Immelt at GE

Leading Blog

I N SEPTEMBER 2001, Jack Welch was a tough act to follow. And in 2001, the economic tailwinds that Welch enjoyed were about to shift. When you have a strong team, you can weather any crisis. And learn to recognize the difference between tailwind and good management. But numbers can hide looming issues until they don’t.

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How to “Manage” A Blue Lobster

Mills Scofield

He never yelled at me again (though he did keep yelling at the rest of the team), and became one of three manager-mentors that shaped my career at Bell Labs and AT&T — and taught me to manage others and myself. He’d handle the politics; I’d handle getting the work done with my team. We all started leaving.

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Management Innovations Only Work When No One Else Is Doing Them

The Horizons Tracker

The analytics-driven tactics used by Oakland Athletics’ manager Billy Beane not only inspired the best-selling book and film Moneyball, but also a wave of imitators seeking to tap into the secret sauce that allowed Beane to over-achieve with the unfancied baseball team he was in charge of.

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Determining Your Top 5 Priorities for 2014

Michael Lee Stallard

For example, within a matter of hours following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, aircraft carriers, Aegis destroyers and cruisers were in position to protect America’s shores. As the leader, set no more than five challenging but achievable annual priorities for your team. Set Your Top Five. Communicate Your Top Five.

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Leading With Character: Gratitude

Michael Lee Stallard

From 1991 to 2001, when Bill George was CEO of Medtronic, a maker of pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, catheters, shunts, and surgical tools, he held a holiday party each year where six individuals who benefitted from Medtronic products told their stories. Encourage your team to express gratitude for what they have done for one another.