Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 16, 2016

Be Decisive A manager who can't make a decision or who can't make a timely decision will frustrate his/her employees. Equally bad, a lack of decision will impede the progress of the manager's team. Some managers make endless requests for data as a way to postpone their having to make a decision. Employees end up spinning in circles, slicing and dicing the information far beyond what is truly needed for the manager to make a decision.

Skills 50

Skills Tips Leadership Follow-up 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 15, 2016

From John Blakey 's new book, The Trusted Executive , published just a couple weeks ago, here are these four tips from Jim Collins for how to be a humble leader : Demonstrate a compelling modesty, shunning public adulation and never be boastful. Act with quiet, calm determination and motivate others through inspired standards, not inspiring charisma.

Charisma 50

Charisma Collins Tips Motivation 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 14, 2016

If you are leading an organization and are the last person to interview a candidate, focus your questions more on trying to see if the person is a cultural fit. Here are a few questions to pose to potential new hires (from the book, Advisory Leadership : What motivates you? What are you passionate about? (Finding out what people are passionate about and why is a great window into someone's personality.

Motivation 50

Motivation Books Positioning Organization 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 11, 2016

To help you bring out the best in your team, you need to get close and understand their skills, abilities, and motivations. So, the authors of the book, Your First Leadership Job , recommend you hold getting-to-know-you conversations with each of your direct reports. Ask these open-ended questions. Let each team member know the purpose of the meeting in advance.

Report 50

Report Open-book Stress Content 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 10, 2016

The Cycle of Winning has five parts: Decide, Overdo, Adjust, Finish, Keep Improving. These are the five actions that winners take to get on track and to help stay on tract. Theses actions create Serial Winners, explains Larry Weidel in his book, Serial Winner. "Serial Winners leverage a cycle of winning action to make progress," says Weidel. "They do something every day that puts them on a course for the things they want in life.

Succession 50

Succession How To Loyalty Books 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 10, 2016

Communication expert Bart Egnal reveals why jargon is so prevalent in the workplace, and why it usually undermines those who use it, in his new book, Leading Through Language. Step by step, Egnal demonstrates how effective leaders reject fuzzy terminology in favor of the language of leadership. And, by language of leadership, he means using language that clearly and powerfully brings ideas to life for the audience.

Humphrey 50

Humphrey Audience Leadership How To 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 9, 2016

If you are a leader already engaging with an executive coach, or contemplating engaging one, here are four ways to make your coaching experience a success, as reported in a relatively recent issue of Fortune magazine: Find the right match. Find someone to push and challenge you. To encourage you and to hold you accountable. Be sure the person you engage with is a person you can trust and can talk to easily.

Executive Coaching 50

Executive Coaching Execution Succession Magazine 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 9, 2016

I really like these 10 guiding business principles that San Antonio, TX headquartered insurance company USAA lives by: Exceed customer expectations Live the Golden Rule (treat others with courtesy and respect) Be a leader Participate and contribute Pursue excellence Work as a team Share knowledge Keep it simple (make it easy for customers to do business with us and for us to work together) Listen and communicate Have fun You can find more examples of companies with impressive guiding principles

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Sample Insurance Participative Examples 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Near the top of virtually every list you'll see of the best leadership books, you'll find, Good To Great , by Jim Collins. The book, five years in the making, and published in 2001, addresses the all-important question of: Can a good company become a great company, and if so, how? Some of the lessons from the book are: "Leadership is equally about creating a climate where the truth is heard and the brutal facts confronted.

Collins 50

Collins Entrepreneur Books Follow-up 50