August, 2012

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Toxic Leadership

Lead Change Blog

Posted in Team Dynamics Value Creation What is it? Toxic leadership is brought about by lack of self-awareness, lack of self-control and confidence, all of which are seeded by self-interest. As a result, a toxic leader’s subordinates don’t like him or her. Toxic leaders care all about themselves. They only think of their own feelings and disregard those of others.

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Strategy, Capability & Really Bad Advice

N2Growth Blog

By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth. Today’s post is a rather short rant, but one I felt compelled to put forth. I just finished reading an article where the author (a self professed innovation guru) recommended strategy be aligned with capability, and that to allow ambition to exceed capability is a nothing short of a recipe for disaster.

Advice 379
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10 Ways Champion Olympic Gymnasts Inspire Us To Be Better Leaders

Terry Starbucker

The world’s collective eyes have been focused on the Olympic Games in London this past week, and as I watched these awesome athletes compete, there was one group that particularly “grabbed” me this time – the gymnasts. This is one of the most popular categories in the entire competition, because of the sheer athleticism on display, and the high drama that’s generated by the razor-thin margins between victory and defeat.

Webinar 375
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Leadership Magic: Key Actions That Inspire Results

Let's Grow Leaders

“What’s your leadership magic?” That’s my favorite question to ask really successful front line leaders. Clearly something is working for these folks, and I am always thirsty to understand just what. If you are a leader growing leaders, it’s a great question to ask. I guarantee it will immediately bring out sparkles in eyes, [.

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Recruit and Retain New Blue-Collar Talent

Blue-collar jobs have a branding problem. One company, GEON, partnered with Paycor to find the solution. Learn how to attract, engage, and retain blue-collar employees, helping them build meaningful careers – and support your company’s goals.

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Achieving Greatness Requires Coaching

Michael Lee Stallard

Did you notice at the Olympics that all the world class athletes had coaches? No one becomes great without coaching. We all have blind spots we cant see that are sabotaging our performance. This is true of leaders, too. Coaches and mentors help leaders see their blind spots. They also provide advice and encouragement to help leaders overcome their blind spots and strengthen their strengths.

Class 318
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How to be a Leader in a Crappy Culture

Great Leadership By Dan

It’s easy to be a great leader in a company that values leadership, develops leaders, and is full of role model leaders to earn from. You’ve seen the lists: 2011 Top Companies for Leaders. The Top 20 Best Companies for Leaders. 40 Best Companies for Leaders 2012. 25 Top Companies for Leaders. These companies, while not perfect, tend to have great hiring and promotional practices, and invest in succession planning and leadership development.

How To 297

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Leadership and Office Politics

N2Growth Blog

By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth. This is the time of year when most of us turn our attention to presidential politics, but let us not forget that business is also political – to think otherwise is simply naïve. Office politics exist in every organization without regard for industry, structure, culture or values. Good leaders will do what they can to align interests/actions on matters more important than individual political agendas, but if you’ve been in business for

Politics 371
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A Navigational Guide To 6 Paradoxes of Leadership

Terry Starbucker

Leaders have to “be” many things, and a lot of them are seemingly contradictory - paradoxes that hover over our daily decisions and interactions. How we deal with these paradoxes can be the difference between good and great. There are six in particular that need some keen navigation: 1) Process vs. Innovation – On the surface this looks more like a huge battle; the free thinking forces that love chaos and drive change, against the system-driven processors who thrive on order a

Webinar 370
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What Leaders Can Learn from Michael Phelps About Preparation

Next Level Blog

Most of the world knows by now that U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps broke the all-time record for most medals won by an Olympian in London this week. It’s a truly amazing achievement on Phelps’ part but, honestly, not one in which there are many legitimate leadership lessons. Seriously, how many of us have the gifts and abilities in our respective fields that Michael Phelps has in his?

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What is the Greater Good?

Leading in Context

What is the Greater Good? As leaders, we must think beyond our own interests to the interests of those we lead and serve, and the interests of communities and the world. We must take a long-term view, keeping in mind the broad effects of our day-to-day decisions. Many people refer to the "greater good" as an important part of leading ethically, and use different words to describe it.

Ethics 266
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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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Why Good Managers Need To Power Down

Tanveer Naseer

I’m delighted to share this guest post from Henry Mintzberg and Peter Todd, one of the professors and Deans from m y alma mater, McGill University. Do you ever disconnect, even for just a few minutes? Think about the last time you used your “off button.” Was it at home over the weekend? On vacation? Or were you at the office? BlackBerrys, iPhones, Androids, iPads, and all their digital relatives are transforming our lives—for better and for worse, with profound implications for management.

Power 275
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6 Delegation Tips That Build Trust and Results

Lead Change Blog

Posted in Leadership Development Self Leadership Delegation is powerful. It’s a huge part of growing a business and creating trust. One person can only do so much effectively. To multiply and accomplish more, delegating effectively is vital. Why do people struggle with delegation? Not because they don’t want to delegate, but because they are not taught how to delegate effectively.

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10 Tips for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs

Women on Business

NEWS AND INSIGHTS UPDATE: Aspiring women entrepreneurs should build their support networks and learn from other women who already carved out their paths to success. Entrepreneur Kate Endress of Ditto.com shared these 10 tips for aspiring female entrepreneurs: Join a Meetup for women entrepreneurs in your area. Contact your alumni association to find out what women in business resources they have.

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A Look Inside The Leader: The Eyes Don’t Lie

Terry Starbucker

Today I came across something that really it home with me – it was a New York Times interview of James P. Hackett , the CEO of furniture-maker Steelcase. In it he told the story of how he met hotel magnate Bill Marriott back in 1994. He said, “As we were talking about strategy, I remember being struck by the look in his eyes as he talked.

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5 Ways to Improve DE&I in the Workplace

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical for an organization’s success. And companies that take bold action to help ensure an inclusive workplace will win every time. Discover how your company can create a culture that celebrates DE&I while achieving higher revenue and growth.

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Employee Engagement: Energizing and Mobilizing People

Great Leadership By Dan

Guest post by by Dr. George H. Labovitz and Victor Rosansky: Rapid realignment is only possible when employees are energized to move the organization in a new and better direction. Energizing the system from top to bottom is a key task of leadership. But rapid realignment needs energy that is focused, that drives continuous improvement and works to achieve the organization's purpose.

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Mintzberg’s Magic Wand

Leadership Freak

I asked Professor Henry Mintzberg, author of 140 articles and 13 books, “If you waved a magic wand over businesses, what would you change?” He said, “I’d get rid of all MBA’s.” He explained, “We’d lose some good people but in the whole it would be a positive move.” Mintzberg’s quiet voice disarms but he [.].

Mintzberg 252
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Why Good Managers Need To Power Down

Tanveer Naseer

I’m delighted to share this guest post from Henry Mintzberg and Peter Todd, one of the professors and Deans from m y alma mater, McGill University. Do you ever disconnect, even for just a few minutes? Think about the last time you used your “off button.” Was it at home over the weekend? On vacation? Or were you at the office? BlackBerrys, iPhones, Androids, iPads, and all their digital relatives are transforming our lives—for better and for worse, with profound implications for management.

Power 275
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11 Steps to Create Unity and Loyalty

Lead Change Blog

Posted in Leadership Development If there is one difference maker in organizations, it may be the leaders’ ability to create unity and loyalty. Unity and loyalty often make the difference between mediocrity and greatness. When I see an organization that lacks personal accountability and has a toxic culture of finger pointing and blame, it is usually the result of [.].

Loyalty 342
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No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Drama, End Entitlement and Drive Big Results

Speaker: Cy Wakeman, M.S., CSP, President, Reality-Based Leadership

Most HR leadership philosophies are grounded in two completely faulty assumptions — “change is hard” and “engagement drives results.” Those beliefs have inspired expensive attempts to keep change from being disruptive to employees. What these engagement programs actually do is create and reinforce feelings of victim-hood and leave employees unprepared to adapt to real changes that are necessary for the health and profitability of their enterprises.

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Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Be Productive: Lessons From My Dad

Women on Business

Don’t Worry Be Happy and Be Productive. A simple phrase, or lyrics as it may be. My father uttered these words to me on a regular basis as a child, and occasionally still does today. I remember listening to that song in my dad’s old den, and not really getting it. I lived with my dad, and to his credit I think he raised a me to be a pretty awesome woman with a strong sense of self and confidence.

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Ten Phrases Every Leader Should Use

Kevin Eikenberry

“I made a mistake.” “I was wrong.” “I’m sorry.” “I’m not sure.” “I don’t know.” “Would you help me?” “Could you help me understand? I’m not sure I get it.” “What do you think?” “What do you suggest?” “What would you do?” No one likes to show their ignorance, or admit they are wrong.

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Managing Remote Employees: Lessons Ancient Rome and Today

Great Leadership By Dan

The Colosseum. ?This post was recently published as a guest post on SmartBlog on Leadership : Question: What do these five “established” jobs: - Call Center Representative. - Salesperson. - Truck Driver. - Writers. - Consultants. ……have in common with these five jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago?: - Virtual Assistant. - Social Media Manager. - Telework Manager or Coordinator. - Search Engine Optimization Specialist. - Online Advertising Manager.

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Letting go of the fear in order to soar

Persuasive Powerhouse

One of my all-time favorite leaders is learning to sky dive. He’s been diving in tandem with an experienced diver, but recently he began jumping alone. He spoke of the moment of fear when he was holding on before letting go of the plane and diving downward. “It’s like a safety net, being able to hang – on but when you let go you can simply enjoy the ride” Of course I had to ask if this experience mirrored his own leadership journey – and it certainly did.

Ethics 244
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Innovation: Five Signs You Might Be Faking It

Every company wants to be a leader in innovation, but how can you tell if your company is really innovating or just going through the motions? See the 5 signs you might be faking innovation and what to do if you are.

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How Leaders Can Help Develop Customer Service Strategies

Tanveer Naseer

The following is a guest post by Adrian Davis. A customer focused business, whether B2C or B2B (we all have customers), is more profitable and has greater longevity. Period. Research has proven that businesses that aim to be more customer-centric have a 24% higher net profit, and have a higher profit per employee than ‘the other guys’ (those that aren’t customer focused).

Strategy 267
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The Importance of Alliances as a Leader

Lead Change Blog

Posted in Self Leadership Team Dynamics Alliances are a key part of what a leader does. They are critical whether you are an employee, business owner, consultant, or volunteer. Alliances provide a network of trusted sources. Skilled leaders build diverse teams for success and do not work in a vacuum. In my blog post, Keys to Successful Leadership, I briefly touch on the importance [.].

Diversity 327
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Sustainability and Being Green – Do Your Customers Actually Care?

Women on Business

Do consumers actually care if our business is sustainable or “green”? Sustainability is something of a buzz word that people throw around casually and in daily conversation. While it speaks to a positive shift in public opinion and values do most people even know what this means or look to see which businesses are implementing sustainable practices?

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Seven Ways to (Really) Engage People

Kevin Eikenberry

Engagement is a very trendy word, and while it is so powerful, because of its (over)use, people are making it harder to understand and think about than is necessary. In fact, it is writers, speakers and consultants (yep, people like me) who are adding to the confusion by injecting complexity where it isn’t needed. So [.].

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Tough Comp Conversations: A Guide For Doing Them Right

Speaker: Rusty Lindquist, VP Strategic HR Insights at Bamboo HR

Compensation can be tricky, few things carry as much emotional weight as comp. And with the increased transparency in the market, combined with our collective propensity to rate ourselves against others, the frequency of these very difficult conversations is increasing. In this webinar, we will deconstruct some of the psychology around comp. We’ll take an analytic look at comp’s role in the employee experience, and then we’ll get really tactical with guidance on very specific compensation conver

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Empowerment is Not Enough

Great Leadership By Dan

Guest post by David Marquet: When I took command of the USS Santa Fe I thought I would be a leader who empowered his subordinates. The nuclear powered submarine was not performing well. People were doing what they were told, initiative was non-existent and fear of making mistakes paralyzed most decision makers into inaction. Plagued with poor morale and operational problems, almost every sailor who could was leaving the navy.

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9 Telltale Signs of an Engaging Leader

Engaging Leader

'In How to Think Like an Engaging Leader , I explained the three most common motivations: Achievement (concerned with completing tasks), Affiliation (concerned with being liked), and Impact (concerned with influencing people). I also shared how if you are driven primarily by the Impact motive, you are more likely to be a successful leader. However, you are even more likely to successful leader if you advance beyond the first three stages of leadership.

Workshop 240
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How Leaders Can Help Develop Customer Service Strategies

Tanveer Naseer

The following is a guest piece by Adrian Davis. A customer focused business, whether B2C or B2B (we all have customers), is more profitable and has greater longevity. Period. Research has proven that businesses that aim to be more customer-centric have a 24% higher net profit, and have a higher profit per employee than ‘the other guys’ (those that aren’t customer focused).

Strategy 267
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Conflict, character and calm

Lead Change Blog

Posted in Leadership Development Self Leadership You’d been angling to get assigned to the special project team at work for a long time. Finally your dream came true. What you weren’t expecting, however, was discovering the team facilitator rubbed you the wrong way, big-time. Maybe it’s a case of opinions and values being worlds apart. Perhaps there’s open hostility or a [.].

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10 HR Metrics to Track in 2024

Discover the power of HR metrics. Master recruiting, control skyrocketing labor costs, and reduce turnover rates. Get insights into key metrics like Time-to-Fill, Cost-per-Hire, and Turnover Rate. Equip your business for success in 2024.