Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 3, 2015

Recently I attended my 35th High School Class Reunion. Actually, I did more than attend it; I hosted it at our farm. I graduated with about 115 other kids in 1980, and as Class President, I have been involved in the planning of all of our class reunions (though early on, my role was much […]. The post What I Learned at My Class Reunion appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Class 187

Class Planning Leadership Skills 187

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 27, 2015

Failure. It happens to all of us. And as leaders, how we deal with it is important – not just for ourselves, but for the lasting message it sends to others. Recently we experienced one of our most public failures. The picture you see here is of Guy Harris and I in our studio during […]. The post What Leaders Must Do When Failure Strikes appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 185

Leadership Skills Development 185

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 6, 2015

'Check out today’s Remarkable TV episode for 5 ways to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions! Episode 51 Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions_1 Want resolutions that work? Stop resolving and start taking action. @KevinEikenberry (Tweet It!) Until next time … You are Remarkable! The post Remarkable TV: Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Goal 183

Goal Skills Development Leadership 183

Kevin Eikenberry

NOVEMBER 2, 2015

The saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. While that may be true in some cases, another old saying is also true: Out of sight, out of mind. Both hold shades of truth for any of us wanting to communicate more effectively with people when we are separated by space. More often though, the […]. The post How Do I Communicate Better With People at a Distance?

Learning-by-Doing 182

Learning-by-Doing Leadership Development 182

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 28, 2015

'Chances are, in a few days you will be watching the Super Bowl. Whether at a party, or home alone, whether you are a true fan of the game or of the Seahawks or Patriots, or are just watching for the commercials, the Super Bowl is more than a chance to relax, root, eat or […]. The post What Leaders Can Learn From Watching the Super Bowl appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Skills 182

Skills Development Leadership 182

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 29, 2015

Lots of people set goals. Far fewer achieve them. There are lots of reasons that happens, not the least of which is that people treat the goal setting process as an achievement; which it isn’t really. We don’t set goals as the outcome. We set goals to get goals. (Tweet That) Yes, setting them is […]. The post Ten Questions to Ask After Setting Your Goals appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Goal 181

Goal Process Leadership Skills 181

Kevin Eikenberry

MARCH 16, 2015

'Recently I had a conversation with my father-in-law who used to sell and repair televisions as a side business. Somehow we started talking about early color sets. He mentioned that he owns the first color set he ever sold, and we reminisced about the first color sets we had. We got ours when I was […]. The post Leadership in Full Color appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 179

Leadership Skills Development 179

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 2, 2015

'There are at least two definitions of the word insanity: the one in the dictionary, and the clichéd we’ve all heard, used, and knowingly nodded our head at when hearing it. First, from Merriam-Webster: Insanity 1. a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia) 2. such unsoundness of mind […]. The post Leadership Insanity appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 179

Leadership Definition Skills Development 179

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 13, 2015

I’m guessing you’ve heard something in the news lately about deflated footballs, fines and penalties related to it. While I’m not a New England Patriots fan (I live in Indianapolis after all), this isn’t really about Ideal Gas Laws, balls hidden in bathrooms or the content of text messages. This is about much more than […]. The post Avoiding Your Leadership Deflategate appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 174

Leadership Content Skills Development 174

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 18, 2015

The image tells it all. What we want is everyone working together, pulling in the same direction, striving for the same goals. It seems like it ought to be easy. After all, everyone is on the same team. But the more people who are involved on your team and in your organization, the harder this […]. The post Getting Your Whole Team Pulling Together appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Team 174

Team Goal Organization Leadership 174

Kevin Eikenberry

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

If you are a leader, you make decisions, large and small, every day. Many are straightforward and take very little time, but if you have been a leader for very long at all, you have had to face a complex, multi-faceted and difficult problem, where the decision was far from easy or obvious. Often when […]. The post How Leaders Make Hard Decisions appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 173

Leadership Skills Development 173

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 12, 2015

'Apparently today is Show and Tell Day at Work. Who knew? When I read this fact, it got me thinking. I went back to Mrs. Fredrick’s kindergarten classroom on a warm spring day. I was called to the front. It was my turn to share! No, I don’t remember exactly what I […]. The post What Adults Can Learn From Show and Tell appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Skills 173

Skills Development Leadership 173

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 25, 2015

When I am flying home to Indianapolis, I always hope for the landing pattern that takes us over the famed oval of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The image here gives you an idea – but unless you have seen it for yourself, you have no grasp for it. The track is 2.5 miles around. Think […]. The post Helping People See the Big Picture (and Why it is So Important) appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 172

Leadership Skills Development 172

Kevin Eikenberry

JULY 27, 2015

When we think about remote or virtual teams, we may think about flexibility, freedom and perhaps even high productivity. And when people are working out and on their own, we typically think that interpersonal issues might not matter as much or happen as often. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. And, when we do experience conflicts […]. The post Five Keys to Overcoming Virtual Team Conflicts appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Team 171

Team Productivity Products Leadership 171

Kevin Eikenberry

JULY 19, 2015

Meetings. Most everyone believes their meetings could be more effective. But at the top of the list are virtual meetings and conference calls. Do you have people muting themselves and not paying attention to the meeting? Do you have trouble getting people to participate? Are you frustrated by how little you actually achieve? If you […]. The post Leading Effective Virtual Meetings appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Conference 171

Conference Participative Learning-by-Doing Leadership 171

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

'It’s the season of love – the week of Valentine’s Day when everyone who sells anything is trying to tie their product to the romance of the moment. I’m not trying to sell you a bear, a bouquet or a bottle of wine. I’m trying to sell you an idea. And admittedly, the love I […]. The post What Great Leaders Must Love appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Skills 171

Skills Productivity Products Development 171

Kevin Eikenberry

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

It’s time, and you know it. You and your team have identified the idea that will change your world and results. It’s your Disney World, your iPad, or your DVD player. OK, it might not be that big, but it will be a game changer for you. It is big, it is bold, and it […]. The post How To Implement Your Game Changing Ideas appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

How To 170

How To Team Leadership Skills 170

Kevin Eikenberry

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Trust is something we’d all like more of. We’d like to be able to trust more people more. And we’d all like more people to trust us more too. These are universally true statements, even for those who have lots of trusting relationships. While this is true, it only considers part of what trust even […]. The post What Is My Trust Set Point? appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 169

Leadership Development 169

Kevin Eikenberry

JULY 13, 2015

Before I get to the lessons, I need to give you a bit of background. On July 4th, we hosted the ninth annual Farm Party at our farm in Michigan. The flag you see in the picture was signed by nearly all of the 88 attendees of this event. (The other picture shows the flags […]. The post Business Lessons from a Farm Party appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 170

Leadership Team Skills Development 170

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 11, 2015

Note: The essay that follows was written several years ago and comes from my book Vantagepoints on Learning and Life. The lessons are as true as ever. I share this as a day-after-Mother’s Day tribute to my mom. Thanks Mom – I love you. …… My mother emailed me about an experience she had last […]. The post How “U-Pick” Your Relationships and Results appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Books 170

Books Leadership Development 170

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 26, 2015

'About ten years ago Cliff Arnall, a British scientist, reportedly created a calculation to determine “the most depressing day of the year.” The equation includes seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since last failed attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action. […].

Report 170

Report Motivation Skills Development 170

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 17, 2015

Every leader deals with leading, championing or even driving change. And every book and article about doing that will talk about the importance of the vision for the changed state. There is a good reason for that – a vision of the changed state you want people to move towards is critical to a successful […]. The post Five Ways to Create Greater Vision appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Article 169

Article Books Succession Leadership 169

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 21, 2015

By Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson In 1982, a book was published that helped create a category of business books. Yes, there were business books before that, but The One Minute Manager helped make them cool, interesting, and worthy of discussion at dinner parties. That same book popularized the business parable – using a storytelling […]. The post The New One Minute Manager appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Blanchard 169

Blanchard Management Storytelling Books 169

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 9, 2015

As leaders, we are in the business of change – helping to implement it, leading it, and helping our teams cope with and make sense of it. It is a critical part of our job. And the rate of change has never been faster. That isn’t just how we feel – study after study confirms […]. The post Leading Change in the Digital Age appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Team 169

Team Leadership Skills Development 169

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 5, 2015

'Resistance. When I ask groups to tell me what first comes to their minds when they think about change, resistance is always on that list. And their thoughts about it aren’t positive – in fact, I used the word “fear” in the title purposefully. Resistance is typically seen as a negative occurrence and as something […]. The post The Most Important Reason Not to Fear Resistance appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Resistance 169

Resistance Skills Development Positioning 169

Kevin Eikenberry

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

I’ve rarely recommended movies here; not because I couldn’t, in fact, I am a big believer in watching movies as a way to learn and be inspired (the second point, reduces the movie choices, but maybe not as much as you might think). Today I want to recommend you go watch The Peanuts Movie. If […]. The post The Peanuts Movie appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 168

Leadership Development 168

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 15, 2015

Yep, I’ve stated my premise in the title. Your development is yours. It doesn’t belong to your boss or your organization, it belongs to you. I’ve stated my premise, now let me state my case. Who Benefits Most? When we think about you becoming more effective at work, whether that is technical skills, interpersonal skills […]. The post Your Development Belongs to You appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Development 168

Development Skills Organization Leadership 168

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'The leader purposefully strides to the front of the conference room table and is prepared to begin. Smiling warmly, she turns to the group, and asks the group a question. Since she wants their response she allows the pause to encourage people to participate. After creating a conversation, she clearly tailors her message to the […]. The post Five Ways Confident Communication Builds Trust appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Conference 168

Conference Participative Skills Development 168

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 12, 2015

'This coming Friday, April 17, from 1-4 pm ET, you will want to have the internet handy. Mark your calendars. Whether on your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, make plans to join us for our first-ever livecast helping leaders become more effective. Over 5 years ago Guy Harris and I introduced the Bud to Boss […]. The post 3 Hours. Live. All for New Leaders (and those who support them). appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Skills 168

Skills Planning Development Leadership 168

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 31, 2015

Learning. In a world where change seems to come hurling toward us like a bullet train, we know learning is needed just to survive, let alone thrive. And while most everyone would nod at the idea that we must be lifelong learners, the list of excuses people have for why they aren’t and can’t be […]. The post Five Ways You Can Learn Something Today!

Training 167

Training Leadership Development 167

Kevin Eikenberry

MARCH 23, 2015

'As leaders we are in the influence business. Think about it – while it might be desirable and make our lives easier, we can’t make anyone do anything. (At least not for very long and without there being unintended consequences.) If we as leaders can’t control others, we must influence or persuade them. Without question, […]. The post What Do You Stand For?

Influence 168

Influence Skills Development Leadership 168

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Wait a minute Kevin…isn’t coaching supposed to be about the person we are coaching, not about us? Yes, the best coaches do put 100% of their focus on helping the other person become more successful and confident. So if this true, then why are you writing about how the coach will benefit? Don’t you have […]. The post How Improving Your Coaching Skills Will Improve Your Life appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Skills 167

Skills Succession Leadership Development 167

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 1, 2015

Observation is a powerful tool for us as leaders and learners. But like many other powerful things, it is only powerful when used. Water can be stagnate and sour or if moving, can be turned into electricity. Like water, observation only becomes powerful when properly put to use. How powerful can it be? It is […]. The post Harnessing the Power of Observation appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Power 167

Power Tools Leadership Development 167

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

'Insurance. We have it for many things: for our lives, for our cars, for our home, for our health, for our identities, for our cell phones (!) and much more. We are purchasing this insurance as a safety net against something bad happening. While different people have different risk tolerances, and differing abilities to pay, […]. The post The Insurance Every Leader Needs appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Insurance 167

Insurance Skills Development Leadership 167

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 19, 2015

I’ve got four questions for you… four questions that can, as I promised above, change your results. I’m going to say more about each of them, how they can make a difference, and when you would want to apply them, but first, here they are: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now? You […]. The post Four Questions That Will Improve Your Results appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 167

Leadership Goal Development 167

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 30, 2015

The challenges that new managers and leaders face are immense. They must learn their new role and understand the expectations of them. They must get to know their team and begin to build trust with them. They must communicate with new people in new ways. They must get their new work done. They must delegate […]. The post The Six Habits of Successful New Managers appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Succession 167

Succession Management Delegation Team 167

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 4, 2015

One of the words we use a lot at The Kevin Eikenberry Group is potential. It is in book and newsletter titles, and it is on my mind every day. Implied in those titles is our belief that we all have significant potential. Here is what is at the bottom of this blog: “Extraordinary potential […]. The post Leadership Potential: Make the “Possible” Your “Reality” appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

Leadership 167

Leadership Newsletter Blog Books 167