Nathan Magnuson

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

How do you get your big idea across in the age of information? A quick keyword search can provide anyone with much more data than they could ever hope to use. What’s the secret to getting your idea past all the clutter and into the land of reality? It’s been well over a decade since Malcolm Gladwell published his bestseller The Tipping Point.

Tips 148

Tips eBook Resistance Quality 148

Nathan Magnuson

AUGUST 15, 2016

In the 16th century, political consultant (for lack of a better term) Niccolò Machiavelli’s works were published in the controversial manuscript The Prince – which is still in print today. In it, Machiavelli shared his theories on how a ruler could maintain control of his province – especially when gaining new subjects through military or political conquest.

Servant Leader 138

Servant Leader How To Politics Loyalty 138

Nathan Magnuson

JULY 4, 2016

A decade ago, American organizations were largely unaware of the predicament they faced. The initial wave of Baby Boomers (many of whom occupied senior leadership roles) was set to begin a mass retirement. Many organizations were completely unprepared. Then something curious happened. The recession hit and many would-be retirees stuck around. In one somewhat morbid sense, the recession turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Productivity 148

Productivity Products How To Sharpe 148

Nathan Magnuson

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

In the past, I’ve shared the value of being a “Kamerman teammate” – that is, going the extra mile to make your teammate look good. It’s a mindset shift for most of us, and a complete game-changer at that. I’d like to take this concept a step further and share some practical ways to get started. Over the course of my career thus far, I’ve found that these twelve strategies for extraordinary teamwork not only make your team stronger, they have the power to

Influence 138

Influence Construction Teamwork Library 138

Nathan Magnuson

DECEMBER 5, 2016

We hear so much about coaching these days. Leaders need to coach more. Employees need more coaching. High performers need coaching. Low performers need coaching. As leaders, how can we know we’ve done enough? And what does a quality coaching conversation actually look like in action? Over the years, I’ve adopted a simple definition of coaching: “To coach is to develop another person by listening and asking questions to clarify ideas and commit to action.” If you look clos

Active Listening 132

Active Listening eBook Commitment Resistance 132

Nathan Magnuson

JULY 17, 2016

“What we really need around here is a culture.” I’ve heard this dozens of times. You probably have too. In most cases, the blank is filled with “leadership” or “accountability,” but it can be all sorts of other things too: communication, collaborative, engaging, development-oriented, execution, work-life balance-friendly – you name it.

eBook 132

eBook Conference Team Consultative 132

Nathan Magnuson

MARCH 21, 2016

One of my all-time favorite leadership values is being proactive. It’s Stephen Covey’s first habit. Taking initiative (and accepting responsible) is the characteristic that makes all the others possible. But can it be taken too far? Unfortunately, I’ve learned it can be – mostly because of the challenges I’ve noticed or inadvertently created for myself over the years.

Consensus 132

Consensus Covey eBook Project 132

Nathan Magnuson

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

What happens after a big win? For all the focus (and press) directed at planning and executing, what comes next? Whether your team has achieved a significant goal or is looking to get back on track after a shake-up, here are some basic ways to get everyone back on course. Identify the Next Horizon. Once your team has reached a goal and the celebration is over (you do celebrate big wins, right?

eBook 130

eBook Business Model Goal Follow-up 130

Nathan Magnuson

JANUARY 18, 2016

Just about all of us are Monday Morning Quarterbacks when it comes to leadership. Everyone has an opinion. But how grounded are those opinions, especially if we’ve never been there before? Here’s the thing: if you wait until you receive a leadership role to get a leadership education, you may not last long. We all need a leadership development plan that includes work experiences, formal training, networking and self-study.

Education 127

Education Leadership Middle Management eBook 127

Nathan Magnuson

AUGUST 1, 2016

Picture yourself attending two training sessions. In the first, you sit quietly in your row as the instructor lectures on the benefits, nuances and applications of the topic. In the second session, you sit at a table with a group of peers as a facilitator introduces the topic, elicits several responses about the group’s current challenges, has each individual complete a self-assessment, shares the key points, has everyone interact in small groups and then asks each person to record their p

Education 125

Education Learning-by-Doing Training Content 125

Nathan Magnuson

JUNE 20, 2016

“I don’t know that I’ve ever had someone come to me with that level of initiative. If they did, I think I’d be blown away.” I heard these words from an executive at a leadership event a couple weeks ago. His frustrations weren’t anything new. Why can’t employees take more initiative to solve organizational problems?

eBook 128

eBook Report Consultative Execution 128

Nathan Magnuson

MAY 2, 2016

I’m constantly surprised at what passes for “leadership training” these days. Then I remember that most leaders work in business operations and their involvement is often extracurricular. I’ve also noted how easily many business operators are impressed with the leadership development support that comes their way. It’s almost as if the simple fact that the organization is investing in them speaks more than any of the concepts or structure.

Leadership 125

Leadership Covey How To eBook 125

Nathan Magnuson

MARCH 7, 2016

Recently I shared 9 Leadership themes for the new year , including one: be known positively. I’m realizing this particular theme is harder that it seems. But that doesn’t change the fact that you and I are largely responsible for our public image. So how can we build positive interactions and relationships with others? Here are nine distinct strategies I’ve picked to focus on.

Positioning 125

Positioning Blanchard Open-book Reputation 125

Nathan Magnuson

DECEMBER 26, 2016

It’s that time again – time to mark the 5th year for the Everyday Leadership site. We’ve had more readers from all over the world and have high hopes for 2017. Thanks for making it another great year! Below I’ve compiled the top 10 posts of 2016. You can also view the Top 10 list from past years here. And don’t forget to download my free ebook Trusted Leadership Advisor if you’re looking for a good place to start.

eBook 125

eBook Competitive Advantage Seminar Teamwork 125

Nathan Magnuson

DECEMBER 19, 2016

You just finished a project, event, engagement or training exercise. It’s time to get some feedback. What do you do next? The After Action Review (AAR) was originally developed by the U.S. Army to analyze and report on training exercises. Today the military uses a range of formalities (as do countless industries and organizations), but the essence is to capture two elements: what went well and what can be improved in the future.

After Action Review 121

After Action Review Review Quality How To 121

Nathan Magnuson

APRIL 18, 2016

When was the last time you gave an assignment to one of your employees with the full confidence it would executed without your active involvement? It just doesn’t get much better than that. Unfortunately, for many bosses, it’s a rare event. They key is empowerment – but it’s not as easy as you might think. Empowering your people takes time, focus and courage.

Self-aware 121

Self-aware Delegation eBook Construction 121

Nathan Magnuson

JANUARY 4, 2016

I don’t know what last year brought your way, but as the saying goes: all new beginnings are hopeful. I believe that’s true when it comes to leadership effectiveness as well. Wouldn’t this be a great year for some meaningful strides? If you haven’t thought much about it, I’d like to share some of my leadership themes for the new year. “Think Grey” Steven Sample shared this concept in his landmark book The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership as an enco

Leadership 120

Leadership Consensus eBook Sample 120

Nathan Magnuson

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

When you’re new to the workforce, enjoying leadership success can be a far off goal. The main focus is finding the right role and doing quality work. I know that was the case for me. But with time and experience (and a lot of hard work) come new opportunities to lead at higher levels. You go from joining a team to leading a team to eventually leading a department or major organizational function.

Succession 127

Succession eBook Executive Coaching Resistance 127