Leadership Freak

JULY 7, 2023

In the end, great relationships enhance our ability to work together productively. You have time to connect with people and show compassion.

Productivity 218

Productivity Products Leadership Development Development 218

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 26, 2022

The original maker of Play-Doh was a soap company, Kutol Products. I like soft fudge. A little softer than Play-Doh is perfect. It was used for 20 years to clean wallpaper. It’s use… Continue reading →

Productivity 186

Productivity Products Company Creativity 186

Leadership Freak

MARCH 15, 2023

Working from home and productivity. “In-person In-person time helps build relationships and get more done.” Mark Zuckerberg In the last six months Meta has effectively cut about 30% of its workforce. In November 2022,… Continue reading →

Productivity 160

Productivity Products Succession Leadership Development 160

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 24, 2020

The c-suite has little day-to-day impact on the productivity of remote workers. Remote worker’s productivity depends on one role – the manager.” Gallup Remote work isn’t going away. Our best estimate is that… Continue reading →

Influence 205

Influence Management Productivity Products 205

Leadership Freak

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Productivity goes down. Things typically get worse before they get better. That’s not pessimism. It’s reality. What happens when you ‘improve’ a practice or procedure at work? Frustration goes up. It takes time… Continue reading →

Productivity 245

Productivity Products 245

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Innovation is about technology, product features, and profitability. You don’t hear innovators talking about love, empathy, and generosity. That’s where PepsiCo’s Chief Design Officer (CDO) comes in. Mauro Porcini says innovation is an… Continue reading →

Innovation 157

Innovation Power Technology Productivity 157

Leadership Freak

MARCH 8, 2022

Competitive business environments require greater productivity and efficiency. Every manager wants to know how to challenge people. High expectations are table stakes. But how might you challenge people and create an environment where… Continue reading →

How To 172

How To Efficiency Environment Productivity 172

Leadership Freak

JULY 7, 2020

Successful leaders notice their impact on people because leadership is about human beings, not simply producing a product. Incompetent leaders focus exclusively on results. Cary Cherniss and Cornelia Roche list nine strategies of… Continue reading →

Influence 242

Influence Power Strategy Productivity 242

Leadership Freak

MAY 21, 2020

She enjoys a bump in production, in… Continue reading → Seduction: Delayed consequences intensify folly’s seduction. Bullying is easier than winning hearts. A foolish leader pressures people into compliance.

Compliance 238

Compliance Leadership Productivity Products 238

Leadership Freak

APRIL 2, 2019

But compassionate-accountability fuels boldness, growth, and productivity. Pushovers prolong helplessness, failure, and mediocrity. You demonstrate respect for people when you hold them accountable. Accountability says behaviors matter. Who wants to live in a… Continue reading →

How To 189

How To Productivity Products Leadership Development 189

Leadership Freak

MARCH 6, 2019

If marketing and production are present, for example, your team is cross-functional.) 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional. Tabrizi) (Any team that has members from different departments is cross-functional. 7 challenges of… Continue reading →

Team 159

Team Marketing Examples Productivity 159

Leadership Freak

APRIL 13, 2018

Rushing around with your hair on fire lowers productivity. Take breaks to get more done. Sleep: The idea that top leaders are burning the candle at both ends is a myth according to… Continue reading →

Productivity 158

Productivity Products Energy 158

Leadership Freak

JULY 17, 2013

#1 Productivity: The difference between success and failure is doing things others put off. Mission and vision are the purpose behind productivity. Protect time with priorities. Some things feel urgent but they don’t matter. Urgencies control weak leaders. Courageous leaders bird-dog priorities. What are you really getting done?

Leadership 248

Leadership Long-term Influence Environment 248

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

The way you think about yourself is the biggest factor in stress and productivity. Stress isn’t “out there,” it’s inside you. 10 ways to increase stress: Hide mistakes. Pretend you know. Make excuses. Expect perfection.…

Stress 259

Stress Leadership Development Power Succession 259

Leadership Freak

MARCH 30, 2013

Production targets flash on computer screens. Today’s production target: 1,500 widgets. I’m sick of organizations that don’t measure what matters. Current: 837 widgets. The message: people are tools. Measurement reflects value. Morale doesn’t matter when you don’t measure morale building behaviors. Where is the morale meter?

Morale 218

Morale Tools Productivity Products 218

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

Kushner Happiness is a by-product. “You don’t become happy by pursuing happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something.” ” Harold S. Happy Leadership: #1. Elevate relationship-building. Place relationship-building on par with… Continue reading →

Productivity 126

Productivity Products Leadership Succession 126

Leadership Freak

MARCH 7, 2013

Reduces productivity. Planning and preparation transform frustrating wait-time to satisfying productivity. Airports, repair shops, grocery lines, and doctor’s offices ruthlessly steal time. Time is life. Wasted time is wasted life. Waiting: Escalates anger. Strains relationships. Increases stress. Top 7 Ways to End [.].

Stress 209

Stress Productivity Products Planning 209

Leadership Freak

MAY 21, 2014

Production declines. The problems of leadership begin with words. Say the wrong thing and clients head for the door. Relationships blow up. Tensions escalate. Employees lose motivation.

Succession 244

Succession Influence Power Tools 244

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 10, 2014

The problem in shipping makes you forget that production is up five percent and… Continue reading → Marks of leaders Strengths Success Taking others higher Communication Leadership Leadership Development organizational success' Bad leaders only feel good when they’re talking about bad.

Leadership Development 215

Leadership Development Succession Productivity Products 215

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Products and sums: Organizations have identity in the present and trajectory toward the future that goes beyond products and [.]. Great vision answers the questions who do we want to become. What you want to do is important; who you want to become essential.

Organization 195

Organization Productivity Products 195

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 20, 2013

Cancel them and do something productive. Orderly leadership meetings are pathetic and useless. Head-nodding sessions are exercises in futility that waste resources, talent, and time. The spirit of agreement permeates pointless leadership meetings.

Politics 216

Politics Leadership Development Resources Team 216

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 27, 2012

Production and profitability are useful and necessary but never enough. The former CEO of Southwest Airlines, Jim Parker, told me, “Don’t set artificial goals for yourself.” Begin with noble ends: Leadership is about people. Set people goals. Increasing profits by 6% is important but not noble.

Goal 227

Goal Airlines CEO Productivity 227

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 13, 2012

“In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” Warren Buffett Talking about change is easy, acceptable, even exciting. Talking and executing are two different things. Change becomes real when we have to change our own attitudes and behaviors, not until.

Resistance 234

Resistance Energy Execution Productivity 234

Leadership Freak

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Martin said, “Many organizations have these lofty visions and they can’t even deliver product to customers…” Forget about it: Martin said, “I’m a little [.]. “I think there’s so much time and effort wasted on setting forth mission statements and vision statements…” Karen Martin, author of, The Outstanding Organization.”

Mission Statement 219

Mission Statement Organization Productivity Products 219

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 2, 2013

Patterns, processes, and systems are necessary for stability, productivity, and […]. “We’ve always done it that way.” Resistant-comfort rejects the new and unknown because it’s new and unknown.

Resistance 199

Resistance Leadership Development Skills System 199

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Unproductive meetings drive productive people nuts. If organizational culture is the way we treat each other while we work, Meetings are culture building activities. 10 reasons the meeting sucked: Bloviators. Texting under the… Continue reading →

How To 100

How To Productivity Products 100

Leadership Freak

MARCH 3, 2017

The likelihood that you run productive meetings is roughly the same as a coin toss.* Keep in mind that the higher you go in organizational life, the more meetings you lead. If you want people to respect your leadership, run meetings high performers love to attend. 3 things high performers hate about meetings: #1.

Productivity 100

Productivity Products Leadership 100

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 1, 2012

Surprisingly, it wasn’t their products and services. Image source The people you serve determine the value you bring. The owners of a growing company didn’t appreciate the greatest value they brought their customers. Their best customers said: They understand us and our business. They take the time to understand the way we do things.

How To 204

How To Productivity Products Company 204

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 30, 2011

If you build them, they will fix problems and enhance productivity, not you. Average managers solve problems and get results. Great managers build people. A recent conversation with a new manager reminded me that it’s all about people. If you build them, they [.].

Productivity 237

Productivity Products Management Motivation 237

Leadership Freak

JULY 5, 2012

Confidence when criticized: Confidence is a product of knowing what to do next. This question arrived from a reader: “My boss says I need to get better at taking criticism.” Close your eyes and imagine your boss giving you negative feedback. Get deep into those negative feelings. Now bring your best self to the exchange; [.].

Productivity 204

Productivity Products Leadership Development Development 204

Leadership Freak

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

** Alternate title: “Critics: Thank’em or Spank’em” Receiving personal criticism stands apart from criticizing products, services, or organizations. My leadership was first criticized when I was in my early 20’s. It stunned me. I still remember the sting. People who say personal criticism doesn’t hurt, lie.

Productivity 210

Productivity Products Organization Leadership 210

Leadership Freak

MARCH 28, 2012

Joan’s boss asked her what she thought of their company’s banner product. Don’t trust people who don’t trust you. Joan replied, “I love the value it brings but in many ways it’s outdated.” She offered suggestions on how to improve process, delivery, and application. That was Joan’s mistake. It seemed the meeting went well.

Process 197

Process Productivity Products Company 197

Leadership Freak

MAY 30, 2015

A question from a participant of an American Management Association webinar I gave on coaching for productivity.) “Does the dynamic change when coaching family members?” (A If you want to become a great coach,… Continue reading →

Webinar 100

Webinar Participative Productivity Products 100

Leadership Freak

APRIL 29, 2015

Barry, her inexperienced manager, just set a goal of increasing her production by 15%. Mary feels like a caged animal. She already works overtime! Mary asks, “What do you suggest I stop doing?… … Continue reading →

Goal 100

Goal Productivity Products Management 100

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 10, 2011

Friction between individuals based on personalities, backstabbing, and gossip stifles organizations, hinders productivity, and creates negative work environments. Image source “Most organizations have far too little conflict,” Pat Lencioni at the 2011 World Business Forum. Solve it quickly. They never innovate. They seldom leverage [.].

Innovation 196

Innovation Environment Productivity Products 196

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Performing the same job year after year is a recipe for boredom, coasting, and low productivity. Entrenched, stagnant employees protect their turf, resist change, and create roadblocks. In addition, they build power bases that instinctively fight off innovation from “outsiders.”

Environment 192

Environment Resistance How To Innovation 192

Leadership Freak

JANUARY 7, 2015

Results are by-products. The inevitable extension of servant leadership is coaching. Forget the scoreboard. Focus on the process. The belief that leading is telling blocks leaders from coaching. Command and control treats people… Continue reading → Coaching Leadership Development'

Leadership Development 100

Leadership Development Process Productivity Products 100