The Most Read Articles of Leadership Freak for 2020
#1. HOW TO STOP ASKING, “HOW ARE YOU?” AND CREATE REAL CONVERSATION
Better questions:
- What challenges are you facing? Opportunities?
- What’s working for you?
- What’s new in your life?
- What are you looking forward to?
- What would you like to get done today?
#2. 7 WAYS TO HAVE FUN ON ZOOM DURING A PANDEMIC
1. Sing happy birthday. (Have a person sing anything.)
2. Have one person tell/read a joke. A bad joke does the same thing a good joke does. Laughing or groaning connects people.
Tip: Invite people to rate jokes with a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Participation is key.
3. Hat day.
4. My favorite coffee cup day. Ask, “How did your cup become your favorite?”
#3. 12 WAYS TO END SOUL-SUCKING MEETINGS
1. Eliminate back-to-back meetings.
All meetings end 10 minutes before the top of the hour.
2. Shorten standard meeting length to 25 minutes.
3. Prepare people to participate and put them on the agenda.
Mary presents 3 pros and 3 cons to get the conversation started.
4. Improve meetings.
At the end of meetings, occasionally ask:
- What made this meeting work well?
- What’s one way to make our next meeting even better?
#4. SEVEN TIPS TO AVOID BEING CONTROLLED BY MANIPULATORS
Tip #1: Stop offering suggestions after the second off-handed rejection of advice. Instead ask, “What would you like to do?” (And stop talking.)
When you ask a manipulator what they would like to do about their concern, they come up with things OTHERS should do.
Tip #2. Listen for excuses and blame.
Manipulators want support, not solution.
#5. 3 THINGS OVERWORKED MANAGERS NEED TO STOP DOING TODAY
1. Stop doing people’s work for them.
2. Stop interrupting people when they’re solving their own problems.
3. Stop tweaking the solutions of competent team members.
Happy New Year!
It’s been a pleasure serving you in 2020. I look forward to serving in 2021.
Happy New Year, Dan. Thank you for a year of thought-provoking articles.
And Happy New Year to you, Ken. Thanks for your comments in 2020. I look forward to learning from you in 2021.
Happy New Year Dan and all,
Thanks for the year of insights !!
Thank you Cate and Happy New Year back atcha.
A mentor has been sending leadership snippets for several years now. I seek my own daily through SmartBrief and compare my faves to his. After seeing that We both regularly include your posts, I began getting your daily sends earlier this year. You make a difference and I bid you an impactful 2021. Thank you!
Thanks Scott. The Smartbrief newsletter is one of the few that I subscribe to. I appreciate your encouraging words and wish you a meaningful 2021. Cheers!
Happiest of New Years to you and your family, Dan. Thank you for all your work to encourage and challenge us to be better than we are today.
Happy New Year to All!!
Thank you Mary Ellen. I wish you well as you serve your constituents. You’re doing important work. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Dan,
Many thanks for the hours of work you’ve done this past year to encourage, inspire, challenge and enlighten us. Have a wonderful 2021.
Looking forward to a new year of growth and change!
Thanks John. Your forward look is what it’s all about. Happy New Year!
Happy New year Dan,
I see the fact “we need to stop doing others work” unfortunately without Accountability, these individuals who dont do their work will slide by. I find the struggle with these individuals mostly they dont care, the challenges are bringing them on board and teach6them the importance of the things they neglected allow others to do
Let’s hope for Accountability and mentoring in 2021. Cheers
Thanks Tim. Happy Mentoring to you! I was thinking about accountability this morning. It’s a powerful concept. Without it, word is frustrating. Thanks for all your comments in 2020. I look forward to learning from you in 2021.
Outstanding yet again Dan, best note ever:
“What would you like to do?” (And stop talking.)
Happy New Year!
Tom
Thanks Tom. Best wishes to you in North Dakota. I recall our time together with great enjoyment. Happy New Year.
Have a Safe, Secure and a Robust 2021 ahead
Thanks Sampathkumar. And a Robust 2021 to you too!
Happy New Year,
Love starting my day with Dan’s thoughts on Leadership. Look forward to more in 2021!
Thanks Tim and thank you for your service to your community. These are turbulent times for education. Best wishes for 2021.
Thanks for another great year of coaching and tips to make us all better and successful professionals and people, Dan! Best wishes for a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2021!!!
Thank you Sam. It’s pleasure to be of service. Happy and Prosperous New Year to you!
Great ones, all! Thanks for your year of service. Your pearls have sparked conversations with my sons, provided discussion for my Men’s Group, and made me look smarter than I should in conversations with others.
Thanks Glen. It’s been my privilege be on the journey with you. Best for 2021!