Employees resist tracking their time. What can be helpful in managing this is to understand your requirements for time tracking. Do you really need to know what each person was doing each hour of the day? In creative work like software development, product development, engineering, marketing, Continue reading “Time Tracking”
Category: Leadership
Courage vs. Comfort
These do not often coexist. Taking the road less traveled is usually uncomfortable and scary – it’s not so romantic when you’re actually out there on the limb or in the arena getting beat up. Continue reading “Courage vs. Comfort”
Set New Hires Up For Success
Set new employees up for success. Take ten minutes to write down clear expectations and measureable goals. Ask yourself the question: if this new person completely knocks it out of the park in the next six months, what specific things will they have done in the first 30, 90 and 180 days? Write Continue reading “Set New Hires Up For Success”
End With the Beginning in Mind
When a carpenter wraps up the electrical power cords at the end of the day, a decision must be made which end to wrap from. The smart carpenter starts wrapping from the female end and finishes with the male end, because in the morning the male end will be unwrapped first. On the job site Continue reading “End With the Beginning in Mind”
Act Accordingly
We are – every person on the planet – more powerful than we think we are. Act accordingly.
The Value of Constant Preparation
I met another musician at a wedding several years ago who shared a perspective that has been formative for me not just as a musician but also as a leader, a father, and a friend.
He said once you’ve taken your place on stage with instrument or Continue reading “The Value of Constant Preparation”
Focus on the 90
Volunteering at one of the Lighten Up Boulder events. Standing on the corner of a busy intersection during rush hour. Giving away free bike and pedestrian lights to anyone passing by, no strings attached! Just free lights to promote safety.
30% of the people who stopped came right up and asked what was going on. Continue reading “Focus on the 90”
Coaching
Part of being a leader is being a coach. I struggle with this. While I’m willing to take responsibility for the results of my own actions, I second-guess or question how my perspective is valuable to another person. I’m coming to realize this perspective is incorrect. Coaching is not about giving advice or influencing; it’s really about helping another person move forward toward their best selves. Continue reading “Coaching”
Affirmations for the Introvert Leader
I will have a good time.
Attitude is EVERYTHING.
If it’s not what I want, don’t say it.
Organizational Muscle Memory
Simply telling people “We need a process to capture and track customer complaints” isn’t enough.
Holding a meeting to figure out which people should be involved in the process, isn’t enough.
Prioritizing Initiatives
When prioritizing work, especially the key initiatives you are pursuing, it can be helpful to do a quick exercise. I’ve used this whenever I start to feel I have too many initiatives – how to choose which to work on today?
Essence of Leadership
There’s a scene near the end of the movie Miracle about the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team, which won a surprising gold medal and defeated the then-dominant Russian team who had held a worldwide dominance for 2 decades. The coach, played by actor Kurt Russell, walks into the locker room Continue reading “Essence of Leadership”
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