Understandably (and with honorable intent) some folks are wrestling with unpleasant decisions they are ‘compelled’ to make just now. Furloughing, redundancies, cost cutting and the raft of other tough calls. What creates a lot of (unnecessary angst) is the assumption that this decision will wreck, upset, upend, finish or ruin...
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The light-bulb conversation went like this. ME: “How can I help?” MD: “Sigh. I don’t know Paul. What I do know though is this. I seem to spend most of my time picking people up, (good people) when they are down, reminding them of the big picture, refocussing them when...
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The (first) 15 Minute Induction. There is the distinct danger we over egg and complicate someone’s first day with tortuous induction routines. Everything from the company structure to where the back up tea bags are kept. As the boss, you need to get in there real quick and set the...
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1. Events happen / change occurs. Constantly. 2. We cannot control them / it. 3. We put meaning on them / it. Always. 4. The meanings determine the quality, satisfaction and effectiveness of our work, our life, our leadership. 5. Since we can always change or correct our meanings, we...
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Just who is the smartest guy in the room? (male or female definitions apply) There are two types of smart guy in the room; the guy who is the smartest and the guy who is trying to be the smartest. Is Trying to be Leads with questions Leads with answers...
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Measuring your progress against what is left to be done and what’s next can be uninspiring and downright demotivating. Notice how the horizon always moves away from you as you walk or sail towards it? It is far healthier, accurate and spirit lifting to measure progress against how far you...
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When was the last time you told a story about the way things will be? Difficult to recall? When was the last time you pointed out the problems that exist or the bad things that have recently occurred? Not so difficult to ID that one right?! I don’t normally do...
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Avoiding a performance conversation, not intervening in obvious struggle or tackling damaging behaviour is dishonourable and grossly unfair to staff. An awful lot of that goes on. People know when they are struggling or failing and they’ll know that you know that too. That’s a pretty horrible place for two...
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dil·i·gence -noun. Constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind. I have two terrible confessions to make. ..that might have me struck off the HR Xmas card lift and may raise the eyebrows of a few of my best customers: I’m not singularly...
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The moment you feel the need to motivate someone, you’ve made a hiring mistake or you’ve put the right person is in the wrong role. The’ right’ people don’t need to be motivated. Challenged, lead, taught, acknowledged – yes. But not motivated. The right people in the right job...
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