Collaborate… and WIN!

Posted on May 12, 2020 by thebossdoctor

If you have even a modicum of experience on the job you understand how work teams can differ significantly from one another.  Those differences are encountered (and experienced very personally!) in the fundamental ways that team members interact with one another and function together as a team.  Author and management expert Tom Morris explores these differences in his thought-provoking book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, with practical insights into the dynamics of team performance.  He proposes four types of team performance “culture” that open our eyes into the pathologies and possibilities of team dynamics.  The seventh issue of my LeadershipTracks Newsletter presents his thinking in a quick, one-page read.  You can access it here.  But don’t stop there!  The companion issue of The Personal Trainer is a wonderfully insightful and practical tool for team leaders (and team members) to help them assess their own team; determine where they are with respect to the four team dynamics; and take the right steps to move their team into more effectiveness as a truly collaborative team.  You can access this valuable resource here.  I am eager to hear from you, if these materials have proven to be helpful—feel free to leave a response; and be sure to subscribe, to receive more insight-filled leadership and management content!

Posted in Conflict, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Management, Performance Management, Team Culture, Team Dynamics, Team Leadership, Teams | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Turning Correction into Compliments

Posted on October 18, 2019 by thebossdoctor

I often remind my management students–Your #1 Job is to Help Your People Succeed! That requires (of course!) that you must intervene and do something when one of your team members is failing! If you do nothing and they continue to fail, then eventually, higher-ups will no longer view the employee as the problem. Instead, they will see you as the problem!

Unfortunately… for many managers and supervisors, effective intervention is a challenge–how to do it without discouraging the employee and harming whatever bit of positive morale exists. In this issue of The LeadershipTracks Newsletter, I introduce the approach I recommend that has the best chance of getting the job done–helping the employee to improve; gaining the right results; and maintaining a positive relationship between boss and direct report. And the matching issue of The Personal Trainer presents step-by-step directions for accomplishing this all-important managerial task.

You can download the LeadershipTracks issue here, and a copy of The Personal Trainer issue here. Read them both; use them both; and let me know if the information and tools are helpful!

Posted in Authority, Communication, Conflict, Employee Engagement, Employee Motivation, Performance Management, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Powerful Pull of Praise

Posted on September 13, 2019 by thebossdoctor

This post is all about the value and advantage of becoming a source of affirmation to your team–and others in your organization! Many bosses get caught up in the busyness of their work and wind up managing “by exception.” That means, the only time a team member of theirs hears from them is when there’s a problem. So… every conversation with “the Boss” is a NEGATIVE one. By the way… If you think you’re not one of those bosses, tell one of your team members, “Can you come into my office? I need to talk to you.” And then gauge their reaction! If they get a worried look on their face, like they’re headed for the “Principal’s Office” then you are probably one of those bosses! Type A bosses (High “D’s” on the DiSC assessment) are particularly disposed to management by exception. That’s because most of them aren’t motivated by praise or affirmation. They don’t need it and they don’t think OTHERS should need it, either. Consequently, they don’t see the value of affirming the work of others. But there is tremendous value and benefit in doing so! That’s why I always tell managers in my training seminars, NEVER LET YOUR PEOPLE FEEL TAKEN FOR GRANTED!

In this issue of the LeadershipTracks Newsletter, I make a case for the powerful benefits of affirming the good work of your team members. It is worth your time and effort, and the pay-offs are mighty! You can download a copy here. In the accompanying issue of The Personal Trainer, I also show you how to do it with a strategic, step-by-step approach. I even include a helpful form to guide you through the process! You can download that valuable resource for free, right here.

Posted in Authority, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Employee Engagement, Employee Motivation, Influence, Leadership, Management | Leave a comment

The Best Leadership Training… and It’s FREE

Posted on August 31, 2019 by thebossdoctor

One of my mentors–early in my career–shared a little gem of wisdom with me. He told me, “EXPERIENCE is NOT the BEST teacher… It is the ONLY TEACHER!” I remember taking issue with that initially, because I’m an avid reader (and researcher) who has benefitted greatly from self-education by accessing helpful materials and resources from libraries, newsletters, books, and journals. I told myself, “Wait a minute… I learn A LOT just by reading and studying!” And then I started thinking about LEADERSHIP (about which I am most passionate!). And I realized that the best things we have learned about effective leadership, we have learned by OBSERVING and STUDYING effective leaders! In effect, we have learned from the EXPERIENCES of others. And then, when I was researching the topic of “adult learning” I ran across this observation from an expert in the field, who declared, “We never learn ANYTHING as human beings, EXCEPT through MODELING.” This, again, underscored the importance of real-life experience in the learning process.

Issue #4 of the LeadershipTracks Newsletter presents this principle in the context of the age-old debate about leaders–are they born or made? Download it here and read what Dr. Daniel Maltby has to say about this. And feel free to use the links in the newsletter to access his original article and the accompanying Leadership Learning Planning Form in Issue #4 of The Personal Trainer. You’ll find it here.

Posted in Leadership, Learning, Personal Growth, Professional Development, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Grow or Die!

Posted on August 16, 2019 by thebossdoctor

This is the reality of our lives, now–especially professionally. The pace of change in the marketplace (and in our cultures!) has been accelerated by globalization, mass communication, and surges in technological advances. Everything is changing, and so we have no choice but to adapt and change as well. This is the theme of Issue #3 of the Leadership Tracks newsletter. Download it here and then explore the accompanying issue of The Personal Trainer. You can download it here and see the different areas of growth you face as a leader AND the resources that Corporate Leadership Initiatives, Inc. make available to help you in your journey of growth and development.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can YOU Be a Leader?

Posted on July 1, 2019 by thebossdoctor

Not everyone can! This is the startling assertion made by Goffee and Jones in a thought-provoking article published in the Harvard Business Review. They make the case that there are two kinds of people who will NEVER be a leader. To find out why they believe that, read Issue #2 of my LeadershipTracks newsletter. Then… download the companion issue of The Personal Trainer, to get a simple assessment form that you can use to help you determine if YOU have the ONE ESSENTIAL QUALITY you need in order to be an effective leader!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You, Inc. – The New Reality

Posted on June 10, 2019 by thebossdoctor

Welcome to the relaunch of my blogsite and the revival of my newsletter – the LeadershipTracks eTips! Due to a change in my webhost, I am no longer publishing a newsletter. Instead, I am recasting my new blogsite as the primary host of content for distribution and sharing. I hope visitors will choose to subscribe and receive the valuable and practical advice I have been providing my clients and subscribers for years now.

This first posting comes from the very first newsletter I wrote, and is a reminder of how a changing economy is forcing employees to take on much more responsibility for their own learning, growth, and professional development. Read or download this issue here, and don’t forget to check out the added resource that goes with it–The Personal Trainer Issue #1.

Enjoy these two timely resources, and let me know what you think–I would love to hear from you!

Posted in Leadership, Organizations, Professional Development | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Posted on February 10, 2014 by thebossdoctor

BossByte#6

Every boss has a preference for a certain management style.  That’s a fact.  Now… I teach managers how to ADAPT their management style to fit each individual and each situation they are managing.  That’s an important skill to acquire.  NEVERTHELESS, every boss has a PREFERRED management style.  It’s their comfortable, “go-to” approach.  So… if you want to build a good working relationship with YOUR boss, you must be prepared to adapt to their preferred way of managing.  That’s how you make it easy for your boss to work with you.  For example…

If your boss likes to keep a tight rein on information and people, be prepared to feed your boss lots of information about what you are doing; how you are spending your time; what progress you are making; how you are doing with regard to your budget; etc.  It may feel like an oppressive management style to you, but if it is how your boss prefers to work with staff, then swallow your pride and indignation and give your boss the necessary information and updates.

If your boss prefers a more laissez-faire approach, then enjoy the freedom… but don’t abuse it!  Make sure you are doing your job and getting results.  Don’t get lazy just because the boss isn’t checking on you constantly.  Be prepared to work independently; solve problems; make necessary decisions; and be productive!  (You may also have to take a proactive role in making sure your boss is aware of your accomplishments and doesn’t overlook your success!)

The key–don’t take your boss’s preference PERSONALLY.  However your boss chooses to manage you–go with the flow–work with your boss appropriately and don’t become resentful or hurt.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Be prepared to flex and adapt

Posted on February 5, 2014 by thebossdoctor

BossByte #5

There is an inherent double standard when it comes to effective management and leadership. 

I tell my management students that they must be prepared to adapt their leadership style–to supervise individual people on their team differently.  For example, when an employee demonstrates skill, reliability, good judgement, and wisdom, their boss should give them more freedom in their work and less direct oversight.  But when an employee demonstrates a lack of skill, consistency, reliability, etc. their boss must be prepared to give them greater and more direct supervision. 

I give my management students similar advice when it comes to working with their boss.  I advise them to be prepared to adapt to their boss.  That may seem unfair to some leaders.  They could easily ask, “When is it MY turn to be adapted to?”  Here’s the tough truth: If you want to be a great leader and manager, you are going to have to just accept the double standard and take the initiative to flex and adapt the way you do your work–in all directions of an organization: up, down, and across.

So… what does that really mean? 

Stay tuned to future blogs for specific ways to flex appropriately and become more effective as a result!

Posted in Authority | 2 Comments

Let the Boss be the Boss

Posted on February 9, 2012 by thebossdoctor

There is a cardinal rule of delegation that goes like this: The one thing you cannot delegate is your own job… because, by definition, it is YOUR job. In other words… any task that is central to your authority and responsibility. That might include things like… crafting the budget for your area of responsibility; hiring and firing; performance reviews; work assignments for your team; authorizing spending. It also includes establishing clear priorities for the work—which tasks are most important and require your team’s efforts RIGHT NOW. There is nothing more frustrating than a boss who tries to avoid their responsibilities by assigning them to team members. That’s bad management! If YOUR boss tries to do that to YOU, it is entirely appropriate for you to hand those responsibilities back to your boss. Watch this next BossByte to see an example of what I am talking about.

Let the boss be the Boss! And give those responsibilities back to your Boss. Do it firmly, but politely, professionally, respectfully… and without condescension, anger, or resentment.

Posted in Authority, Communication | Leave a comment