Posted: September 8, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

I want to share with you one of my favorite examples from all my years of facilitating leadership and management classes:  Several years ago, one of my class members was relating a childhood incident that they believed to be a defining moment in their lives.  It was when they were a toddler, and they accidentally knocked over a glass of milk.  It spilled all over the floor, and was quite a mess.  Mom was nearby, of course.  Read More…

Posted: September 3, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement

Listening builds trust.  When I work with someone to become a stronger leader, we almost always start with the fundamentals and practice of being a better listener.

One of the biggest barriers to being a good listener is filtering:  Here is what I mean:  We all come from different places, backgrounds, and ethnic groups.  We also have a lifetime of experiences that have led us to form our own opinions and perceptions.  When we are talking to someone for the purpose of understanding them better, we have to learn to turn the “filter” switch off.  Here is an example:Read More…

Posted: September 2, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

Do you like it when people whine?  I didn’t think so.  Aside from Oscar the Grouch, I don’t know of anyone who enjoys a whiner.  But what if they are just sharing a concern?  What is the difference?Read More…

Posted: July 17, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

There is an old saying about keeping a secret:  “Secrets are either too good to keep or not worth keeping”.  I am finding the same is true when it comes to getting and keeping good employees.  There are either too good to keep or not worth keeping.Read More…

Posted: July 7, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Last evening I helped facilitate a team meeting for one of my clients.  This gathering was also a celebration of a business expansion.  The well-seasoned team was overflowing with energy and verve.  As I was observing the team, I realized that every person in the room had gone through significant struggle and challenge in their professional development.

The most recent example is Cliff.  He is a go-getter and moves at a fast pace.  His challenge was to be a better listener.  In his zeal he would “talk over” people and cut them short in conversations.  This was creating a problem.  Some customers would feel hurried, and they did not feel Cliff listened well to them.Read More…