Posted: April 28, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Management

When we think of great leaders, we marvel at their ability to enlist commitment from their team members.  When we are committed, we are in with our heart and soul.  Commitment is great!…but sometimes, even on the best teams, we have to settle for less.Read More…

Posted: February 16, 2015 | Categories: Management, Team Building

As an executive coach, I spend much of my time helping companies build championship, top-performing teams.  I have found that winning teams are always brilliant on the basics, and they don’t settle for anything less than excellence from their team.Read More…

Posted: December 29, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Team Building

I am going to pretend I have ESP, and I will describe exactly what it is like to work for your company or the company you work for:  As each day begins, every individual on the team comes in positive, smiling, and excited to get to work.  They have their day planned and they know exactly what they should be doing.  They are always working on the most important task, and are not distracted by the internet, sports news, or gossip.  Not only does their company meet their goals, they CRUSH them!  When obstacles occur, you and your team quickly overcome them.  There is no finger-pointing or blame.  When you and your team are finished with your work, you are proud of what you have accomplished.  Most important, when each member of your team comes home after work, they feel good about what they have accomplished and their loved ones know how much they love their job.

For some of you, this sketch may accurately describe the experience people have working for your company.  For others…maybe not quite.  I have the privilege of working with companies that operate just as this model describes.  The good news is we can all be that special company.  Here is what all great companies do:Read More…

Posted: December 23, 2014 | Categories: Management, Team Building

In my coaching, I spend my of my time working with companies to build top-performing teams.  As you can imagine, December is often a fun month for me as I observe teams celebrating their successes and enjoying their bonuses.  Then comes the flipside – those people who are let go due to their behavior or performance.Read More…

Posted: November 26, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Management

Humility:  “To refrain from boasting.  To minimize personal accomplishments in favor of building others” (Webster’s definition)

Put yourself in this scene:  You are interviewing someone for a key leadership position in your company.  The person you are interviewing is poised, confident,  and articulate.  When you ask a question, they are sure-footed and think quickly on their feet.  Everything looks and sounds good, but in the back of your mind something doesn’t feel right.  In spite of this “bad vibe” you hire the person anyway because you are anxious to fill the position.  What happens when we ignore that “little voice”?  It usually ends up being a disaster.Read More…