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: 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…

Posted: May 26, 2015 | Categories: Self-Improvement

In the mid-1700’s, there was a small businessman who was determined to be a success.  One day, his best friend confronted him and said, “You need to work better with people.  You may be able to win every argument, but you don’t know how to win friends.  Until you do, you won’t be successful”.  These stinging words were delivered to Ben Franklin early in his career.  Ben did not get defensive when he heard this.  He knew it was true, and he resolved from that point to turn the situation around.  Read More…

Posted: April 30, 2015 | Categories: Self-Improvement, Time management

“Procrastination is the thief of time” – Alec McKenzie

When it comes to the subject of time management, there is only one working unit we have:                                                                         TODAY!Read More…

Posted: April 15, 2015 | Categories: Self-Improvement

Have you ever seen a situation where someone enthusiastically accepts a job offer, then discovered later that it wasn’t the working environment they had envisioned. Unfortunately, I find this happens far too often.  The result is frustration and the feeling that we are not where we need to be.  The question is, how do we find out what is behind the curtain? Read More…