Just over a year ago I gave a keynote speech at a conference in Russia. I worked diligently to master a few key phrases. But, between having no natural capacity for foreign languages and not hearing much Russian in my day-to-day life, the result was dreadful. I actually might have insulted their mothers as I …
Why are we still talking about the importance of leaders developing employee soft skills? Here’s why: the more that automation in all of its forms become part of our daily work lives, the more we need to bring to bear the one thing that a machine will never be: human. And that humanity is most …
7 Reasons Leaders Should Focus on Developing Employee Soft Skills Read More »
According to a VitalSmarts survey of 1153 global workers reported in Harvard Business Review (April 2018), remote employees feel left out and disadvantaged as a result of their status. And it goes far beyond ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ In dramatically larger numbers than their co-located colleagues, remote employees feel that: Colleagues lobby against …
First introduced in the UK in the late 1970s, the term “work-life balance” has only become more popular and relevant over time. While the focus has morphed over time to consider the needs of different audiences within the workplace—mothers, the sandwich generation, millennials and more—the basic question has remained constant: How can we find and keep hold of that elusive holy grail—the equilibrium between the …
As I led a recent session with regional executives within a global organization, the conversation turned to retention—or more accurately, attrition. The most senior leaders lamented their powerlessness over the dynamic facing them. They described a talent market that valued a level of progression, compensation and benefits that exceeded what was expected—or accommodated—anywhere else in …
Attenuating Attrition: How Leaders Can Create a Sticky Situation Read More »
Guest Post by Jennifer Kahnweiler I could not be more pleased to host this week’s guest post from my friend, Jennifer Kahnweiler. Jennifer was one of the first Berrett-Koehler authors I met after publishing Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go. I have been so grateful for her warmth and her wisdom. As an introvert myself, I’ve …
In today’s fast-paced world of business is it possible to bring humanity back to leadership? A new book backed by research and co-authored by a Harvard Business Review contributor aims to answer that question for you. In The Mind of the Leader: How to Lead Yourself, Your People, and Your Organization for Extraordinary Results, authors …
“I asked you here today to let you know where I’ve been for the past month. I was in a mental health facility.” So began a conversation with a colleague that I admired tremendously. His confession surprised me; we had worked on a long-term project together just three months prior. I had no idea he …
Leadership Tips for Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace Read More »
For many years, I worked with a highly effective (and very respected) leader named Jack, who at the time was a senior executive at a large insurance company. After working together on a few corporate projects, Jack asked me to lead a three-day strategic planning session for his team. About two hours into the first …
Leaders Who Know When to Shut Up Get Better Ideas from the Team Read More »
Years ago, when I was a 23 year old assistant human resources manager at a department store, one of our sales associates suffered a heart attack and died while at work. At the time, I was out of town, attending my grandfather’s funeral. Upon my return to work, my boss Mary told me what had …
Renewing Your Leadership Purpose with Compassion Read More »
