He was a new supervisor and he seemed frustrated as we spoke. “Why do I have to ask people to do things? Shouldn’t I be able to just tell them to do it?” The short answer is, “Yes, you can tell them and they should respond.” But is that the… Read More »The Magic and Power of Please and Thank You
I was asked this question in a workshop recently. In addition to my team in the company, I work with subcontractors. It’s like a team, but they don’t really report to me and they work for a completely different company. How can I be effective when I don’t have such… Read More »Tips for the Authorityless Leader
Congratulations! You just received a promotion. The selection process was very competitive and several of your peers in the company were also in the running. Some of those peers are now on your team, but that’s okay because they are all happy for you and want to help you succeed.… Read More »Five Actions to Take When Your New Team Includes Friends and Former Peers
When an aircraft mishap occurs, specially trained investigators are sent to the scene to examine the evidence and determine a cause. Investigators examine physical evidence, witness statements, and hopefully participant’s testimony in an attempt to piece together a sequence of events that result in finding a cause. It’s an exercise… Read More »A 10-Step Approach to Problem Solving
The last few weeks have seen an embarrassing display of unrestrained and generally unhealthy conflict. Although public debate is good, it is usually uncontrolled and can rapidly produce a toxic environment. That environment can quickly affect your team. A toxic work environment can be defined as a condition that exists… Read More »Four Steps to Healthy Conflict
The Rocky Mountain Aviation Leadership Workshop. Investing in good leadership is what makes the difference between an average team and a great team. As studies by McKinsey, Deloitte, and others have shown, effectively leading people requires a specific skill set so leadership development positively affects a company’s success. If you work… Read More »Rocky Mountain Aviation Leadership Workshop
Recently, I was in a discussion with fellow members of the National Speakers Association who are also military veterans. We were discussing what our military experience brought to our speaking profession and I noticed a common theme. We had all noticed a major difference between our military experience and… Read More »What’s Esprit de Corps and How do I Get Some
In fact there are several. It’s true that to be most effective, the team should act as a coordinated entity, smoothly working together toward a common mission and shared goals. But, all teams are made up of individuals with their own personal goals and priorities. The leader’s challenge is to… Read More »There is an “I” in Team
It was a cry of despair. The retail employee was waiting to find out if the store manager had decided to move her to a new position as she had requested. After listening to her story, I could see that she really wasn’t being impatient; her request had been made… Read More »How Long Does it Take to Make a Decision?
As a young Boy Scout, I enjoyed hiking and camping in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico. One area where we occasionally camped was near an irrigation canal that brought water to the dryer, lower elevations. We were always warned to stay away from the canal. Even though the surface… Read More »What is the Inside Scoop on Your Team?