Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
As an advocate of the early warning, Chicken Little had it all wrong.
Lacking facts (the sky was not falling) and the type of receptive audience that Paul Revere had, running around warning people was a poor tact to take.
Rational thought, after all, has limits. Sometimes the best way to move something important forward is to change your normal MO (modus operandi).… Read the rest
As a quasi-Christmas Episcopalian (church perhaps once a year; no communion because the “drink the blood of Christ” stuff freaks me out), I have an ambivalence toward Christmas.
Start with the fact that I’ve never been great with surprises (“Wow! Nice tie.” Subtext: wish I still wore them) and you have the makings for a recipe for trouble in December.… Read the rest
The word from a recent study is that people who make things miserable for everyone else at work get paid the most.
So if mean people make more than everyone else, is it better – in this season of Christmas – to be naughty or nice?
Best answer? It depends
While mean people, frequently stereotyped as those hard charging, take no prisoner, “Type A” personality folks may make more money, turns out they don’t live as long.… Read the rest
You can lack efficiency and effectiveness in how you communicate.
Or you can have both. Here’s how.
As background, it always helps to be clear about what you’re trying to communicate. Simply pass on information, or engage in a discussion and check for understanding? Ask for feedback, or do a data dump and run?
Great communication starts with focus about what you’re trying to accomplish, and what you’re trying to avoid.… Read the rest
There are a number of ways to effectively manage conflict. The approach someone recently used with me (“There are issues; you’re the problem“) is not amongst any of them.
Here’s one conflict resolution approach that in my experience works 90+% of the time.
As a step back, it’s helpful to remember that much, perhaps most, conflict stems from people having different perceptions about what has happened or is happening.… Read the rest
When you’re whacking somebody, stepping down to get out, or getting fired yourself, what passes for organizational “truth” makes most “goodbyes” meaningless.
Isn’t time for more transparency, and more courage?
“Left the firm to pursue personal interests” is the “doing nothing” act in departures. It’s hardly ever true, and frankly everyone knows it.… Read the rest