Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
Other times, though, you realize that like that unfriendly cat who has suddenly decided to be friendly, it’s in your lap; what you’re staring at is your future that’s become your present.… Read the rest
Two conversations with two people last week, each with a new job; one was ecstatic, the other terrified.
There are three things you can do to get off to a great start with a new job. This post tells you about them.
Despite advice, people don’t always leverage the interviewing process to collect the type of information that fuels a good starts with the new role.… Read the rest
It’s been a tough few weeks for standards.
While the details and allegations aren’t settled, the arc of the scandals involving Herman Cain, the Penn State University football child sex abuse case, Tokyo-based Olympus CEO firing and coverup, and the Jon Corzine -MF Global debacle is familiar; people betrayed positions of public trust.
There are standards that everyone flaunts (Are you driving 60 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone?… Read the rest
It has become the dreaded phrase you don’t want to hear; “I’ll follow-up and get back to you”
Why? Because when you hear that phrase you know that 90% of the people you deal with won’t get back to you.
I’ve stopped chuckling when I get the email from someone with whom I’m scheduled to meet (“Are we still on to meet at 2 PM tomorrow”) because I realize we live in a world where people, rather than do as they say they’re going to do, do as they say they won’t.… Read the rest
The headline in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month blared “Employees with ‘High Potential’ Need to Know.”
There’s just one problem. If you want to screw up talent, tell them they’ve got high potential – shorthand for they’ve been tapped and they’re great.
Why?
Research (Carol Dweck) shows that labeling folks doesn’t work to improve performance. In fact, labeling folks (“great,” “high-potential,” etc.… Read the rest
Sometimes the job you’ve been promised won’t be there; sometimes the job you think you’ve lost may return.
So how do you know if it’s a sure thing?
You won’t.
Learn why the “sure thing” today is likely the maybe thing tomorrow, and what you can do to make yourself better prepared when that sure-thing-to-make-or-nothing happens.
Why is the sure thing is not exactly the sure thing?… Read the rest