Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
It happens. You think you’re set in your job and somebody else catches your boss’ eye.
They’re prettier (or more handsome) and project a better executive presence, or code better, and perhaps could charm the skin off a snake and sell better.
The next thing you know someone has been hired over you in the corporate hierarchy (“layered” is the HR term) and that secure feeling you had is gone south.… Read the rest
It’s a common refrain; one that even ended up as a question for the digerati at Quora.
Just how do you keep life, like a river, from passing you by?
There are signals everywhere that you must do more to keep your head above water; even more if you want to “pull ahead.”
A recent Fortune magazine article chronicled the life of a young exec who had her “home” in San Francisco, lived mostly in an apartment near her work in Menlo Park when she wasn’t spending her considerable time on the road.… Read the rest
Our 20 week-old Terrier-mix pup Porter’s maiden trip to Dolores Park brought back memories of the countless mornings and evenings spent with our much beloved, now-deceased, mutt Roady playing chase, kong fetch, and rolling on his back (Roady, not me) playing “sharky.”
It may turn out that you can go back, but will you find your former beliefs and behaviors in the future?… Read the rest
We all love comebacks.
Those of us who are San Franciscans really love it when it involves our much beloved US professional football team, the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers are in the championship hunt this year after a long hiatus, playing for their first conference championship – a step before the Super Bowl and league championship – since 1998 against the New York Giants this upcoming Sunday.… 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
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