Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
There are phrases that bring out smiles and there are strings of words that generate frowns.
Here’s one that can do both: “Some of us were talking…”
Like other “traffic signal” words and phrases – things like “but” as in “You’ll like it but it might be bumpy” or “just” as in “He’s just another candidate” – these words or phrases are best used sparingly and with smart intent.… Read the rest
They’re sometimes dismissed – usually by extroverts – as “too shy” and not-so-good at speaking up.
Social skills to mix it up in crowds can seem lacking.
When they’re “on point” it can seem like they can falter. They are said to have “issues” when it comes to small talk; not great “speaking on their feet.”
So can introverts (co) rule the world?… Read the rest
Clever won’t guarantee success though it might get you noticed.
C. S. Lewis once noted “No clever arrangement of bad eggs ever made a good omelet” and that’s a pretty smart way to size clever by itself.
So I chuckled as I saw the slogan on the back of the wait crew shirts at the recently re-opened La Rondalla restaurant in my San Francisco Mission neighborhood.… Read the rest
Outstanding talent from Hillary Clinton to Mao Tse Tung to Robert Downey, Jr. has been humbled and managed a career rebound.
Here’s one more comeback-in-progress to add to the list: Jonah Lehrer.
Lehrer’s attempt has lessons for anyone who has stumbled, made stupid mistakes, or taken a fall for someone else.
Maybe you.
Lehrer has been publicly psychoanalyzed, editorially flogged, and digitally despised.… Read the rest
There are “secrets” in the executive search trade that anyone who hopes to be headhunted (or hire a headhunter to fill an opening) should know.
A set of 10 tips are here; another 7 more are here.
Here’s an 18th tip: what you do in the search process can stick with you for a lifetime.
While the world is incredibly small – Wendy Yanowitch’s saying that “The world is made up of (just) six people and lots of mirrors” is pretty true- what you do in the search process or even what you do outside of the search process can find a home in any record a search firm keeps.… Read the rest
There are a number of ways to say goodbye to a job – some helpful and effective, some not-so-great.
Here’s a goodbye email that I received this week (names and contact info fictitious) sent blind copy from their work email account:
“I’m leaving Salesforce.com. Please use “george.richards@gmail.com.
My cell phone number will remain the same: 1-650-299-4242.
George”
What works about this blast email?… Read the rest