Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
Many of us live a life where there is too much going on in too little time; it happens at work, at home, and any other shred of life that’s left. But like many things, it doesn’t have to be that way, and there are a least four ways to make a change.
One element that does make life better is serendipity, but it doesn’t run on a schedule.… Read the rest
It’s a common challenge; how do you talk about what you’ve done if you’ve done well without sounding like the jerk down the hall who everyone calls a cleetus maggot?
In a world where Cheat Your Way to the Top seems to be a common workplace theme song, being accurate and correctly portraying yourself and your accomplishments is critical for getting your fair due.… Read the rest
As my 7 year-old son Traylor periodically reminds me, it’s tough to wait.
This morning’s challenge was one under-ripe mango: serving it for breakfast when he was ready but it wasn’t still meant it didn’t taste so hot.
It can be just as tough to wait in the employment constellation we call jobs and careers. Sometimes you’re ready, but the job is not – and sometimes you’re not ready, but the job is.… Read the rest
The question from my client was common: who do you spend limited resources for coaching and development of high potential employees? And, even harder, how do you know it’s money well spent?
The takeaway from working in and around corporations for almost 30 years is that most of the efforts spent on high potential employees – employees who their employer has deemed as having the skills, abilities, and interest to move to more senior positions with the corporation – is a waste.… Read the rest
One mystery for more senior job hunters is the question of “What do employers really want?” in terms of backgrounds, skill sets and experience.
Thanks to one executive search person you can get one good answer – particularly if you’re looking fill a Chief Financial Officer role.
Karen Quint of Spencer Stuart addressed the San Francisco chapter of Financial Executives International, the preeminent association for CFOs and other senior finance executives last month.… Read the rest
While the exact formula for what makes someone successful in work over a period of time is still cloudy, the outlines through research are taking shape. Those outlines can begin to inform who you hire, who you work with, and – if you’re prone to introspection – what your own personal profile looks like.
These trends and factors didn’t just pop-up today: in some cases, as in the importance of emotional intelligence, they’ve been building for decades as the old control and command models of management gave way to greater teamwork and collaboration norms.… Read the rest