The Lead Yourself First Blog
Are you a Positive Influencer or a Chronic Complainer? Choose wisely.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with an association that invited me to speak at their annual conference on the subject of influence. Although their membership is extremely diverse, the common denominator for all their members is the fact that they are in a position to profoundly impact their leaders, […]
The art of asking questions – Your biggest communication asset
Mark always prided himself as an exceptional negotiator and communicator, yet during a recent performance review with an employee, he was accused of reneging on a promotion offered during a conversation several months prior. Mark recalled the initial discussion, however both parties had a different understanding regarding the timeline for the promotion to take effect. […]
Resentment, Resistance, Rejection: Demystifying the Fear of Change
Nothing changes if nothing changes. The only constant is change. All great changes were preceded by chaos…Wise and witty sayings on the subject of change that have become popularized and shared through the ages. Yet, many of us continue to baulk at any organizational change initiatives, despite the evidence presented by leaders who tell us […]
Three ways to elevate your influence and energize your client relationships
After enduring almost an hour of suffering, the convener finally called the meeting to a close. Attention spans had been stretched to the limit, the opportunity to reach consensus had failed and the client’s frustration levels soared to new heights. If this scenario sounds familiar, you are not alone.
Three reasons why you aren’t winning the talent war
Although the buzzwords “Talent Management” were first coined more than 15 years ago, many organizations are still searching for ways to attract and retain the best and brightest in order win the talent war. Attraction is arguably the easiest piece of the talent management equation. However, companies that spend energy creating the perfect cocktail of […]
Three strategies to respond positively to negative feedback
“You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar”…Anon If you have ever been at the receiving end of criticism, either from a co-worker or manager, it is likely you have found yourself struggling to respond positively…or worse, have defaulted to apologizing when you have done nothing wrong. Even if the criticism is warranted or […]
How to tell people at work what you really think of them
Act One Scene One: Learning a brand new way of implementing: “Don’t get mad, get even.” During a recent training session regarding workplace relationships, I asked attendees to think of a time when a co-worker, client or manager’s words left them absolutely speechless. Shock waves filled the room as participants willingly shared their stories. One […]
Seven deadly mistakes that destroy employee motivation
Originally published in the Globe and Mail Leadership Lab Column Don is the CEO of a family run business. His entrepreneurial roots span three generations and he is fiercely proud of his lineage . When “the good times” recently came to a grinding halt and the business headed into a rapid decline, a foreboding cloud […]
Five ways to take the help when your leader abandons ship
Better the devil you know…. The reaction was predictable as the shock waves spread quickly. Dave, our beloved leader, was leaving after 20 years. As soon as the news began to sink in, panic spread throughout our entire organization. The fear was palpable and the gossip attempting to explain his departure, albeit deliciously juicy, proved […]
Four ways to deal with a bad boss
A recent Gallup survey reported that 25 per cent of people would like to fire their boss, if they had the power. Interestingly, the majority of those 25 per cent were reported as the “highly disengaged” cohort. On the other hand, those who enjoyed a healthy relationship with their managers were reported as “highly engaged” […]
