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How to Turn Stern Situations into Positive Coaching Experiences

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I recently read an article in Inc magazine that really set my tail feathers on fire. It was called “How to Criticize Employees: 6 Rules,” which landed on me as one nearly clueless man writing about something he knew little about but pretending to be an expert. He was nowhere close. I barely midway through […]

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Never Lose Sight of Your Best Alternative

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Choices — and the decisions we make — determine which roads we travel. Some of those decisions will be right, some wrong, and a few may require a U-turn and do-over. All of this is fine and normal. Little in life follows a straight, predictable path. Because decision-making is an imprecise science, life is never […]

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The 3-Day Rule: How to Deal with Disappointment

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For the past six weeks I have been eyeballs-deep mediating a heck of a mess. The goal — an executive and company divorce — has so many interwoven business and emotional complexities that a bearable solution tied to an volatile transition seems like a rainbow jackpot: teasing, elusive, close yet unattainable. But now we are […]

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Why Bridging Silos is Getting Increasingly Tricky

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One of the more technique sensitive challenges in business is how to effectively bridge departmental silos. There are many barriers, including these eight: Politics and personal political agendas Business maturity The need to respect others’ views through different lenses Territoriality Digital underbrush Self-image Perception of others The need to thrive through stress. Politics. In business, […]

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Why the Years of 0-13 Are So Vital (part 2 of 2: Business)

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Part 2 of 2 The Impact of Years 0-13 Later in Business “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Those three options were engraved into the faceplate of a small sign that pointed at guest chairs facing desk of the late George M. Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner relished his nickname: “The Boss.” He often reminded others […]

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Why Great Bosses Are Different

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I came across an interesting article by Geoffrey James that struck a chord. He wrote a brief column titled “8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses.” In it James summarizes key traits gleaned from interviews with well respected CEOs. This topic — effective modern leadership — is interesting to me because I am usually eyeballs deep […]

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Why Email is Decreasing in Effectiveness

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Back in the salad days of my youth, when German Shepherds and cocker spaniels outnumbered shih-tzus and chihuahuas, the magic of the day often arrived in an envelope, rescued from the mailbox and adorned with a hand-cancelled postage stamp. Real letters, hand-scripted, occasionally by a fountain pen with cursive penmanship so perfect the envelope was […]

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Why Office Etiquette Helps You Get Ahead (part 1 of 3)

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Office Etiquette, part 1 of 3 Dealing with Peers Smooth business etiquette showcases style and maturity. A lack of etiquette exposes shortfalls in maturity, manners, and education. All of us with career aspirations should respect the importance of situational behavioral management. This 3-part series shares ideas on what to do — and not do — […]

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Why Tebowmania Exists

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I first saw Tim Tebow play football in Tallahassee, Florida in November, 2006. He was a freshman backup quarterback. A huge roar came up from the Florida Gators’ section when he entered the game against rival Florida State on third down with short yardage to go. He kept the ball, bulldozed ahead, got the first […]

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