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March 5, 2014
Servant Leadership & The Agile Leadership Transformation
Do you Think Like a Servant Leader or Act Like The Smartest Guy in the Room?
Leaders in countless I.T. organizations see themselves as “the smartest person in the room.” They solve problems that exceed the grasp of their direct reports. They position themselves as decision-makers and information traffic cops. They established their reputations for brilliance early in their careers and were promoted quickly because so many I.T. organizations value subject matter expertise over “soft skills” and promote people accordingly.
So...Continue reading
By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on March 5, 2014
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March 3, 2014
Two Surefire Ways to Bring Your Next Presentation to Life
Are your presentations boring?
For some reason, whenever we stand-up to make a presentation, many of us become our sternest selves. We’d be no more likely to break into a spontaneous smile than we would be to turn a quick pirouette. The same logic applies directly to the words being spoken from our unsmiling lips. Those words tend to be stripped-down minimal phrases. They are as focused as possible and as few as necessary, as we aim to deliver a professional business case.
I’m not sure exactly where it is...Continue reading
By Peter PaskalePosted in Communication Skills on March 3, 2014
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February 28, 2014
Leading in Chaos – Six Essentials to Stay Focused & Enable Success
VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, & Ambiguity – is the new normal.
Can you imagine anything more disconcerting than driving at 100 mph in a thick fog – with the radio blaring, cell phone ringing, and the kids in the back seat asking, “Are we there yet?” Yet, isn’t that what it is like operating in business today? The fog is thick, the pace is rapid, and the distractions are constant. Where can business leaders find solutions to be able to navigate through this chaos and produce results in this very uncomfortable...Continue reading
By Karen KuhlaPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on February 28, 2014
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February 26, 2014
Time for a Tough Talk
Four Steps to Prepare For a Tough Conversation With Your Employee
Many leaders that I work with really want to focus on external activities. Perfect planning. Clear calendars. Great goals. It feels like you are getting a lot more done that way, right?
As a new leader, I would love it if you could avoid this trap. Truly leading your team means that you are not just getting a bunch of work done, but there is harmony in your team. Communication is clear. Conflicts are constructive. Engagement is high.
If you...Continue reading
By Emilie ShoopPosted in Management on February 26, 2014
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February 18, 2014
The Difference Between an Individual Contributor & a Leader
Take this self-assessment & push yourself toward leadership.
You may carry the title of a Senior Manager and yet struggle to truly get work done through others in a way that propels the team forward.
You may have the experience and authority to get compliance and yet fail to earn true commitment from the people on your team.
If you haven’t quite reached the rung of leadership in your ascent to your position, it may be because you are clinging to old, familiar behaviors that have served you well in the past. This is a common career...Continue reading
By Deb CalvertPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on February 18, 2014
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February 14, 2014
Five Leadership Capabilities of Abraham Lincoln
How do you and your leadership team measure up in these capabilities?
As February annually asks us to reflect on our Presidents, it too allows us to reflect on our own leadership and leaders in our organizations. I cannot help but reflect on the leadership capabilities of our 16th President. As we lament the divisiveness of our current national political dialogue and the uncertainty and ambiguity it creates geopolitically for business, political, military and global leaders, I am reminded that our nation has suffered greater challenges and pulled through them. ...Continue reading
By Karen KuhlaPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on February 14, 2014
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February 10, 2014
Building & Leading High-Performance Teams-7 Questions Leaders Ask
What’s good for the general is also good for the corporate leader!
Effective leaders ask many questions – and listen to the answers they receive. Great leaders act on what they hear.
A right of passage for first year cadets (plebes) at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA) requires the memorization of a wide range of information and the accurate recitation of the details when requested by upperclassmen. The objective of the exercise, according to the guidebook of the time, was to develop memory retention skills and the ability to perform...Continue reading
By Karen KuhlaPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on February 10, 2014
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February 3, 2014
3 Communication Practices That Will Enrich Your Life
These few skills are the ones that we should practice everyday.
Just as high quality ingredients make every recipe more nutritious and delicious, a specific set of healthy communication practices can make every relationship more nourishing and life affirming. Read on to learn more about foundational communication practices that will enrich your life.
“Assertiveness for Women.” “Powerful Speech.” “Being Charismatic!” The list of self-help communication titles is endless. And it is true that to be a very competent...Continue reading
By Claire LaughlinPosted in Communication Skills on February 3, 2014
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January 27, 2014
7 Ways to Engage Your Team
Improve Employee Engagement & Reduce Turnover
According to the 2014 Conference Board CEO Challenge, “Building a culture that supports engagement, employee training, leadership development, and high performance is something companies can control, and can mean the difference between growing market share and simply surviving in 2014.”
But that lofty statement includes more than just the CEO’s effort. That means managers – at every level – have got to build some intention around how to better stimulate and engage...Continue reading
By Lea McLeodPosted in Management on January 27, 2014
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January 22, 2014
Leading With Integrity-From West Point to Chairman of the Board
Executive Insight from William Murdy, Chairman, Comfort Systems USA, & Thayer Leader Development Group
Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow West Point graduate, William F. (Bill) Murdy, Chairman of Comfort Systems USA (Houston) (NYSE: FIX), a $1.3 billion company providing heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) installation and services in the commercial/industrial/institutional sector. In addition to his extensive experience and knowledge in the corporate world, his recent venture into executive training through the creation of The Thayer Leader Development Group brings a...Continue reading
By Dan WoodsPosted in Leadership & Teambuilding on January 22, 2014
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