Do you have more time on your hands than you know what to do with? That question always gets a big laugh in my career strategy workshops where improving time management is a top priority for participants. Despite that desire, taking control of how they spend their time remains an elusive goal for even… read more
When I left my full-time job at Mass General Hospital a few years ago, I knew I’d miss my colleagues and having ready access to the IT department. But there was something I knew I would NOT miss – spending endless hours each week in meetings. It was liberating to have all of that time… read more
I am pleased to share a guest post from my esteemed colleague and best-selling author, Suzanne Bates, who reminds us of the importance of checking in with your colleagues regularly. She goes so far as to schedule the “spontaneous” visits that are so essential to maintaining our precious relationships. Using “Zig-Zag Leadership” to Amplify Your… read more
As I’ve been working with my coaching and consulting clients to set and achieve their personal and professional goals, we’ve been very busy keeping our eyes on the prize. That’s a good thing. But… that’s not the only thing. Yes, it is crucial to set goals and make a plan if you want to optimize… read more
Even though the people in your unit are overstretched, scarred by the budget ax, and sick to death of change, you’re about to present them with a wrenching new challenge. It’s your job to get them excited about it. What’s your plan? I have a story about just such a situation, and, oddly enough, a… read more
When business leaders stray from their missions, profits suffer. But when our leaders in Washington lose their way, they court all sorts of disasters, leading a hapless nation to the edge of fiscal cliffs and even putting some of us in mortal danger. Enough already. Before they do irreparable harm, our nation’s leaders must remind… read more
Do you encourage your employees to take vacation time to rest and recharge? You should! Research proves that people perform better at work when they take time off. So why is it that many employees are reluctant to take the time off that they have coming to them? I explore this question and what you… read more
Here is a link from my latest post for Harvard Business Review entitled, To Guide Difficult Conversations, Try Using Compassion. One of the most common questions I get from clients and audiences is “How do I deal with conflict at work?” What they are often really asking me is, “How can I avoid conflict at work?” Unfortunately, since… read more
Sometimes we have to be shocked into seeing something that was there all along. For a senior executive I’ll call Karen, one of those defining moments came most unexpectedly when her boss tried to give her a one-line performance review for the third year in a row. Before Karen was promoted to vice president, her… read more