Defining Leadership Excellence: What Great Leaders Know

By Michael Lee Stallard As a first time manager, you likely feel tremendous pressure to be a “great leader.” But if asked you to define what makes a leader great, how would you respond? Most managers are aware of the basic principles of good leadership, but few are able to organize the vague ideals they

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Ten Ways to Turn Individual Contributors into Collaborative Colleagues

It happens often. You are leading a team and some (maybe all) of the members see themselves as individual contributors, not necessarily members of a team. They state (and show) that they’d rather work alone, and prefer individual accomplishments and results to tying their fortunes to a team. But you want a cohesive team –

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3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 3: “Won’t Do” Problem

This is three-part series by guest blogger William Dann. Read Part 1: 3 Types of Supervisory Problems: “Can’t Do” Problems and Part 2: 3 Types of Supervisory Problems: “Confidence” Problems. As we discussed in the previous posts, Ken Blanchard has said that there are two categories of problems in supervision, a “Can’t Do” and a “Won’t

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Unlock Conversation With These Seven Question Keys

We have all encountered locked doors in our lives. Most of them are literal slabs of wood or metal, keeping us from moving to someplace we want to go. And to get through doors, keys are required. The keys I am sharing with you today however, unlock more than a literal door. They are key

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3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 2: “Confidence” Problems

This is three-part series by guest blogger William Dann. Read 3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 1: “Can’t Do” Problems As we discussed in the previous post, Ken Blanchard has said that there are two categories of problems in supervision, a “Can’t Do” and a “Won’t Do” problem. I add a third category, “Confidence” problems that

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3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 1: “Can’t Do” Problems

This is three-part series by guest blogger William Dann.   As Ken Blanchard has said, there are two categories of problems in supervision, a “Can’t Do” and a “Won’t Do” problem. “Can’t Do” problems are the responsibility of supervisors to solve. “Won’t Do” problems are the responsibility of employees to solve. I think there is a third

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How to Start Coaching Existing Team Members

As a leader/manager/supervisor in an organization, part of your responsibility, obligation and an implied (if not stated) expectation is to be a coach. Recently I was asked a very valuable question about that role, and the reality that many leaders live in. Here is the question, verbatim: I manage a small IT group. I haven’t

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Remarkable TV: Is There More Than One Way to Coach?

I am often asked if there is a right or better way to coach – and today I’m going to answer it using the NCAA Basketball Championship to help me answer it. Check it out below! The best coaches recognize their strengths as a coach and use them to the advantage of those they coach.

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What Leaders Can Learn From Watching the Super Bowl

If you are like a lot of people, Sunday you will be watching the Super Bowl. You might be with a group or alone. You might be a true fan of the game (or of the Chiefs, 49ers, or Taylor Swift). Or maybe you are just watching the commercials. Whatever your reasons or watching, the

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Beating Blue Monday – the “Worst Day of the Year”

About ten years ago Cliff Arnall, a British scientist, reportedly created a calculation to determine “the most depressing day of the year.” The equation includes seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since last failed attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.

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