6 Tips on Improving Results
I recently had a manager explain to me that he had a department with over 200 employees and that his biggest challenge was a lack of productivity. When I asked him what he meant by that he stated, “I...
View ArticleIs Your Workplace a Jerk Place?
All of us at one time or another have had the opportunity to work with or for someone that we would label as a jerk, idiot, or moron. And we have all probably been a jerk at some point to those with...
View ArticleWhy Don't People Take Initiative?
This is a question I have contemplated for a long time. Recently my exploration became more focused because of a challenge that occurred in our office. As I was getting on a plane to fly east, a...
View Article7 Ways to Improve Your Capacity for Compassion
I attended a leadership conference a few weeks ago at which I had been asked to speak. In one of the sessions, I was surprised when a senior executive stood before a group of newly promoted leaders...
View Article5 Tips for Navigating “Whitewater” Conversations
In college I had the opportunity to work as a river guide running the rapids in the Grand Canyon. Later on I discovered that navigating challenging rapids was akin to the terror often experienced in...
View Article7 Tips on How to Avoid Being Misinterpreted
A friend of mine is launching a book this fall. Because she writes a weekly blog, she asked her PR Director if he could provide her with any email addresses from the team who might like to receive her...
View Article7 Tips for Improving the Quality of Your Feedback
People often ask me for tips on how to give “negative feedback”—which is something that apparently no one enjoys either giving or receiving. Constructive feedback, on the other hand, which is feedback...
View ArticleDo They Really Want the Truth?
Many organizations and leaders highly espouse transparency and openness in an attempt to improve their organization’s effectiveness. Even though this may be part of what an organization portends to...
View ArticleDo You Really Want to Take the Plunge (Tell the Truth)?
We all have “undiscussables”—things we think and feel but usually don’t say. Whether or not we decide to share those issues, however, is a different matter. Chris Argyris, American business theorist,...
View ArticleCan You Talk About What Matters Most?
Jim has been a member of a product development team for the last year. He got along well with everyone except for the team’s leader, Mary. For some reason, Mary has the tendency to cut Jim off during...
View Article10 Tips on Improving the Vitality and Quality of Your Relationships
A number of years ago at the conclusion of a two-day REAL Conversation class, two elderly gentlemen waited for me after class. After everyone left, they approached me and thanked me for the session. I...
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How Do You Strengthen Your Presence?
I was recently asked to write a piece for a magazine on developing presence. Because of the short deadline, I was disappointed that I had to decline the opportunity. However I believe this to be an...
View ArticleEight Suggestions for Improving Your Listening Skills
Late one evening after all the children had gone to bed, I was sitting in the kitchen eating a wonderful piece of chocolate cake and thumbing through the latest L.L. Bean catalogue. My wife approached...
View ArticleWhy Don’t Others Listen to You?
Nine Tips for Improving Others Willingness to Listen to YouI had been on the road all week and I was eager to hang out with my family on Saturday morning. I came downstairs to find them watching...
View ArticleFour Leadership Tips That Will Make People Adore You
In our leadership development training, we like to start out by asking people to list as many characteristics about their former leaders that they both abhorred and adored. This tends to start out as...
View ArticleHow Can Leaders Cut the BS at Work and Address Real Issues?
You talk about challenges and issues until you are blue in the face, but you still don’t get results. People promise they will do this or that, but they don’t. So you have a decision to make: “Do I...
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How Can You Put More “Thanks” in Your Thanksgiving?
Years ago, I had the opportunity to attend an experiential training that was designed for individuals to get outside of themselves and to experience the power of a focused intention. Ten of us were...
View ArticleCan You Connect with Different Communication Styles of an Audience?
Of course no one sets out to intentionally offend or cause friction when they speak or communicate with large groups of people; and yet, everyone has a unique style of communication—which can differ...
View ArticleAsk--Don't Ask to Tell
Soon after I turned 16, I took a young lady on a date around the lake late at night to watch the moon come up. When it was time to go home, I started the car, drove maybe a quarter mile, and the car...
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A Gift Given is a Gift to Give
How do you create more joy this holiday season? Obviously the holidays are a time of celebrating, feasting, relaxing with family and friends, and reflecting on the bounties of the season. I have found...
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