Getting to Know the “Other”
I often comment in the middle of posts that I write about what I think my wife, Sarah, will say to me when she edits the post. I can do this rather accurately because I know my wife better than anyone else on the planet. Likewise, she knows me better than anyone else. This intimacy […]
Organizational Pride
In any physical endeavor, there is a line between pushing yourself too far and not pushing yourself enough. As I wrote about recently, I have not only been dealing with a shoulder injury lately, I have been pushing through the pain. After all, improvement is always hard. At some point, however, I have to ask […]
It Is (Still) Supposed to Be Hard
Why am I surprised when I get injured at the gym? As I write these words, I have a shoulder injury, tightness in my quadriceps, and I feel run down. The Evernote file I use to track my lifts tells me that I have made progress the last thirty days, yet progress has come with […]
I Didn’t Have to Say a Word
In came the invitation to an emergency meeting. A prideful thought emerged that I was only being invited so that I could “make a decision.” Isn’t that what leaders do after all? The situation was that the customer had called with an emergency. In short, they needed parts by Monday morning because of a production […]
Your Organization Does Not Have to be Stuck
I often hear leaders like myself saying things like “what we really need is someone to help us with ____, so we need to go hire someone who does ____.” While hiring an expert is often a good idea, and can even reap tremendous gains for the organization, “more overhead” is often used as an […]
When the Leader is Challenged
Last month our sales team had its annual two-day strategic planning event. The team talked about its strategic goals for not only the next year, but also about where we wanted to head over the long-term. I love how engaged our team members are. They’re smart, motivated, passionate, and not only willing to challenge each […]
Real Human Beings read Feedback
“Do to others as you would have them do to you…unless you’re giving anonymous feedback online. Then let them have it!” -Contemporary Modern Translation (CMT) A friend of mine recently shared her experience reviewing survey data from her organization’s yearly event that is attended by thousands of people. “People send in their surveys anonymously, and […]
The “After Sale” Experience
A few years ago, I purchased a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have absolutely loved driving the car ever since. In fact, the car has exceeded my expectations in terms of reliability and performance. That said, I doubt I’ll buy another one. How come? The customer service at the local Jeep dealer is abysmal. […]
Feeling Overwhelmed?
What’s the difference between feeling “busy” and “overwhelmed?” To illustrate the difference, think of your parents. Were they busy? As busy as you are today? How often did they ever use the word “overwhelmed?” Personally, I don’t remember my parents describing themselves as overwhelmed back in the 1980s and 90s. Perhaps they were at times? […]