Many times the solutions we seek are waltzing around in full sight, but we don’t see them.  Let me give you a personal example.
I started RampUp Solutions in 1997, but finding a simple way to describe what we did took several years.
In the show Gypsy there’s a song that says, “Ya gotta have a gimmick” to succeed and I doubt that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
I wanted one clear, concise term that gave insight to RampUp’s coaching approach, not a couple of paragraphs—no matter how well written.
When the light finally went on I had to laugh. The term I …read more

I’ve mentioned from time to time that there are the two basic principles that you need to believe in if you want to implement the kind of culture that I and most other pundits describe.
Here’s the first one.
People are intelligent, motivated, and they genuinely want to support their company in achieving its objectives.
Sadly, many managers don’t believe this. They may say they do, but deep down their thoughts run more along the lines of ‘people are stupid, lazy and don’t really give a damn’.
I’ve know managers who would actually say this out loud, while in others it’s buried so deeply …read more

I was reading through some of the previous posts here at Leadership Turn and discovered The Thirty Second Elevator Speech. I am in total agreement with Mary Ann. If I asked a real estate agent what they did, and they said, “I make people’s dreams come true” I would just have to start laughing.
Gone are the days of the slick, butter-couldn’t-melt-in-your-mouth snake oil salesman. People are much too intelligent to be insulted with a statement like the one above. With all the problems we have as a society, one of the great improvements we’ve wrought is that we demand sincerity …read more

The dynamics of the workplace have changed dramatically since I was part of the corporate world. Have you read the article about Google being the number one best place to work in America? It blew me away. Google makes going to work look more attractive than staying at home!
Of course, few companies are as worth as much as Google. The average business is lucky to be able to provide insurance benefits for its employees. Christmas bonuses are considered a premo perk of most jobs.
If you own a business and often wish you could afford to offer your employees more, but …read more

Although the 30-second elevator speech has become one of the required skills to have in your leadership repertoire, I’ve been resisting it every step of the way.
I’ve read all the reasons about why it’s important.  It basically boils down to having a creative, yet solid, answer to the question “what do you do?” and having it practiced and memorized until it rolls automatically off your tongue.  It’s seen as a chance to sell yourself and your skills. 
Many “experts” suggest that you craft your mini-speech in such a way as to capture someone’s attention, pushing them into asking for more information …read more

As you promote within your company, you will find increased opportunity to be visible, both within your workplace and without.  One way that you may be asked to represent the company is by speaking at an event, organize a conference, or participate in a public forum.
These are wonderful opportunities for both personal and professional growth.  But these are not opportunities for you to just “wing it.”  They required preparation, perhaps even more so than in your normal business routine.  Delivering remarks, giving a speech, moderating a panel, and introducing a conference participant all look like easy tasks.  They are easy, …read more

I’ve written a lot lately about how important it is for us to compliment, praise, and thank others. 
Equally important, however, is learning how to graciously accept compliments, praise and thanks from others.  All to often, we tend to brush aside the kind words of others, either because we are embarrassed, don’t feel worthy, or simply don’t know how to handle it.
The worst way to handle compliments, is to brush it aside with a casual “it’s nothing” or “oh, I don’t really deserve it.”  Those words denigrate the belief and esteem of the person extending the compliment.
We should always honor the …read more

I’ve written previously about the power of praise, and how important it is to motivating and inspiring people.  One of the simplest was to extend praise is with two simple words — Thank You.
Think about the last time you extended and thank you.  Was it well thought out and sincere, or was it a throw away line?  Was is delivered in a respectful manner, or added as an afterthought?  Can you even remember the last time you said the words?  The last time you really meant them?
It seems like even adults need a reminder to say thank you these days, …read more

Do you frequently find yourself involved in verbal battles with other people?  If so, defensive communication may be part of the problem.
Defensive communication occurs when one party to a conversation feels threatened, attacked, or is trying to protect their self-image.
Oh sure, we all react defensively on occasion, and it is, in fact, a legitimate defense mechanism.  But when all our communication carries the taint of defensiveness, it can ruin both personal and professional relationships. 
If you have a goal of eliminating defensiveness in your own communications, as well as not provoking it in others, consider these ideas.

Keep a communication log with details about …read more

All too frequently today, people are starved for a little praise.  Whether we are willing to acknowledge it to others, or even admit it to ourselves, we all need a little praise in our life.
Awhile back, Milo wrote a post about his belief that a leader should not give someone a pat on the back because they need it, but only because they deserve it.
I disagree.
My leadership approach is different.  I believe that an effective leader learns how to best motivate an employee, team member, volunteer, etc., and then uses that information to help that individual succeed.  And sometimes, that …read more