Book Summary: “Orbiting the Giant Hairball” by Gordon MacKenzie
This book, subtitled “A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace,” was recommended to me by my longtime friend and colleague Robyn Rickenbach of Springboard International. The author worked at Hallmark Cards for 30 years in a variety of creative roles (even...
Working Effectively with Five Generations of Employees
It is hopefully clear that working effectively together is mandatory in business. Aspects such as having common goals and clear roles, establishing strong relationships, communicating openly, and respecting each other must be held in high regard by everyone involved....
Reflect Back and Plan Forward – revisited
At the end of 2014, I posted this blog. Personal reflection is a critical element for learning and growth, while planning is essential for goal achievement. When done together, reflection and planning are very powerful! 2020 is here – do you envision something...
Book Summary: “Execution. The Discipline of Getting Things Done.” by Bossidy, Charan
Being a long-time GE employee (albeit from more than 15 years ago), I was interested to dig into this book, as it has been on my reading list for a while. It's all about execution...and, as the authors discuss at length, I too have seen many terrific visions, plans,...
Effective Employee Retention Strategies
There is ongoing discourse in all sectors (public, private, healthcare and non-profit) regarding the need for retaining talented employees. And there is consistent agreement that doing so can be more difficult and challenging than hiring them. The retention of good...
Addressing Your Fear of Conflict
I thought that this topic might be timely, in part because I have had an unusually high number of conversations recently with clients, friends, family members, and others regarding handling conflict and having difficult conversations. A few years ago, we posted a blog...
Managers as Coaches (Part 2). Some Solutions!
While being the solver of all problems might be effective and efficient in achieving results for a manager in the short term, in the long run it creates a weaker team through learned helplessness. Too many organizations are unable to function when the boss isn’t there...
Managers as Coaches: The Changing Landscape of Managing Employees – Part 1
The numbers aren’t pretty. A Gallup poll last year found that no more than 13% of adults with full-time jobs found their work meaningful. According to the Gallup’s 2017 State of the American Workplace report, only 33% of U.S. employees are engaged (passionate and...
Book Summary: “Transitions” by William Bridges
I appreciate the saying by the great American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson that “Not in his goals but in his transitions man is great.” So, I was excited when my friend Derek Noether suggested the book Transitions, because we all deal with many changes in...
Contact Us
P.O. Box 99400
Raleigh, NC 27624