November, 2015

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12 Ways to Rise After Being Thrown Under the Bus

Leadership Freak

Every leader has a few tread-marks on their back. How deep they go depends on you. Being thrown under the bus means someone elevated their status and lowered yours in front of others.

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What Leaders Can Learn From Charlie Brown

Kevin Eikenberry

Charlie Brown. He is one of the best-known fictional characters of the last 75 years (though he first appeared in a different strip earlier, the first Peanuts Strip was published October 2, 1950). He is known by many as a lovable loser, has been often bullied, and called names (“You Blockhead, Charlie Brown!”). Charles Schultz, […]. The post What Leaders Can Learn From Charlie Brown appeared first on Kevin Eikenberry on Leadership & Learning.

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How To Assess Your Organization's Risk

Eric Jacobsen Blog

Within the first 100 days as a new leader in an organization, you'll want to assess your organization's risk. Authors George Bradt, Jayme A. Clark and Jorge Pedraza, in their book, The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan (third edition), recommend you do your assessment using the 5Cs : Customers : First line, customer chain, end users, influencers Collaborators : Suppliers, allies, government/community leaders Capabilities : Human, operational, financial, technical, key assets Competitors : Direct,

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Heidi Grant Halvorson | Why Your Employees Don't Understand You

Tanveer Nasser

A common theme found among the numerous books and articles on successful leadership is that leaders need to be more open, more transparent with those they lead in order to improve communication channels and drive forward initiatives that are key to an organization's success and growth. But what if we're not as open or as easy to read as we might think that we are?

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The Hidden Skills That Separate Good Leaders from Great Ones

Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC

Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult

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How to Build a Team and Promote Teamwork: 10 Essential Skills

Vanessa Van Edwards

There is magic in a team. The right teammates can exponentially grow the power of individual members — if the science of teams is leveraged correctly. And that’s what this post is all about! Talent wins games but teamwork wins championships Michael Jordan Have you ever seen a well-oiled people machine going full throttle? Let me Continue reading "How to Build a Team and Promote Teamwork: 10 Essential Skills".

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To Get More Creative, Become Less Productive

Harvard Business Review

There is a fundamental tension between productivity and creativity, and managers won’t get more of the latter until they recognize it. Productive people move through the tasks they have to accomplish in a systematic way. They make steady and measurable progress toward their goals. They make effective and efficient use of their time. Creativity… doesn’t.

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How Do I Communicate Better With People at a Distance?

Kevin Eikenberry

The saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. While that may be true in some cases, another old saying is also true: Out of sight, out of mind. Both hold shades of truth for any of us wanting to communicate more effectively with people when we are separated by space. More often though, the […]. The post How Do I Communicate Better With People at a Distance?

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How Managers Can Better Support And Retain Their Millennial Colleagues

Eric Jacobsen Blog

Millennial turnover is a huge problem for leaders. Millennials account for nearly 40 percent of the American workforce, and by 2025, that number balloons to 75 percent of the global workplace. “Over 60 percent of millennials leave their company in under three years,” explains Elizabeth McLeod , a Millennial and cum laude grad of Boston University. “And, there are four reasons why Millennials dump their middle-aged managers,” adds McLeod.

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10 Ways to Seize Leadership’s Greatest Opportunity

Leadership Freak

Life feels empty when you feel you could be more. Leadership’s greatest opportunity is maximizing potential. 7 ways to be less than you could be: Think, “They need to change.

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7 Ways Leaders Promote Unhappiness

Leadership Freak

Unhappiness is easier than happiness like lousy leadership is easier than remarkable. The best way to promote unhappy is to neglect happiness. Leaders who neglect happiness lead unhappy teams.

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Future of HR: Navigating Transformation in the Digital Age

Speaker: Jeremy York

Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of the rapidly evolving HR landscape as we examine how technological innovation, regulatory changes, talent strategies, and evolving diversity approaches are reshaping the profession. This webinar will provide HR professionals with practical insights on leveraging AI and emerging technologies while maintaining compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

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Only 15% of Top Performers are High Potentials

Leadership Freak

Your ability to cultivate people determines your impact in the world. Surprisingly, only 15% of top performers* are likely to be high potentials (HiPo). Performance is easy to spot. But, if you want to change the world, look for people with character. After performance, character determines potential. Leaders without character are disasters in the making.

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7 Surprising Questions to Measure Your Leadership

Leadership Freak

You can’t know how you’re doing until you’re measured. Evaluation might feel uncomfortable, but the alternative is self-deception, lost potential, and mediocrity. 7 surprising questions to measure your leadership: How are you becoming dispensable? Create systems that function without you. Give control with accountability. Develop vision as a team, not an individual.

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Secrets That Elevate the Journey to Adventure

Leadership Freak

Stop giving your future away. Own your journey. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Helen Keller #1. Build relationships that make risk-taking more likely.

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7 Ways to Stop Being Hardheaded

Leadership Freak

Failure is the result of inflexibility, but so is success. Thomas Edison said, “The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

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4 HR Priorities for 2025 to Supercharge Your Employee Experience

Speaker: Carolyn Clark and Miriam Connaughton

Forget predictions, let’s focus on priorities for the year and explore how to supercharge your employee experience. Join Miriam Connaughton and Carolyn Clark as they discuss key HR trends for 2025—and how to turn them into actionable strategies for your organization. In this dynamic webinar, our esteemed speakers will share expert insights and practical tips to help your employee experience adapt and thrive.

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One Key Practice that Develops Character

Leadership Freak

Character is repetition. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” But, there’s more. “Character is destiny.” Heraclitus. You become what you repeatedly do. That’s hope and responsibility. Occasional anger doesn’t make you an angry leader, repeated does. Patterns of behavior reveal, develop, and establish character. Unchallenged patterns congeal character.

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Sudden Breakthroughs in Subtle Blind Spots

Leadership Freak

Successful leaders have the wonderful capacity to tragically misjudge themselves. We snicker or cringe at people who believe they’re great singers, when they can’t carry a tune. But, what if you’re that person?

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How to Eliminate Stupid Rules

Leadership Freak

The stupid things I’ve done were done sincerely. I thought I was helping. It’s possible to sincerely believe you’re being helpful when you’re doing harm. Sincerity doesn’t erase stupid. Smart leaders do stupid things.

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7 Ways to Defeat Complexity

Leadership Freak

The simplest way to get something done is do it yourself. Don’t depend on anyone. But, that’s not leadership. New connections expand potential and increase complexity. The result of unchallenged complexity, within organizations, is instability.

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How to Make The Best Benefits Decisions for 2025's Workforce: An HR and Total Rewards Guide

Speaker: Kaitlin Ruby Carroll

Retaining top talent in 2025 means rethinking benefits. In a competitive job market, fertility benefits are more than just offerings - they are a commitment to your team’s well-being. Gain critical insights into the latest fertility benefits strategies that can help position your organization as an industry leader. Our expert will explore the unique advantages and challenges of each model, share success stories from top organizations, and offer practical strategies to make benefits decisions tha

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You Have What You Seek

Leadership Freak

To get where you want to go, move toward authentic leadership. The main characters in the Wizard of Oz discovered they already had what they sought. The Tin Man always had heart.

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The CEO of Ace® Hardware on Leadership

Leadership Freak

I asked the CEO of the largest home improvement franchise company in the world, Ace® Hardware, what others saw in him as a leader. He started talking about definitions.

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Solution Saturday: Stress Free Problem-Solving

Leadership Freak

Too much problem-solving is a problem. Dis-empowered employees want you to solve their problems for them. Successful leaders help others solve problems. (This post originates with a problem-centric-email I received.

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Rethinkers Are Stinkers

Leadership Freak

One member of my team called my ability to rethink decisions frustrating. It drove him nuts. I thought it was the pursuit of excellence. Now I know it’s dangerous. Rethinkers lead sluggish organizations. When leaders are great at rethinking, decisions aren’t final. 4 dangers of rethinking: Foot dragging when decisions are unpopular. Just wait.

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The Diversity Reckoning: Can HR Survive Without New Perspectives?

Speaker: Jeremy York

2024 has tested every organization, and 2025 promises no less - the warning signs are everywhere. If you’re relying on superficial approaches to diversity, you might find yourself scrambling to catch up. Thought diversity - the fuel for new ideas, fresh perspectives, and disruptive innovation - is more than a buzzword. It's a survival strategy. And if you’re not building it into your workplace culture right now , you’re heading for trouble.

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You Don’t Have to be Man’s Best Friend

Leadership Freak

Everyone disdains leaders who are in it just for themselves. Self-absorbed leaders destroy relationships, disengage employees, and diminish results. Brave leaders build relationships. Cowards use distance and fear to control.

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I Felt on the Spot During Q&A

Leadership Freak

I felt on the spot after a recent presentation. During the Q&A, my authenticity was questioned in front of the audience. I give Leadership Freak coffee cups for questions. When I gave her the cup, she said, “You might want it back.

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A Way of Seeing that Expands Leadership

Leadership Freak

Gratitude is a way of seeing, even when life isn’t perfect. The opposite of gratitude: Envy. You can’t enjoy what you have because others have more. Blindness. You close your eyes goodness. Arrogance.

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What if…

Leadership Freak

Stop asking, “What about?” Start asking, “What if?” What if the people you’re trying to please approved of you? How would you spend your energy? Living to please others is serving fear.

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Recognition Powers High-Performance — If You Do it Right

Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg

Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.

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3 Strategies to Fuel Vitality and Eliminate Gossip

Leadership Freak

Gossip makes weak leaders feel powerful. It’s foolish to undermine the people you’re counting on. Strong teams aren’t built by spreading venom, focusing on weaknesses, or dredging up animosity.

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The 7 Powers of Weakness

Leadership Freak

Don’t wait until you have it “all together” to lead. Arrogant leaders parade strengths. Successful leaders understand the power of weaknesses. You’re disqualified from leadership, if you don’t have weaknesses. Don’t trust leaders who have it all together. Authentic leaders are better because they accept weakness. The seven powers of weakness: Weakness expands thinking.

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7 Surprising Strategies that Elevate Leaders

Leadership Freak

Fools see lack of wisdom in others, not in themselves. People who need help the most, seek it least. “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.

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7 Ways to Get a Grip on Daily Life

Leadership Freak

You are the reason your life is like it is. 7 ways to get a grip on daily life: #1. Pack your schedule.

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The Upskilling Advantage: Transforming Your Workforce For Future Growth

Speaker: Brian Richardson

With a staggering 92% of CEOs prioritizing skill development, and 84% struggling with transformation, mastering upskilling is now more critical than ever. Drawing on extensive research and collaboration with hundreds of leading organizations, discover key hurdles and innovative best practices in workforce upskilling. You'll walk away with a deep understanding of how to build a culture of continuous learning, expert insights into assessing the current skills of your employees, and a strategic too