Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 12, 2013
Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller capture, “The Secret,” of leadership in five letters, SERVE. The beauty of SERVE is inescapable simplicity and actionable clarity. Serve See the future: envision and communicate a compelling picture of a preferred future. What do I want to be true of the future? Why should anyone care? How will progress [.].
Kevin Eikenberry
FEBRUARY 11, 2013
Networking. For some that word brings images of hotel meeting rooms, coffee (or a cash bar), and a room of people trying to give you their business card. Others think networking is for sales people and those looking for a job. If your first thought was either of those things, keep reading. [.].
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Eric Jacobsen Blog
FEBRUARY 7, 2013
You can't lead if your employees, team or followers don't trust you. Building trust takes energy, effort and constant attention to how you act. To help build trust, follow these 16 tips , recommended by author Susan H. Shearouse: Be honest Keep commitments and keep your word Avoid surprises Be consistent with your mood Be your best Demonstrate respect Listen Communicate Speak with a positive intent Admit mistakes Be willing to hear feedback Maintain confidences Get to know others Practice empath
Harvard Business Review
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
Your clients and colleagues don't have time to engage fully with every e-mail they get. Some of them receive hundreds of messages per day. That's why they start with the ones they can deal with quickly. They may never get around to answering — or even reading — the rest. So how do you earn their attention? Try these tips: Stick to standard capitalization and punctuation.
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
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 16, 2013
Your worst problem is believing you know the problem, when you don’t. The next is solving it. Procter & Gamble set out to design new soap for cleaning floors. It’s a challenge because strong soap cleans dirt but it also strips finishes and irritates skin. After years of failed attempts, P&G came up with the [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 10, 2013
Maxwell said, “Leaders are learners.” The trouble with learning is unlearning. The trouble with learning is it changes past thinking. Learning amplifies, modifies, or invalidates past learning. The trouble with learning is rethinking. New thoughts evaluate old thoughts. Learning tests old assumptions, strategies, or methods. The trouble with learning is being wrong.
OrgDev Digest brings together the best content for management professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 7, 2013
Humility is real power, arrogance façade. 15 Ways to be an arrogant leader: Rush. “Important” people don’t have enough time. Look serious. The more important you are the more serious you look. Detach. “Arrogance comes from detachment.” Henry Mintzberg. Take calls or text during meetings. Now we know you’re important. Ooooo! Know. Act like you [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 3, 2013
I hate failing. Failure feels like wasted life. Yes, I know I’m supposed to embrace failure and learn. But, given the choice, I’d succeed more! I haven’t failed for lack of good intentions. Frankly, I’m troubled that the path down is faster than the path up. Fear of failure: Afraid to fail is afraid to [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Pressure and coercion don’t work for long. Successful leaders inspire and ignite, they don’t pressure. They were motivated. Now, they work when you’re around and doze when you’re not. What a difference three months makes. Coercion, pressure, or rewards may work momentarily. Performance improves while you’re watching and slows when you’re away.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Image source by Petr Kratochvil You enjoy work but hate the paperwork. If paperwork isn’t sapping your joy, it’s the people. Jamie Naughton, Speaker of the House for Zappos, told me she used to think, “Happiness at work was more in your job duties.” We wrongly believe happiness at work is exclusively about what we do. [.].
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.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
Leave a comment on today’s post and become eligible for one of 20 free copies of, “The Secret of Teams: What Great Teams Know and Do,” by Mark Miller. No obligation. “The more decisions a leader makes, the further he or she is from leading a high-performance team. … Make too many command decisions, [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 2, 2013
Image source You cheer for others. Who cheers for you? Some can’t stand it if you’re “too” happy. Most are ok if you’re a little bit happy or a little bit successful, … if you’re average. It’s okay with them if you long for more but whatever you do, don’t actually reach for it. And [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 25, 2013
Image source by George Hodan No one cares like you when you own it. But, the more you own the less they own. No one wants to own what you own too. Individuals take ownership, you can’t give it. When someone gives you something you don’t want, you protest. “No thanks.” If it’s forced on [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 27, 2013
It’s certain that we live in uncertain times. 13 Power Tips for Leading through Uncertainty: Pull with – not against, higher ups. Grab the rope and pull, even if you disagree. Everyone who pulls in their own direction dilutes potential success. If you can’t pull with, jump ship, now. Aim to make a positive difference. [.].
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.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 6, 2013
“I think there’s so much time and effort wasted on setting forth mission statements and vision statements…” Karen Martin, author of, The Outstanding Organization.” Pointless vision: Compelling vision doesn’t cure sick organizations. Martin said, “Many organizations have these lofty visions and they can’t even deliver product to customers…” Forget about it: Martin said, “I’m a little [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 23, 2013
Image source by Vojko Kalan Memo to the new team, 2/23/13: Raise your hand if you love wasting time on: Meaningless drivel. Frustrating stagnation. Superficial relationships. Worthless discussions. Trivial decisions. Mediocre results. Mundane impact. If wasting time excites you, create dysfunctional teams. Members of dysfunctional teams: Dread meetings.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 17, 2013
Image source by George Hodan Whiners are potential leaders. But, pessimists can’t lead. Leader as whiner: Progress could be faster. Quality could be better. Team mates could give more. Organizations aren’t meeting needs. Structures block rather than energize success. The line between whiner and leader is optimism. Whiners become leaders when they press through problem [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
People look to leaders when things aren’t working. Not working: In less than three years, nearly 300 of Campbell Soup Company’s 350 global leaders had either left on their own or were asked to leave. What kind of CEO leads a blood-bath like that? You might picture a Genghis Khan character with blood dripping from his sword. [.].
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
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 4, 2013
An employee frustrates the heck out of you. Wish you could start over? Your boss drives you crazy. Wouldn’t it be nice to start fresh? What’s stopping you from starting over? You! Start over – 5 ways to address the past: Identify frustrations and name failures. Ignored frustrations always escalate. Accept their weaknesses. Take your blame. What [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
To the new team: Thank you for accepting a seat at the table. I’m writing to you because you’re young and I’m counting on your new team to lift our organization to new heights. Learning to work on a team is a powerful opportunity for you. Seize it with gusto. However… There’s nothing natural about [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 9, 2013
Image source by Peter Griffin #1. Describe wins simply; one word if possible. #2. Move from simplicity to clarity. Explain what you don’t want. Tap your frustrations for guidance. Everyone knows what they don’t want. Move from negatives to positives. “I want to stop losing my temper.” Controlling your temper is stopping something, a “don’t [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 11, 2013
Ineffective leaders give without expecting return. Generosity motivates indulgence when you don’t expect response. One-way relationships between capable people are sick. Someone needs a favor. Generously meet their request, if you can. Adapt the schedule. Assign help. Shift deadlines. Reciprocity: Expect two-way relationships. Call for reciprocity. After pouring into their cup expect them to pour [.].
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.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 26, 2013
Leaders who hurry always neglect people. If leadership is about people why rush like it’s about tasks? But, when rushing is required, never rush alone. Mentor as you go. Enable future replacements. Work yourself out of, not into, jobs. Exponential success requires taking things from your bucket and putting them in theirs. But, prepare people [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Little Mary just knocked a glass of milk on the floor. That’s what two year old’s do. There’s a group of five leaders at the table. Bob waves the waiter over and says, “Could someone clean this up?” Mindy says, “That happened because the milk was too close to the edge.” Joe says, “Don’t worry, [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Who’s falling behind? Thriving organizations leave those who don’t grow behind. Change leaves those who don’t change frustrated, wondering what happened. The puzzle changed and they don’t fit. Helping snails keep up: See people first and performance second. Watch your team. Observe: Energy levels. What drags down? Frustration levels. What frustrates?
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 18, 2013
Dripping-faucet-leaders irritate with constant tweaks and suggestions. Your team wants you to shut-up and leave them alone. Additionally, honest leaders build negative environments by constantly fixing and improving. The dark side of pursuing excellence is nitpicking. Perfection-seekers are nitpickers. Nitpicking: Shows attention to detail. Is different from being particular.
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.
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 22, 2013
Image source To the New Team: You may be wondering why you don’t have more direction. It’s intentional. The advantage of new teams is no history. The advantage of being told what to do is safety. Freedom, on the other hand, makes the storming process more turbulent but the result is ownership. You have the [.].
Leadership Freak
FEBRUARY 19, 2013
Image source by Hana Muchova' Many CEO’s are told what they want to hear, rather than what team members really think. That’s a foolish way to avoid butting heads with the boss. I asked Jamie Naughton, Speaker of the House for Zappos, to talk about a time when she butted heads with her famous CEO, [.].
Eric Jacobsen Blog
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
Today, I welcome thought-leader Nathan Magnuson as guest blogger. Nathan writes : This is it, your first day in a formal leadership role. You’ve worked hard as an individual contributor at one or possibly several organizations. Now management has finally seen fit to promote you into a position as one of their own: a supervisor. You don’t care if your new team is only one person or ten, you’re just excited that now – finally – you will be in charge!
Eric Jacobsen Blog
FEBRUARY 3, 2013
Mistakes happen. The best thing you can do as a leader is to help your employee learn from his (or her) mistake. If your employee is afraid of ever making a mistake, he will be paralyzed from taking action or taking even calculated risks. If he knows that mistakes happen in the course of doing business and that one learns from making mistakes, you will have a more productive employee.
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
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