I grew up on a farm — an environment where mechanical equipment abounds and things break (often at inopportune times). Given that, having great mechanical skills and aptitudes are a great benefit to a farmer. Thankfully, my father had those skills. He was so good at the variety of skills required that I grew up [...]
Tom stepped into the meeting room, but from his perspective it might as well have been a jail cell. He was a prisoner in his own work day. Why? The PowerPoint slide projected on the screen said it all. “Welcome to our Refresher Training.” Refresher training might be needed for some people but Tom already [...]
Every leader has, in a formal setting or not, needed to provide feedback on performance. In workshops around the world I have asked people to give me their best tips for providing effective feedback. To a person, leaders create great lists of techniques and approaches. Yet one thing, perhaps the most powerful piece of advice, [...]
This week’s resource recommendation is Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t By Paul Sullivan. This book’s title caught my eye in the store, so I picked it up. I read it on a plane trip recently. I was hopeful based on the title, and found it like many other books written [...]
This week’s Resource Recommendation is It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden. A couple of weeks back I was at LAX waiting for my red eye flight home. I had delivered a workshop session at a conference, attended a reception and after a full day was [...]
As an author you go through several stages of the process of writing a book. You determine a book idea, you plan the writing, you do the writing and then, after some quiet time, you get feedback. Yes, in the case of my newest book, From Bud to Boss – Secrets to a Successful Transition [...]
These books both showed up in my mail this week because both authors are partnering with us to promote From Bud to Boss, launching February 15. Because of our relationship, they moved to the top of my reading stack. Because they are good, I am sharing them with you. Acting Up Brings Everyone Down: The [...]
This week’s Resource Recommendation is 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More By Stever Robbins People ask me all the time, “what is the best new time management book out there?” My flippant response is typically, “read the one you already have on your shelf, and use what it recommends.” I think this book’s [...]
This time of year lots of people publish lists. (I wrote one about books last week). Today’s list is simple. These are the five most read posts on my blog in 2010. Why should these posts matter to you? Here are three suggestions: You might have missed them, now you have a chance to read [...]
As long time newsletter readers know I read a lot. I don’t blog about everything I read, though perhaps I should. I’ve had people tell me that reading my resource recommendations is dangerous . . . to their pocketbook! I won’t apologize for that – reading good books is a great way to intentionally learn, [...]