Makarios Consulting Blog

Month: April 2019

Leadership Courage Part 5: Giving (Tough) Redirecting Feedback

Feedback is perhaps the single most powerful tool a leader has at his or her disposal to bring about significant improvement in employee engagement and performance. Ken Blanchard wisely noted, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” That being said, most leaders avoid giving redirecting feedback – feedback that seeks to change negative behavior or performance… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 5: Giving (Tough) Redirecting Feedback

Leadership Courage Part 4: Setting a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal

Businesses around the world are indebted to James Collins and Jerry Porras for giving us the concept of the “BHAG” – a “big, hairy, audacious goal.” BHAGs have been instrumental in challenging and changing businesses for the better for years. BHAGs are stretch goals: specific in nature, long-term in timeframe, and transformative in outcome. It… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 4: Setting a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal

Leadership Courage Part 3: Tackling the Tough Issues

Imagine you are walking along and see an old, empty paint can in the road. Do you pick it up and throw it into the nearest dumpster – or, do you kick it down the road? Most corporate teams, if they answered the metaphorical question honestly, would admit that they tend to kick the can… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 3: Tackling the Tough Issues

Leadership Courage Part 2: Engaging in Open Dialogue and Healthy Conflict

Peak team and company performance depends on open dialogue and healthy conflict. Unfortunately, the dialogue within many teams and at many companies is often less than open and the conflict is anything but healthy. There are many possible reasons for less-than-optimal interpersonal communications. For example, people may: Protect their turf rather than looking at the… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 2: Engaging in Open Dialogue and Healthy Conflict

Leadership Courage Part 1: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities for Peak Team Performance

It is easy to say that businesses need to be clear about what needs to be done and who needs to do it to achieve optimum performance. But it is so hard to do. Leadership teams habitually struggle to clarify roles and responsibilities: it requires discipline and courage to define the seats you need on… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 1: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities for Peak Team Performance