When leaders rank their responsibilities from “This is my absolute favorite!” to “I would rather scrub toilets than do this” there is one duty you will consistently find at the bottom of the list: resolving conflict. Just like scrubbing toilets, dealing with conflict is a necessary activity and much like scrubbing toilets, it is essential,… Continue reading Scrubbing Toilets or Resolving Conflict … Which Do You Prefer?
With the holidays right around the corner, here are six gifts ideas that you as a leader can give your team! Follow the links for more information on each gift: 1. Give reinforcing feedback to your team members who are doing a great job Everyone loves the gift of reinforcing feedback! Not just individuals who are… Continue reading 6 Holiday Gifts for Your Team
Company offices can readily turn into interpersonal battlegrounds. Verbal grenades explode one after the other – undercutting, demeaning, belittling, attacking, insulting, and destroying team members. In consequence, work does not get done and forward progress stalls, damaging the business. How does this happen? Particularly when the people involved are capable, competent individuals? An antagonistic culture… Continue reading Toxicity Is Not Okay
Years ago, I (Rip) was at a conference where Jack Welch, the CEO of General Electric, was asked what he wished he had done differently in his career. He said, essentially, “I always moved too slowly on the tough people problems. People problems are not like fine wine. They don’t get better with age.” I… Continue reading If There Are No Consequences, There Will Be No Change
“Why do I always have to be the referee?” This is a question we have been asked many times by leaders. The complaint is voiced out of frustration: frustration that the leader’s team members cannot seem to resolve conflicts on their own. Every major dispute, minor disagreement, and even simple difference of opinion is escalated… Continue reading You Don’t Always Have to Be the Conflict Referee
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
