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“The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves” – a Book Review
As humans, our default focus is one of self; we tend to look at the world and everything in it from that perspective – and it’s not always the most useful perspective to have. The book “The Outward Mindset” by The Arbinger Institute provides meaningful examples and insights into how we can learn to see…
Holistic HR
Do we really need another term to describe human resources? Many of we “oldsters” saw our personnel departments slowly transform into HR departments, effectively becoming a strategic element of the organization as compared to the purely administrative function of our grandparents’ employers. The younger gens are entering the workforce with an already well established HR…
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Book Review
When asked the question, “If I only made the time to read one leadership book, what book would you recommend?” my response is unequivocally “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” This book, written in the late 1980s by Stephen Covey, is based on timeless principles and habits of effectiveness. Covey uses the 7 Habits…
Talent Management
The term “Talent Management” became popular after McKinsey’s 1997 research and the 2001 book on “The War for Talent.” The shift was designed to introduce a more scientific strategy for human resource planning, effectively changing the minds of leaders in organizations. A more holistic, complete and inclusive strategic workforce planning model tied to business strategy…
Working On the Business
There’s a common phrase among organizations to distinguish and delineate the division of effort from leaders: Leaders work “in” and “on” the business. Although a form of binary thinking, the intention behind the phrase can be helpful when approached as two pieces of the whole of a leader. The two compartments of effort simplify a…
Detachment for Higher Productivity
We came into the world attached to our mothers, but when did we really start getting productive? When the cord was cut. Somehow, now, we have become attached again – this time, to technology. Between email, social media, and smartphones, we can be reached anytime, anywhere. Studies are now showing that detachment and recovery from…
What is Succession Planning, and Who Needs to Think About It?
In today’s business world, things aren’t quite as cut and dried as they used to be. Right up until recent times, small or family-run businesses were usually kept within the family. As one family member retired, another took their place. But nowadays, people are more frequently encouraged to follow their own paths, even if that…
Employee Engagement
A few months ago, you may have read Cindy Masingill’s post summarizing the book “First, Break All the Rules.” If you have not, please follow this link to enjoy that post (after you finish reading this one of course!) In Cindy’s summary, the 12 questions – fondly referred to as the Q12 – are the…
Emotional Intelligence: What Is It, and How Can You Achieve It?
The popular magazine Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as: “the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include three skills: emotional awareness; the ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which…
Spark Mystery and Curiosity
I am reading a wonderful book called “Unthink” that is part of the curriculum for our LeadFORWARD program. The Emergent LeadFORWARD program is a year-long program for high-level leaders in organizations in Central New York. “Unthink” – like its title implies – reminds us not to just do the same things over and over again,…