The coronavirus crisis, like every crisis, is unfolding over an arc of time with a beginning, middle, and end. It is useful to think what distinguishes what was, is, and will be. There was a past of relative stability and predictability. There now is chaos and disruption. There will be … a different state. As this future unfolds, some organizations will be resilient.[…]
We are living through a global health crisis with no modern-day precedent. What governments, corporations, hospitals, schools, and other organizations need now, more than ever, are what the writer David Foster Wallace called “real leaders” — people who “help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and[…]
The Importance of Keeping it Light Through Tough Times Like it has for most people, COVID-19 derailed Levi’s established work-life routine in his Brooklyn apartment. A new part of his rearranging work life was that he found himself on daily TalentSmart Zoom calls in the afternoon. With so much change going on around him, he[…]
How to Maintain Harmony in a Group Set a good example in difficult situations. “Leave your emotions at the door” was once an unwritten rule of working life. Even in a crisis, or when celebrating a big “win,” keeping powerful feelings to yourself was part of being professional. Today, things are different.[…]
Whether you were denied a promotion at the office or you failed to qualify for a marathon, failing feels bad. Many people will go to great lengths to avoid failing so they don’t have to feel painful emotions. Knowing how to cope with failure in a healthy way takes some of the fear out of failing—and[…]
Stop to take a mindful breath. Greater mindfulness can make you a much more effective leader. It will give you better insight on both employees and customers, and help you make better decisions. That advice comes from Charles Francis, author of “Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple: Your Guide to Finding True Inner Peace” and director[…]
How can you tell who is worthy of becoming a manager in your organization? If you’re like most others, you evaluate people’s tenure and success in their previous role — usually a nonmanagerial role — to determine who moves up. These factors are important; they show loyalty to your organization and hard work. And[…]
Make time every week to reflect and get centered on your commitment to lead. Ever feel stretched to your limits at work? Maybe you feel the strain from managing difficult workplace politics or co-worker relationships. Maybe you become stressed-out when second-guessed or criticized by a business partner. Sometimes just the mere fact that you[…]
Managers are central to a culture of engagement. They determine at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement. But the importance of managers specifically doesn’t negate leaders’ pivotal role in cultivating a culture of engagement. The role of leadership is foundational to engagement — a precursor to the role that local managers play. When[…]
No one ever became a great leader without first becoming a great communicator. Great leaders connect with people on an emotional level every time they speak. Their words inspire others to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Great communicators are intentional about it, and there are 10 secrets they rely on to[…]