All humans want to feel safe. They need to feel they belong, are cared for and valued at work. Leaders who provide purpose and a trusting environment are in the best position to offer a sense of safety. People feel safe when they can trust their relationships without concerns over politics, personalities and resentments. They…
A strong culture depends on an environment of trust, where people can count on each other, take risks together and benefit from the resulting successes. Leaders who inspire authenticity entice people to step out of their comfort zones and enjoy the spirit of cooperation. Leaders enhance trust when they’re transparent and humble. Display humility by…
As a leader, do you have the essential skill sets to build and maintain a strong culture? Every company, without exception, has a culture. It determines how people act or work, what they believe or stand for and how they respond to pressures and challenges. I wrote about this in my last post. Building and…
Employees generally agree that leaders with a passion for excellence, quality and accomplishment benefit their organizations. These qualities place leaders at the top of their fields. No one faults managers who give their all and make sacrifices, but too much of a good thing can also pose problems. Perfectionistic leaders may be as damaging as…
Since all leaders mold their culture one way or another, a grateful leader influences their people in ways that demonstrate the benefits of thankfulness. People see the difference and they like it, wanting more of it. Work life becomes more enjoyable and rewarding. Leading by example is the most powerful means to prompt a better…
The traditional definition of vulnerability is to be capable of, or susceptible to being wounded or hurt; being open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc. Most people in business understand these definitions and avoid vulnerability at all costs. Nowhere does this have more impact than in leadership circles. However, recent research in leadership has exposed…
People who understand the complexities of the human spirit recognize that respect is the glue that holds relationships together. Mutual respect between two people promotes the affirmation and appreciation people need to work well together, accomplish things and feel fulfilled. An organization of fulfilled people is an organization positioned to reach its full potential. The…
As a coach, it’s easy to spot the signs of a disrespectful culture. A work environment where leaders disrespect their people has both obvious and subtle indicators. Generally, the disrespectful traits of the leader migrate down the line to the employees, since the culture is reflective of the leader. When disrespectful traits are widespread, the…
KEY DRIVERS BEHIND PASSION ADVOCATES In my last two articles, I have been discussing the Employee Passion Deficit as identified in a study measuring employee passion. The study measured both the employees’ passion for their job AND the organization they work for. For the employees who identified themselves as passionate about the job but not…
When it comes to leadership give and take, “givers,” if taken advantage of too often, will eventually withdraw. I’ve been writing about the paradox of leadership give and take. What I’ve seen in my coaching practice is when givers become leery and withdraw giving to avoid being hurt, they become completely ineffective. Ultimately, the “takers”…