Category: General

Simply argumentative…

Someone wiser than I, Alan Weiss, recently mused about others who disagree, stating: “Too many people respond to a new idea or suggestion with, ‘Let me tell you how I do it,’ or, ‘I disagree.’ Their immediate response is to protect their own thinking patterns or try to prove they know more.” “Hang on,” I…
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The boss can mentor, but can the boss really coach?

I often hear senior management (Pres, CEOs, MDs ) say they’re good coaches to their key people. And I see more books exhorting leaders to be Chief Coach. Hmmm.. Many bosses can mentor, (often be great mentors), but it’s not quite the same thing as coaching.. I personally don’t think bosses are good coaches. Occasionally,…
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Who trusts ya, baby

David Maister wrote a book years ago, targeted at consultants wishing to forge stronger relationships with clients, The Trusted Advisor. The issue of trust swirls around the workplace constantly. How do people work with each other across regions, cultures and silos if they’re unsure of each others capabilities, efforts, worthiness; how do they trust each…
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Mister Martyr

Some of my conversations are with people who have become martyrs at work, much as they doth protest otherwise. They’ll likely contact me to ‘explore the market’, busy with their job, trading off personal time–and reputation–for the good of the company. Not much left for themselves, and scant time to build their [professional] profile. Many…
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Code of conduct–Rules of the game

Most of us do our best at work to ensure what is right for ourselves, our colleagues, bosses, and clients. There are general rules of the game, correct behaviour, how we act; a code of conduct. When those rules are severely bent or broken-by oneself or others-time to sit on the bench and let the…
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“You can’t take it back”

My [teenage] children were on school break last week. While making lunch for my son, he finished his call on his mobile and said he’d be out in 10 minutes to hang with one of his good friends. I replied “He seems a little bossy sometimes, telling you where to go and when,” hastily linking…
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A robotic resume?? CNBC misses the mark…

A CNBC business on-line article, March 22nd, headlined: “The Killer Resume. How to Get Hired By the Machines.” Here is the link, for those of you with time to waste: http://www.cnbc.com/id/46823506 The column gives tips on how to write a CV in order for resume search engines to ‘see’ enough relevant words, and if so,…
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Action talks

I recently had coffee with a CEO who was reaching [early] retirement. Too young to stop working, but financially comfortable not to work, he was stuck. His family was telling him to relax and play golf, his colleagues were wishing him well, but he had no intention of stopping. He felt he was in his…
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Interviewing? Ears wide open, please…

Some interviewing comments from Ruth Simmons, the President of Brown University. Her pointed words on what she looks for when hiring should be read carefully by both management and those looking to interview. Wise words from a wise woman: I look for people who are supremely self-confident, very secure, but also profoundly interested in other…
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