The definition of leadership is changing. Societal expectations of the workplace, fed by economic and demographic trends, are morphing the leadership job description. From emerging organizational structures like Holacracy, to changing expectations of the Millennial generation, your kid’s boss isn’t going to resemble the one you reported to the first day of your job. A […] Continue reading
Feeling burned out as a leader? It’s a common feeling: work life is hectic and leaders feel especially “squeezed.” This constant pressure can suck every last bit of energy from you and the people you lead, with unfortunate results. As Chris Edmonds, author of The Culture Engine, writes in the foreword of the recently released […] Continue reading
This time of year often brings out the cleaning fanatic in us, so Karin Hurt of the Let’s Grow Leaders blog asked for blog posts about “spring cleaning” for her April Frontline Leadership Festival. The outcome is a blog carnival with 21 essays for leaders who want to learn to “clean up” in three areas: […] Continue reading
If you’re looking to advance in your career, securing a sponsor—an influential senior-level leader in your organization—is a smart move. Women, in particular, benefit from having a sponsor because according to this report from advocacy group Catalyst, women are often perceived negatively when they use assertive career-building approaches. “There is no ‘silver bullet’ for […] Continue reading
If you’re looking to advance in your career, securing a sponsor—an influential senior-level leader in your organization—is a smart move. Women, in particular, benefit from having a sponsor because according to this report from advocacy group Catalyst, women are often perceived negatively when they use assertive career-building approaches. “There is no ‘silver bullet’ for […] Continue reading
Apparently, there is and it can be found here on the HolacracyOne website. But before you get excited about imitating your boss via a snarky simulation you download on your phone or tablet, be warned: this “app” isn’t about mocking your boss, it’s about eliminating her job as a manager. Or, possibly giving her a […] Continue reading
When CEO Tony Hsieh sent out an all-company email informing his Zappos team that they were moving completely to the Holacracy organizational structure of self-management, the story was huge. Zappos has long been the darling of the media for its forward-thinking workplace policies, so it’s no surprise that the media (and yes, we bloggers too) […] Continue reading
Have you ever worked for a company that was listed as “best of?” You know, “Best of XYZ Industry” or “Top 100 Companies to Work for” and so on. No? Well then you might have wondered: just how cool is it to work at one of those companies? Yet another “best of” list came out […] Continue reading
Have you ever worked with a “loose cannon”? This high-energy person moves ahead too quickly without checking facts. Loose cannons mean well, but their unpredictability causes collateral damage. Typically, loose cannon employees are seen as a liability—and management is often looking for ways to help them “find new employment opportunities.” Frankly, I’ve not had a lot […] Continue reading
It happened while I was cleaning up the dinner dishes. While I stood at my kitchen sink, scrubbing pans, the thought formed, completely unbidden: I want to be a writer. It was a June night; my family was outside enjoying one of the first warm days of our soon-to-be Michigan summer. And I was inside, […] Continue reading
