Blog
What You’re Made Of
How do you handle being put into a situation to do something you’ve never done before? Like run an important meeting that has serious consequences? Or give a presentation to a sophisticated audience? Or take on a huge responsibility that you feel unprepared for? It...
Don’t Let Deficits Overshadow You
No one is more convinced than I am that focusing on your strengths is the only way to excel. You will improve your deficit areas only so much and you will never be exceptional. If you put the same effort into improving your strengths, you become excellent. That said,...
Uncomfortable? Tell Them Anyway
A recent survey was conducted by the Harris Poll showing that, of the more than 600 managers participating, 69% admitted to being uncomfortable communicating with their employees in everyday interactions. Worse, 37% were uncomfortable giving direct performance...
Avoid Powerless Behavior
I spoke with a partner the other day and he mentioned a situation about a manager who wanted to be promoted to a senior manager position. Unfortunately, no promotion was in sight. Why? Because the manager could never deliver on time and always had an excuse, which was...
Develop Your Grit
Recently, I watched a TV special on how special forces candidates are selected. After cognitive ability and emotional stability are screened, the final element is a physical endurance program that is so gruesome, it separates those few who make the grade and are...
The Lure of Busy
There is a fly buzzing around the office that drives everyone crazy. It has no purpose, direction, or focus. It just flits around, acting like it has important things to do. You see, the fly has this belief that, because it is busy, it is accomplishing things. It’s...
Don’t Be A Bad Moment
You know how awful you feel when someone imposes themselves on you in such a way that it is a bad moment for you? Their bad moment becomes your bad moment. So you respond to them so that they get a bad moment back, or you become a bad moment for someone else. It’s not...
Your Work is Important
Staying motivated to be your best day after day can be a challenge. When you are, you’re REALLY good. People rely on you, consult with you and appreciate you. So the question is this: how do you maintain a level of consistency of high performance? There may be no...
Avoid Meandering in Circles
Recently, I read something I learned back in grad school and decided it was a perfect illustration for something I’ve been seeing in my coaching. It has to do with the importance of spatial cognition—specifically, a visual point. We know that humans cannot walk in a...
Stop The Energy Leaks
Loving what you do is a requirement of high performance. You can't make the commitment or sustain the effort necessary to be really good if you don't love what you do. Professional service is too difficult and demands too much otherwise. Now, nothing is perfect and...
