Category: Executive Presence
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Performance Matching
Performance matching is a common phenomena within the workplace. It consists of group work and/or area work resulting in a consistent outcome pulled lower by the poorest performer. What does it look like? Say two teams are working at opposites sides of the building on the same task. The groups outcomes will tend to match […]
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Action + Accountability Trumps Ongoing Mind Numbing Discussion
Think. Discuss. Act. Be Accountable. That is all you need to succeed. There is a direct correlation at a point in ongoing discussions showing reduced productivity and positive outcome. Early collaboration and action has a cost benefit.
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Action Trumps Ongoing Discussion
Action trumps ongoing discussion. Think about the issue, have a meeting or discussion to find the best course of action and then move on it. Failure to pull the trigger and then relapse into ongoing consensus and meetings is the path to an ongoing loss of productivity and ROI. Be active, be accountable.
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Avoiding Conflict, The Abilene Paradox
There is a dynamic that seems like a smooth path, but leads to bumpy results – the Abilene Paradox is this dynamic. So what is the Abilene Paradox? It is when healthy debate and outcomes are foregone in place of conflict avoidance. Basically it is putting consensus above positive outcomes and productivity. Interestingly, the Abilene […]
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Is Teamwork A Good Thing? Freeriders
Teamwork is often touted as a big positive in the workplace. As a leader you need to be aware when teamwork is a positive and when it is a negative. Research has shown that teams can reduce the input of members, especially as team size grows. The size of a team often correlates to the […]
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Dear Control Freak
Dear Control Freak…This is not a judgement, but a confession. I use to be a control freak. The whole giant amalgamation of every stereotype that comes with the term. I wanted to control time, outcomes, visions, dynamics, etc. I like to look back and think to myself, ‘how adorable you thought that controlling everything was possible or productive.’ […]
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The Positive Impact Of Complaining
As for the positive impact of complaining…there is none. There are positive outcomes to constructive feedback, offering alternatives, and/or taking ownership of a potential new course of action. I’m not saying that your life is happy, joyful, fun-filled all the time as we know this is not the case. I am saying framing action addressing the […]
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Survival of the Fittest? Competition vs. Cooperation
Survival of the Fittest? Competition vs. Cooperation? Our culture has the propensity to value competition over all else. Often rooted in the Darwin alleged theory of survival of the fittest. I’m not sure how Darwin’s theory morphed into the manner of how we often flippantly interpret it. I am however sure that interpretation is off base […]