Roger D’Aprix has just published another book that should serve as required reading for every project, team and corporate leader. Bosses: True Stories of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly is Roger’s eighth book. Each focuses on improving business results through better managed communication. The most powerful communication in an organization comes from leaders—or… Read more
Leadership
Communicating with Awareness
When asked recently what I enjoy most as a management consultant, my response came quickly: “Coaching leaders.” I thoroughly enjoy working with new first line leaders who’ve just moved into that role. And I like working with seasoned CEOs who may not have ready access to what their peers are doing. Leaders make the weather…. Read more
Do You Know Why You Exist? Go Ahead, Tell Me.
I’m sure most people leading businesses know what they do, regardless of their organization’s size or industry category. Their people can probably describe the products and services they sell, and most know how they do what they do. But very few leaders can clearly explain why they do what they do. An increasing number of… Read more
Developing Effective First Line Leaders
What’s the one best way to develop first-line leaders’ communication skills? Hint: it’s not just training. Having advised many of the companies that regularly churn out the best leaders, I believe the most effective type of leadership development comes from blending classroom training and on-the-job execution that’s targeted squarely at improving business results that matter…. Read more
Would Jeff Bezos Forget The Customer?
A Facebook post from a former client caught my eye recently. He believes the NFL and a few other groups have forgotten about the importance of customers. “As customers, should we be subjected to self-righteous grandstanding, whether we agree or disagree with a particular point of view?” he asked. Let’s see, what would Peter Drucker,… Read more
I Can’t Hear You, Your Actions Are Too Loud!
“What most influences your work decisions every day?” I asked a group of scientists in Minneapolis. “The boss,” one answered. “What they say—especially what they do.” Everything a leader says and does is scrutinized for meaning, because it assumes importance as a form of communication, often far beyond even what the leader imagines. And we… Read more
Leading in Tumultuous Times
Managing through tumultuous times is often the equivalent of a high-wire balancing act. The disruption is a source of anxiety and uncertainty for people inside the organization. If linking people to strategy represents a major challenge in normal times, creating linkage during a downsizing, merger or reorganization raises the challenge exponentially. In tumultuous times, communication… Read more
Measure What Matters
What gets measured gets done. Even though we’ve heard that a gazillion times, many organizations are still managing the wrong measures. Consequently, they’re getting the wrong results. Too many leaders today don’t give enough thought to what they’re measuring. The leader of a large U.S operation once suggested that training should be measured by how… Read more
How to Develop Leaders That Boost Results
Welcome to our car wash, otherwise known as leadership development training. We’re going to hose you down and dry you off over the course of the day. Topics we’re covering during this training include critical thinking, achieving success through people, coaching from a distance, collaboration skills, team creativity, coaching as a virtual team, non-verbal communication,… Read more
Ask Me Anything
I often get great questions from people via email, social media, at conferences and in client meetings. Recently, I received a question from Chris D. who asked about ways to manage two groups of people who need to work together—those who are young, eager and willing to work within a new organization and culture and… Read more