MentorWords

People respect responsibility and authority when they are appropriately demonstrated. When a business leader spends all his or her time saying, “well, what do you think?” “Maybe we should let an ad hoc address this,” or “I think the answer will present it self if we have the right discussion with the right parties present,” those are not the messages the people hear. What they hear is, “I don’t know,” and “I’m hoping an ad hoc will bail my ass out,” and “I’m hoping that if we get more people together you won’t find out that I don’t know.” Even if that leader means to be collaborative and show respect for the opinions of others, the result is that they’re being indecisive and wasting time.

How often I have observed this to be true at work. People would get into all kinds of drama that caused frustration and sadness to everyone involved, and when you tried to help them mediate it – or just stop it! – they resisted the help. It would become clear that the drama made them happy.

I changed a car battery for the first time today. For me this was a cause for celebration, though you may be wondering why a 43-year-old woman has never changed a car battery before. I can’t get the alternator tested before tomorrow, because I don’t have a voltmeter, but if the alternator is bad I’ve [...]

I was speaker at a luncheon last week and the topic was the relationship between motivation and innovation. Afterward, one of the attendees asked if I thought today’s high levels of work stress are reducing our ability to be creative and motivated at work. It’s a completely valid question. As I visit client sites and [...]

Some time in the 1970s pop culture began teaching us that we cannot love others until we love ourselves. One of the largest industries in the world – the self-help publishing and media industry – has been built almost entirely on this premise. The commandments of this movement are clear. Thou shalt learn to love the way you look. Thou shalt learn to love the way you act. Thou shalt learn to love the clothing you pick. Thou shalt learn to love your lovableness.

Nearly a year ago I logged on to linkedin.com and set up a profile. I was curious about it because a reviewer in some magazine, Time maybe, referred to it as “Facebook for grownups.” Anyway, I set up a profile, searched around a bit, and decided that not much was going on.
About two weeks ago I [...]