You are only human, right? You can set goals, offer coaching, and hold your employees accountable for meeting expectations, but how much control do you really have over ensuring their success? After all, your employees are adults. You can't make them do anything they don't want to do, right? That is largely true. If employees check out, you can't force them to take the … [Read more...]
About Kevin Eikenberry
It Might Be Time to Change the Way You Look at Habits
When you hear the word "habit," what comes to mind? Something negative that you need to "break," perhaps? That tends to be the general consensus. This is often the time of year when we set resolutions and goals, usually to do away with our bad habits or form new good ones. As you think about your own habits, I'd like to offer some food for thought. Habits are often … [Read more...]
5 Exercises to Help You (Finally) Hit Your Goals This Year
You’ve got your goals for 2019 set. You’re excited about them and the prospects of achieving them. Whether those are true statements for you personally, for your team/organization or both, congratulations! They’re both necessary and important steps. But they aren’t enough. I’m guessing you’ve heard about visualizing your goals. Many tell me it seems silly, others think it … [Read more...]
If Anything, Learn THIS Important Lesson on Election Day
If you live in the United States, you have to know it is Election Day. Direct mail, yard signs, neighborhood canvassers, radio and television ads and more – all add up to an important day in the life of a democracy. But this post isn’t about politics. The lesson today is something what we, as organization and community leaders, should not do. I am struck by how much of … [Read more...]
Do You Communicate Like You Rake? Little by Little or All at Once?
Fall foliage is beautiful, so if you are lucky enough to live in an area that experiences it, like me, I consider us very lucky. Still, while the trees are beautiful as their leaves turn from green to yellow, orange and red, they pose a problem too—if you're responsible for removing them after they've fallen. Most yards, parks, green areas and so on, contain different … [Read more...]
Analyze Yourself and Others. Just Don’t Forget This Critical Rule.
As leaders, sometimes we have to put ourselves under the microscope and analyze our behavior and qualities. Unfortunately, when most of us do that, we focus on the flaws, the things that we see that need improvement. Sometimes, it's superficial. We would like a smaller nose or less gray hair. Want to lose a few pounds or tighten up some wrinkles. What I am talking about … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Build Your Confidence as a New Leader
If, as a new leader, you're feeling nervous, overwhelmed and out of your element, you may need to "fake it until you make it." In other words, you may need to pretend you're confident until you actually feel that way. But how do you go about doing that? It's not about strutting around like a peacock or proving to your employees that you have all the authority and power. In … [Read more...]
What Does “Professional” Really Mean?
"Professional." I hear leaders talk about that word often. They say “I want my team to be professionals” or “Why can’t they be more professional?” When I ask “What do you mean by 'professional'?” I typically receive stumbling answers that aren’t very clear or helpful. It is understandable that you want your team members to be professional. What isn’t OK, however, is … [Read more...]
9 Tips to Encourage a Group of Loners to Work Together
You are leading a team and some (maybe all) of the members see themselves as individual contributors, not necessarily members of a team. They state and show that they’d rather work alone, and prefer individual accomplishments and results over tying their fortunes to a team. You want a cohesive team. That is, a group collaborating freely and harnessing the synergy that comes … [Read more...]
4 Things You Should Do This Holiday Weekend
In the U.S., we are about to begin a three day holiday weekend for Labor Day. It's a day created to honor American workers and the contributions they make to our great nation. You're one of those workers, and while I hope you've done something special to honor your employees and the contributions they've made, I also don't want you to forget yourself. Start by taking full … [Read more...]