I’ve worked with well-meaning, highly-principled leaders and managers for years. When the topic of coaching and developing their employees comes up, I often hear that they know coaching is important, they want to coach more, but they don’t have time because they are too busy “putting out fires.” Right now, that probably has never been more true. The pandemic put many leaders … [Read more...]
About Kevin Eikenberry
Motivate Yourself With a New Routine
Things have been hectic, full of uncertainty and pretty scary for months. Now, the days of summer are here, beckoning us outside. Even the normally super productive and focused leaders among us are struggling right now to manage all the change and emotions. So, if you are like so many people right now who are feeling some unease and distress, it could be because your daily … [Read more...]
Why Now Is the Right Time to Focus on YOUR Development
"Work from home" may be in place for much longer than originally anticipated for many organizations, and that could be by choice. Many leaders now see the value in allowing employees to telecommute. Others, who pivoted quickly and shored up their organization's IT capabilities and security so that they could operate virtually, may not be so quick to rush back to the office, … [Read more...]
Focus Your Employees on What’s Important Right Now
For years I've asked people, "What's the good word today?" My intention always was to get people thinking about something positive, and if they were thinking something positive, to share it with me so I could benefit too. Unfortunately far too often people can't come up with a good word, or in many cases, a word at all. Hearing negative feedback isn't easy, especially for … [Read more...]
When Should We Train New Leaders?
It's not a matter of if you're going to train your new leaders. It's a matter of when and how. Those are the questions I'm going to respond to in this video. https://youtu.be/QGk_YQlbCEY?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Being a new supervisor may be the biggest transition of a career. Make sure you are supporting their growth. @KevinEikenberry … [Read more...]
How to Build Their Confidence
Success isn't all about building and developing a skill set. Much of it is about having a positive mindset. To that end, your job as a leader is helping people establish that mindset. Here's how you can do that. https://youtu.be/N6FjVW9pxCg?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: If you want your new supervisors to succeed, help them build their confidence as much as their … [Read more...]
When You are Leading Your Former Boss
Leadership can create some interesting personal dynamics. This is one that's not all that uncommon. https://youtu.be/3l87vFTEpds?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Leading your former boss requires conversation, confidence, finesse and plenty of humility. @KevinEikenberry … [Read more...]
7 Critical Steps of Trust Building
There are many reasons why trust is important to leaders. With higher levels of trust you are able to influence change more easily and quickly. With more trust you are able to create higher levels of productivity and team cohesiveness. I could go on, but in short, being trustworthy and trusted are two of the most valuable attributes remarkable leaders possess. Here are … [Read more...]
The Key to Making Better Decisions
You work in the real world, a messy place filled with exceptions, complications and people. When you are making decisions in real-world organizations, you must factor the following into your decision-making process, if you want to make the best decisions: The relative urgency of the decision. How fast must it be made? When the urgency level is high and you need to get on … [Read more...]
6 Secrets for Building your Confidence
As a leader, your confidence will take a hit at many times throughout your career. You will feel especially vulnerable early on in your career. When that happens, use these ideas to give your confidence a boost: Look at past success The best source for building your confidence is your past. Survey your entire life for successes. It doesn’t matter if those successes are in … [Read more...]