By Guy Harris In a recent Bud to Boss workshop, a member of the class asked this question: “Are there some situations where you need to be strong rather than kind? I mean, if you’re kind, won’t people think that you’re a pushover?” Great question. It basically asks the question in the title of this post: can you be both strong and kind? I think the two concepts are not … [Read more...]
Manage Conflict by Eliminating the Three A’s
Guest post by Marlene Chism Getting promoted into a leadership position means you’ll have to do things that make you uncomfortable. You’ll have to initiate difficult conversations about performance, you’ll have to course-correct inappropriate behavior, you’ll have to set boundaries, you’ll have to inspire accountability. In short, you’ll have to learn how to maximize your … [Read more...]
When the Pull of the Past Creates Problems in the Present
By Guy Harris Many things change when you become a supervisor. Your responsibilities, daily routines, role in the organization, and relationships all change – practically overnight. In the middle of all that is changing, it is easy to miss or overlook the things that do not change – even if you would like it if they did. There are many things in your team, organization, and … [Read more...]
What to Do When You Have Already Done Everything You Can to Get an Employee to Improve
By Guy Harris Coaching and performance questions are among the most frequent types of questions I get when working with new and front-line leaders. Among those questions, the most common question is often phrased this way: "How do I discipline someone when I’ve already done everything I know to do to get them to improve?" This question (and the answer to it) is closely … [Read more...]
Is Conflict Avoidance a Good Leadership Strategy?
By Kevin Eikenberry Conflict avoidance, as a general statement isn’t a good idea. Left unchecked and unaddressed, conflict tends to grow, not recede. But the question here is about you, as a leader, and whether conflict avoidance is a good idea. The answer is, it depends. If someone on the team is coming to you, telling you about what someone else is doing wrong -and … [Read more...]
When Will My Team Get Back to Where They Were Before the Pandemic
By Guy Harris In recent Bud to Boss workshops, I have been getting a question similar to the title of this post in several ways. While the questions are not always phrased the same way, they tend the same direction: longing for a return to “normal” as we reach the end of pandemic-imposed lockdowns, shutdowns, and isolation. Every situation is a bit different, and the … [Read more...]
5 Easy Ways to Accidentally Make Your Employees Hate You
Guest post by Indiana Lee Being a good leader is no easy task. You’re responsible for helping your employees reach their goals, fostering a positive workplace environment, and pushing for productivity without alienating anyone. Finding a management style that works for you is important; however, your style should never come at the expense of employee happiness. You might … [Read more...]
How to Deal with a Persistently Negative Team Member
By Guy Harris One fairly common question I get from Bud to Boss workshop participants is: How do you deal with a persistently or aggressively negative team member?” While the full answer in a given situation depends on many situation-specific details, there is a thread of common themes that applies to almost all of my experiences with the issue and the conversations I … [Read more...]
Stop, Drop, and Role: Putting Out Fires
By Kevin Eikenberry I’ve worked with well-meaning, highly-principled leaders for years. When I talked to these leaders about coaching and developing their team, I kept hearing that, although they know that coaching and developing their team is important, there are too many things that get in the way. They want to coach more, but they don’t have time because they are too busy … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Boss to Listen to You
By Guy Harris About half-way through the second day of a two-day workshop, a frustrated new leader blurted out: “All this talk about how to work with my team is great, but that’s not my problem. My problem is that my boss won’t listen to me. How do I get my boss to listen to me?” After sitting quietly for most of our prior discussions, she could not take anymore … [Read more...]