Hiring a doormat doesn’t come without pitfalls
Hiring a doormat doesn’t come without pitfalls. I debated writing this one. It gets a little rough in places, and I really don’t like rough opinions. But after talking with an old friend the other day, he convinced me to do it – for him. It is always hard to watch others suffer unnecessarily. To my friend who is feeling the burn, this one is for you. Employees are becoming more concerned about being victimized for being themselves, not just for the way they are doing their jobs. It’s a two-headed dragon! I wonder if doormats are a new phenomenon created by our business culture, or if they have always…
Leadership Lessons – The Golden Rules
This was originally written for a group of K-12 dancers. It has been modified to reflect the business environment. If a group of K-12 students can learn these lessons, others should be able to learn them as well.Learning how to become an effective leader takes time and patience. Leadership involves listening to what others have to say (on both sides) and being able to come up with solutions that are best for your team and/or organization. Leadership should not be self-serving.Sometimes your decisions will be challenged. It’s when you are challenged that you shouldn't allow your emotions to show. If it is an explosive situation and your first instinct is…
Power isn’t a position -it’s gained by knowledge
That old saying “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks ” – it still resonates today. From whatever authority you were given a position for, that same authority has the power to take it away just as quickly. There are those individuals who for whatever reason, seem to take their position too far. They are high above the clouds – lofty and untouchable. Then it happens – the Big Bang! Bang! There is a big difference in philosophies when it comes to experiencing failure. One person will perceive failure as another opportunity to try again. The next person might perceive failure as the fault of everyone around them, and attempt to…
Copy Room Manners
Copy Room Manners I like to start all the new staff out in the copy room for the first few days. They get to meet everyone they will be working with right there; as well as learn what copy room idiocracies each different employee possesses. While most of the staff exemplifies excellent boardroom manners, there are some that fail in that regards in relation to copy room manners. Totally different arenas, boardroom vs. copy room. For instance, the little sign right above the new $12,000 scanner that says “not for personal use” I find has been misinterpreted by many to say “gone to the beach”. I’m sure it a trick…
Humility During Adversity
Humility During Adversity Trying to remain humble and calm during times of adversity is a tough call. Especially when everyone around you is fighting mad, or suffering from some disappointment somewhere in their career or personal life. A working office environment has emotion and life to it. You are not immune to what goes on there. You also are not immune to the politics inside and outside of your office. It would be nice if we could just shut out the political rhetoric – but often it seeps in when we least want it there. Add a political campaign cycle to an already fragile office environment and the circumstances are ripe for vindictiveness and…
