Over the last several months, I have been reading books from a few different genres – some are biographies, some are books on leadership, some are books on investment. What is striking is that even though these books tend to focus on different subject areas, I have gotten the same “advice” from many of them. That advice is, stop holding yourself back. Whether it’s the business classic Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill (1937) or the more recent Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeir Hanson (2010), authors interested in getting the best out of their readers often focus on the power of self-confidence.
Welcome to Beyond the Jargon
Stop Holding Yourself Back
Author: Paul Dillenburg, Date: 2/14/2012
3 Tips to Overcome the Illusion of Communication
Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 2/7/2012Do any of these comments sound familiar?
• “I thought you were going to follow-up on that?”
• “But she should know how to do it; we’ve talked about it at least five times.”
• “That’s not what I heard in the meeting.”
If there is a hint of familiarity in any of these comments, you are not alone. It seems like communication (or lack thereof) is at the heart of many work place conflicts and team challenges. George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” And it is this illusion that creates many difficulties for leaders, team members, and bosses (not to mention the trouble it can cause in one’s personal life!).
Do Organizations Set Managers Up For Success?
Author: Paul Dillenburg, Date: 1/31/2012Countless organizations talk about how much they value their employees or their “human capital.” They espouse how important their people are to the success of their business. While there certainly is good intention in their words, actions may not always line up when it comes to setting new managers up for success.
According to a 2011 Careerbuilder study, nearly 60% of managers reported never receiving management training. This is an alarming statistic when you consider the stress associated with being a mid-level manager. Often individuals at this level within an organization are caught between the frontline (i.e., customers and client interactions) and the upper-levels of the organization (i.e., implementing strategic initiatives).
Oldies, But Goodies
Author: Calibra, Date: 1/26/2012Regularly we post What We Are Reading and share that with our clients and colleagues (our most recent one was posted on 12-13-11). It occurred to us that while we constantly strive to have the latest and greatest leadership and business books and periodicals on our bookshelves (or our electronic readers), some of the books we refer to regularly are several years old; and, they have stood the test of time. Their concepts and principles are solid; their theories and practices transcend industries, economic conditions, and decades. While a few things may have changed, a few companies may have come and gone, the core principles have remained.
Do Your Policies Pass the Ease of Doing Business Test?
Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 1/18/2012
I was sitting in the airport waiting for my flight. It looked like everything was going to be on time when the announcement came. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are overbooked for today’s flight. I need one person whose travel plans are flexible to volunteer to take a later flight. No one will board the plane until someone volunteers. We will provide a flight voucher…”
Recent Posts
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Stop Holding Yourself Back02/14/2012
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3 Tips to Overcome the Illusion of Communication02/07/2012
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Do Organizations Set Managers Up For Success?01/31/2012
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Oldies, But Goodies01/26/2012
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Do Your Policies Pass the Ease of Doing Business Test?01/18/2012
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Willpower is Not Enough01/10/2012
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Build Relationships with Your Employees01/04/2012
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