It’s hard to find a one-trait-fits-all for leadership. None are always effective, and no one trait works the same in every situation. In the right hands, most approaches or skills can be highly impactful for a leader who truly understands their potential and can modify their approach to the situation at hand. However, when traits are misinterpreted or used incorrectly, they can have unintended consequences to the team and organization's detriment.
Read MoreWhen working with clients, I often get asked to break down the difference between Leadership, leadership, Leader, and leader. While it may seem on the surface to be mere capitalization or semantics, we learn and ascribe key differences to each of these terms that it’s important to unpack.
Read MoreWhen leading an organization or place of business, the leadership methods in place must be as effective as possible and work fluidly. To employees, compensation, being respected, and proper management are critical, and these factors should be handled with the appropriate leadership style. With the right models in place, effective leadership can ensure that employees are motivated and productive, leading to better results for the organization.
Read MoreWorking for a difficult boss can be frustrating, but it doesn't have to be untenable. Although your boss won't change their ways, there are steps you can take to manage the relationship and set yourself up for success on the job.
Read MoreWhen you think of leadership, how would you define a good leader? Many of us would use performative traits like: strong communication, excellent people skills, or being skilled in leading others toward and completing a common goal. While these are all things we hope to see on a leader’s resume, what would we want to see behind the scenes?
Read MoreJohn Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
Employees look to their leaders for inspiration and guidance to get things done. Leaders should be beacons who illuminate the path to triumph and success. That said, leaders can only perform their duties effectively if they possess good leadership skills.
Good communication is one of the most vital leadership skills that any boss can possess.
Read MoreOccasionally, I'll meet with an experienced professional who is hesitant about including some of their prior experience on their resume or talking about it in an interview. This could be experience from a prior career in a different industry, maybe something they did 5 to 10 years ago, or a small business that they run outside of their full-time career. I can appreciate the concern of including things that on the surface may not seem relevant to an employer. However, I firmly believe that your unique professional experience is what makes you stand out from the crowd.
Read MorePre-pandemic, most of our meetings were in person; however, once the pandemic arrived, this scenario flipped 180 degrees to where the majority of meetings were being held over applications like Zoom, Teams, and Webex overnight. While it may seem that only the modality of the meeting changed, we also lost something very important along the way: travel time.
Read MorePlease stop speed networking! It's not that I don't like meeting new people or the adrenaline rush of trying to do the impossible quickly. I love meeting new people and getting to know their story, their interests, and their hopeful destinations. I also enjoy experiences where I'm challenged to do difficult things in unusual ways. However, networking is not the time to be speedy.
Read MoreWe recently re-watched Hamilton in my house and it got me thinking about mentorship and sponsorship in organizations. There is no shortage of business literature sharing the benefits of having mentoring relationships throughout your career.
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