Which Skill Do You Want to Develop Next? Success requires continual growth and learning. But how do you know which development efforts will yield the best return? First, look for the overlap between what your organization needs and what will give you the most satisfaction. If you’re in operations, you might identify several business-critical areas… Continue reading Which Skill Do You Want to Develop Next?

How to Fake the Confidence You Need   When you’re feeling overwhelmed and in over your head, the best way to power through is to pretend you’ve got the confidence you need to get something done. These strategies can help you fake it ‘til you make it: Think positively. The more you focus on what’s… Continue reading How to Fake the Confidence You Need

A Safe Way to Cut People Off in Meetings When meeting participants veer off topic, important time is lost. But even when leaders or peers intervene, it’s often too late, and the normal response (“This is really interesting, but can I suggest we get back to the topic at hand?”) leaves everyone feeling awkward. Thankfully, there… Continue reading A Safe Way to Cut People Off in Meetings

The Best Leaders Question Everything It can be difficult for leaders (especially ones new to their roles) to pause before acting. But when was the last time you stopped to ask, “Why are we doing it that way?” Leaders must constantly explore new ideas and seek out new thinking from those around them. You need… Continue reading The Best Leaders Question Everything

Managing the Naysayer on Your Team Most teams have at least one “naysayer” — that person who always plays the devil’s advocate. The naysayer may be brilliant and driven, but their pattern of critiquing and disagreeing can wear a team down. And yet opposition is essential for effective, productive teams. So what can a manager do to… Continue reading Managing the Naysayer on Your Team