Keep a Journal to Become a Better Leader The best leaders take time to reflect. One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep a journal. Set aside some time each day,  preferably the same time each day, and find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Keep that time carefully   guarded… Continue reading Keep a Journal to Become a Better Leader

Become a Better Learner Staying within your comfort zone is a good way to prepare for today but a terrible way to prepare for tomorrow. To sustain success, you must  develop the capacity for rapid, continuous learning. Enlisting a coach can be an invaluable way to do it. But if you don’t have a coach,… Continue reading Become a Better Leaner

Resolve a Conflict with a Remote Colleague What’s the best way to solve a disagreement with someone who’s working in a different location? First, try to give your colleague the benefit of the doubt. Because you don’t have a shared context — you’re not sitting in the same building, experiencing the same weather, seeing the… Continue reading Resolve a Conflict with a Remote Colleague

Thoughtful Ways to Thank People in Your Network Showing  gratitude to people in your personal network can be pretty easy — and fun. An old-fashioned, handwritten thank you note on nice paper still goes a long way. Just   be sure to include  sincere  appreciation for something personal and specific. Sending a small gift that really… Continue reading Thoughtful Ways to Thank People in Your Network

Build the Confidence to Ask for a Raise Asking for a raise is especially challenging if the voice  inside your head wonders  whether  you really deserve it. If you’re facing this situation, it’s important first to understand and acknowledge your self-worth — and then learn how to sell it within your company. Start by researching … Continue reading Build the Confidence to Ask for a Raise

Get Your Message Across in a Difficult Conversation If you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, you’re unlikely  to come to a resolution if you don’t hear the other person out. After you’ve listened to your counterpart, you can clarify  your message by doing the following: Own your perspective. Treat your opinion like what… Continue reading Get Your Message Across in a Difficult Conversation

Make Learning Harder to Increase  Retention When information is at our fingertips, and attention spans are shorter than ever, it’s no wonder that people expect learning to be easy, too. But research shows that real learning — the kind which embeds knowledge and skills in long-term memory — is never simple. In fact, “easy in” (little… Continue reading Make Learning Harder to Increase Retention

Set a Timer When Making a Tough Decision We spend a lot of time and energy each day making choices — some minor, and some serious. But it’s possible to handle decisions of all kinds more efficiently. One strategy is to use a timer for the most difficult and unpredictable decisions. Some decisions are so complicated… Continue reading Set a Timer When Making a Tough Decision

Great Managers Do 3 Things Every Day Most new managers find that they rarely end a day having done what they planned to do. They spend most of their time solving unexpected problems and making sure work gets done. But there are three essential things that managers should be doing every day: building trust, building… Continue reading Great Managers Do 3 Things Every Day