The more I learn, the more I need to learn. And it doesn’t all take place in a formal educational setting. As I watch our global economy and read Freidman’s latest book, “That Used To Be Us,” it is clear that the Knowledge Sets are shifting. Employers need people with the technical skills toContinue reading “Critical Skills for our Future”
Category Archives: Leadership & Management
Learn to Learn
When I keep doing what I always do, why do I think it will have a different result? This bit of insanity applies to many aspects of our lives. But let’s look at just one. We do our jobs well and manage the constant winds of change. Like a sailing a boat we know howContinue reading “Learn to Learn”
Career Skills for Today – Mindreading
Recently a GovLoop forum asked: “What one skill do you wish you had?” The very first response was “Mind Reading.” In my July 14, 2010 blog, I wrote on the career skill Trend Spotting, or Foresight. So I just have to respond. Indeed Mind Reading seems to be a Competency all by itself. Not toContinue reading “Career Skills for Today – Mindreading”
More Boomers Starting Own Biz
Reuter’s Wealth Blogger, Mark Miller, shared the statistics of Entrepreneurs age 55 to 64 now represent a rising share of start-up activity, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, accounting for 23 percent of new entrepreneurs in 2010, up from 14.5 percent in 1996. As this age group experiences the early buyouts, early retirementContinue reading “More Boomers Starting Own Biz”
Change at Work – Bring a friend
Its so much easier to do something different or scary if someone else does it too. We used to dare each other to do something “dangerous.” But it wasn’t so bad if someone else did it first. Courage comes in many forms. Even as adults we often prefer to go somewhere new when we takeContinue reading “Change at Work – Bring a friend”
Change Success – Initiate more conversations
When there is an organizational change, a systems upgrade or change in policy/procedures or leadership, a common mis-belief is that if we give people the facts, they can handle the change. Facts are important to answer the “why” question. But it doesn’t get to a personal level – and that’s where the change must beContinue reading “Change Success – Initiate more conversations”
WIIFM? First, Listen
People are so overwhelmed by things changing in their lives and their work that we can count on them begin distracted while we are trying to communicate. Whether you are leading a training session or a meeting, over half the people are preoccupied with other thoughts. Some are already gearing up to argue with you.Continue reading “WIIFM? First, Listen”
Change is tough – Stop being miserable.
One of my favorite bloggers has offered us this lovely gift of not only his wisdom but also his poetic talent. In this Seussical tale Kerry Patterson draws from his own experience (and all of us have similar ones!) to stop perpetuating much of our own misery. You can download this story for yourself orContinue reading “Change is tough – Stop being miserable.”
Random Promotions Increase Productivity
Italian social scientist, Alessandro Pluchino of the University of Catania, and colleagues won the Ig Nobel prize for mathematically demonstrating that organizations can increase efficiency by giving people promotions at random. This is how casinos stay in business. We keep playing in hopes of the big payoff. We see it happen to others, so whyContinue reading “Random Promotions Increase Productivity”
Raised by Wolves
That phrase has become an ear-worm for me recently. It generally refers to someone who has misbehaved in a social or work setting. I recently read a book about how our bosses sometimes act like they were raised by wolves. At first I took issue defending the wolves. Their system works for them…because they liveContinue reading “Raised by Wolves”