When you really want to inspire change and growth in others, what kinds of questions do you ask them? Ones that require reflection and thought, or those that are more of the yes/no variety? The management strategy of asking more participatory questions reminds me of a certain Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin has—not surprisingly—got himself … Continue reading “Asking Effective Questions”
How to Delegate Effectively
Picture a soccer team. Their star player is about to take a penalty kick, but he seems a little nervous. Now imagine the team manager coming out from the sidelines. He trots up to the penalty spot, takes a few steps back and—kicks the ball himself, and it flies past the goalie and into the … Continue reading “How to Delegate Effectively”
How to Test Your Focus
I heard the most ridiculous word the other day. In fact, it was more than ridiculous—it was dirty. Maybe you’ve heard it, too. The word is “foci.” Foci is the plural of “focus.” Yeah, you heard right. The plural. Of focus. Did you get a chuckle out of that, too?
Are you focused on your most valuable customers?
Not every customer is your dream customer. In fact, some can siphon the focus right out of you. First, a quick confession: I’m a big geek who plays video games almost every day. Scheduling time for leisure helps me manage my day more effectively.
Why “ASAP” isn’t clear communication—and what to use instead
Recently, I found myself saying the very word I’ve cautioned others against using many times. Here’s what happened. I noticed something was wrong on my website, so I reached out to my project manager, John. John’s a reliable guy and I knew he could help with this issue. My fingers were flying, as this was … Continue reading “Why “ASAP” isn’t clear communication—and what to use instead”