I’ve shared that one of my most important management lessons is “Skill or will”? Basically, it’s a way to figure out the best way to manage people. But what if you’re the person will low will, high skill? How do you know if you’re a LWHS?
Do……less
This post is written for a friend who has had a medical event….and I think it’s because he puts a lot of pressure on himself, holds himself to impossibly high standards, and is working ALL THE TIME. Here’s some lessons learned on the socially acceptable behavior that hurts you….working too much. Continue reading
Sports Metaphors
I’ve been on lots of projects, and I’ve also gotten brought in to fix projects which have gone haywire. Nothing is worse than being on a project that’s going poorly….”we’re rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” is one of the memorable things said to me. Here’s a list of the things that I most often see….
(If you ask me any rules about any sports, I don’t know them. But I love sports metaphors.)
Challenge: Assuming the Worst Case
This is something I have wrestled with my entire life….and still continue to struggle with. When I don’t get a response, or a response that seems “off”, I assume the worst case… that I screwed up, that I offended the person somehow…..I immediately go to the multitudes of reasons why I didn’t get the response I thought I should have gotten. And here’s the one thing that always resolves it….
Heartbreak
This is one of the most difficult posts I’ve had to write. For the first time, I’ve experienced a personal loss with someone from work. Continue reading
Getting Your First Job
I recently spoke to a friend’s son who was interviewing me…just getting my thoughts on work based on my experience. It made me remember how hard it is when you’re interviewing for your first “real” job….and what it’s like on the other side of the table. Many of us are seeing our kids/nephews/nieces go through the process, which has been pretty much upended with COVID. Some things I’ve shared with others….
My Company/Division/Department Reorged…Now What?
Having gone through some mergers/consolidations/reorgs and seen what it’s like, I thought it would be useful to recap on lessons learned during what can be a very difficult time. Should you stay…should you go? Here are some things to think about during this weird time….
The Most Important Skill I Taught Myself
There are a lot of skills you learn because you’re thrown into situations which require you to learn them…how to communicate effectively, work with people, manage priorities. And many companies have classes to teach them to you. But there is one skill I am proud to say I taught myself which has helped me like no other. It’s boring. Some would say tedious. But it has served me well.
20. Skill vs Will in Your Personal Life
I recently had a conversation with someone about her relationship with her mother. Their relationship is very difficult, with the mother wanting to control her daughter through bullying behavior….all in the name of “what’s best for her”. The guilt she’s feeling is huge. It got me thinking about the skill and will matrix and applying to your personal relationships. Continue reading
When Consolidation is A Mistake
I was lucky to learn this lesson early in my career. Many times, an organization will look for consolidation opportunities. Sometimes it makes a lot of sense to consolidate systems: there are cost savings involved, unit costs go down, you decrease the effort needed for change management…it’s the classic argument to create scale. A transaction is a transaction, right? So when is it a problem?