There is an interesting article in the WSJ called “How to be the Best Deputy – When Second is Best”. Having been a chief of staff, chief operating officer many times in my career, being number two is something I’ve really enjoyed. In the article, they talk about the do’s and don’ts: “take satisfaction in behind the scene wins”, “protect the boss from unnecessary surprises” as dos….don’ts include competing with the boss, expecting glory. What have I learned?
Lots of articles criticizing United CEO Munoz used the term “tone-deaf” describing his email to employees about the United/Dr. Dao incident. Here’s what I find most interesting: Continue reading
It’s been interesting reading about the Wells Fargo situation…which made me think about my lesson learned: Be maniacal about doing the right thing. So obvious right? But clearly, very smart, very dedicated people still take a wrong turn. How does it happen? My observations…. Continue reading
I once went to this amazing leadership course where we did this one exercise where we were told to shout negative things to a person standing with their arms out: “You’re dumb!”, “You can’t do anything right!”, “You can’t win!” The instructor went over to him and pushed his arms down easily.
We then shouted positive things to the person: “You’re great!”, “You’re the best!”, “You can do anything!”, and when the instructor tried to push his arms down, he couldn’t. The person was able to resist. Seriously.
So here are some things to say to yourself depending on the circumstance: Continue reading
When people are in the process of vetting a new role, sometimes it gets worse, not better as the process goes on. Yes, it’s great when you only get more and more excited about the new job. But sometimes, you start getting warning signals….which conflict with the appeal of a higher salary, promises, and the “new shiny” thing high. Here are some warning signs you should pay attention to: Continue reading
Lots of people ask me about this…sometimes it seems like there’s a rule book that everyone knows about but you. I’ve talked about the 3 Ps: Performance, Platform, and Perception as being key for promotion, but here’s some lessons learned about how to navigate this tricky space.
Do you know someone who’s really special? I mean, off the charts. I have, bar none, a totally amazing and awesome niece who’s unbelievably passionate and great at basketball (and many other things-we can talk about Grey’s Anatomy all day long). So, I saw this shirt and had to get it for her.
Sports is such a great way for girls and women to develop confidence, self-esteem, and learn how to perform under pressure. It teaches teamwork, discipline, graciousness, tenacity, and how to appreciate your body, not for how it looks but for what it can do. I love that she has a sport that means so much to her.
So encourage our daughters, nieces, friends to find a sport they love. Sure, talent is important, but my brother and sister-in-law are with her every step, play, and game, and that is what makes the difference.
So my dad has Parkinson’s disease. I’ve started meeting other people who are also dealing with a parent who is ill. This disease has no cure, but I’m happy to say Dad is doing ok…meaning he’s happy, he’s not in pain, and he still enjoys life. Dementia is growing more and more , so here’s my lessons learned so far: Continue reading
There will be times in your career when others come to the conclusion you are ready for the next move (as opposed to you thinking you’re ready). Sometimes it’s to take the role of your boss, lead a project that’s going poorly…..it’s almost always something that is outside your comfort zone and a surprise, since you weren’t looking for it. When people asked me to take roles, my reaction was often gratitude, followed by a compelling argument as to why I wasn’t qualified for the role. Lucky for me, I was overridden. Some things to think about:
One of the problem “frames” I often use is defining the what versus the how. The “what” is usually the tricky part: it involves requirements, defining the end point, the outcome. People are much more comfortable in the “how”…because it’s reassuring and easier to just do things. But it can lead to activity, not results.