“I just can’t even, anymore” he sighed, exasperated. “My patience for well-meaning white people has run out. We’re supposed to congratulate white folks for … Read more
Your Change Efforts Will Likely Fail If You Can’t Answer This Question
It’s a truism that leading change is hard, but the risks of mismanaging change are even more severe than most executives realize. In the Leadership IQ … Read more
Inspirational Leadership Doesn’t Matter If You Don’t Fix This Issue
Virtually every leader wants to be inspiring, to motivate, coach, and stir employees’ passions to achieve breakthrough performance. It’s therefore no … Read more
The Problems of Digital Body Language
About two years ago, I started hearing one story after the next, all centering on the same theme: miscommunication. I’d been giving keynote speeches and … Read more
You’re Misusing the Phrase “Disengaged Employees”
Far too many executives throw around the phrase “disengaged employees” without thinking about what it means, or worse, using an incoherent … Read more
Inclusion Is Not Someone Else’s Responsibility
Meet Mark Benton. Mark is vice president of talent management and development at the healthcare giant McKesson. As a Black man, Mark has a valuable … Read more
The Trap of Forced Inclusion
For 20 years, I was married to someone who struggled with depression, despite years of therapy and in-patient care at psychiatric hospitals. At one point … Read more
The Over-Engineering of Leadership Development
Today, if you make the case that people leaders are the critical focus for organizational success, you will meet with little resistance. This represents a … Read more
What Leadership Looks Like Today
Less than 1 in 5 businesses say existing leaders are “very effective” at meeting business goals. What’s more, 84% of companies predict a shortfall of … Read more
The Next Big Challenge for Training Leaders Is Anxiety
Given the suddenness and severity of the pandemic’s onset, a great many learning and development leaders have performed admirably. From transitioning … Read more
4 Ways to Improve Cross-Functional Communication
The weather forecaster issues a tornado warning, so you get out your new flashlight to make sure it’s working in case the electricity goes out. It’s not. … Read more
These Questions Are Ruining Your Employee Engagement Survey
The purpose of an employee engagement survey is to increase employee engagement. The purpose is not to idly measure, satisfy executives’ curiosity, or … Read more
The Challenge of Measuring Soft Skills
As the use of automation and artificial intelligence ramps up in the workplace, organizations are discovering skills gaps in some unexpected places. … Read more
New Data Reveals That HR Leaders Are Using the Wrong Leadership Style
HR leaders are generally considered among the nicest leaders. Compared to other areas, like finance, operations, or sales, HR leaders are more likely to … Read more
Engagement Surveys Don’t Create Everyday Engagement
Long ago, before the time of quarantines and face coverings, I attended one of those things where adults get together to share drinks and conversation. I … Read more
Your People Are About to Leave You
At the beginning of the pandemic, the uncertain job market and lack of open positions held employees back from embarking on job searches. Now, however, … Read more
How to Demonstrate Your Value as a People Leader
There is an all-too-common perception of a company’s people team being a cost center. Leaders who continue to hold that mindset clearly don’t understand … Read more
Warning: Your One-On-Ones Are Failing
One-on-one meetings between managers and employees should be a required activity for every leader. This conversation is the fastest and least expensive … Read more
Why Companies Fail to Innovate
Leaders are obsessed with innovation. Becoming more agile and innovative are among CEOs top priorities. Why, then, do so many companies fail to innovate? … Read more
The Infusion of Science Into HR
The new best-selling book Think Again, from organizational psychologist and Wharton professor Adam Grant, calls on all of us to apply the scientific method … Read more