Defending seemingly stupid decisions is one of the thankless tasks of management. It’s a tough position to be in–understanding the reasons behind decisions but being unable to share them. Especially when faced with naïve staffers who assume that communicating decisions is a simple case of “telling the truth.” You can’t share so your character gets …
About the last thing achievers ask for is help, yet it’s often the best strategic move you can make. If you do it right, you’ll get better results, those who help you will feel good about their efforts, and others will learn more about you. When you make requests, the onus is upon you to …
I’ve witnessed some amazing communication lately. For some reason tacking on “thank you” seems to make some people think they’re allowed to say the most horrendous things. Witness these recent email examples from managers to their teammates: “…You have missed the mark again. I can only hope that your work will improve so I don’t …
The commotion surrounding the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision and subsequent reversal to fund Planned Parenthood activities illustrates several best practice anti-corporate suffering behaviors. 1. Be ClearKomen Founder Nancy Brinker originally stated that they changed their grant criteria for two reasons 1) flaws in their grant making process eg “the issue is grant excellence” and …
A recent report in the New York Times stated that local TV newscasts are expanding. According to Bob Papper, a Hofstra University professor who surveys local television staffs, “the average amount of news went up 18 minutes per weekday in 2010. I suspect we could see an even bigger jump in 2011.” While it’s always …
I recently read The Art of Racing in the Rain which references racing truisms as analogies for life. I keep thinking about “the car goes where your eyes go” and wondering how much all of us are influenced by the anger that drives so much of what surrounds us. It’s not just the media—although there …
One of the benefits of a diverse society like ours is the influx of ideas, traditions, and different points-of-view that result from cultural differences. Openness to learning about others’ values, beliefs and ideas help us clarify our own thinking and often result in more effective solutions. Of course, what’s different can make us uncomfortable and …
One of the good outcomes of the assassination attempt in Tucson last week is that people seem to be seriously questioning how the hostile social environment we’ve created is impacting our society. Words create our thoughts and thoughts direct our actions. As people feel free to state inflammatory and hateful rhetoric without fear of retribution …
Last night I watched “Unemployment and the 99ers” on 60 Minutes, a story about those who are still job hunting as their extended unemployment benefits (99 weeks) are about to end. I’m sure they got great ratings—and even better pass along viewership–because this kind of story allows everyone to bond together in the “it isn’t …
Fear Based Messaging Sells—But Sure Doesn’t Help Read More »
As I’ve watched the media footage these past few days of respected journalists practically climbing over each other bodily to get the “untold” story of the Chilean miners, I am struck by the hypocrisy of it all. We’ve created an environment where it’s perfectly alright to encourage others to invade the privacy of those we’re …
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