Critical conversations at work
Kate Carruthers Managing people is a skill I’ve been a manager for over twenty years now, managing teams ranging in size from 2 to 263. One thing that I have learned is…
leadership
Leaders, problems, and action
“We measure a leader, not by the absence of problems, but how he or she confronts those problems and takes action.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter There has been a long…
Predicting success #startups
“The only major personality trait that consistently leads to success is conscientiousness.” via Business Insider In large companies personality tests and similar instruments are often deployed to provide people with…
Leadership, personality traits, and success: Do nice guys really finish last?
I came across an article in Wired Science by Jonah Lehrer titled Do Nice Guys Finish Last?. It had plenty to get me thinking. Apparently: “… levels of ‘agreeableness’ are…
Vale Steve Jobs: a leader with great passion
It is sad to hear of Steve Jobs’ passing. Not unsurprising news given his long battle with cancer. But the heartfelt responses to his death made me think. How many…
Why do bad leaders happen to good people? #notw #hackergate
There have been astonishing revelations in London about leaders in the News International group of companies and in the UK Parliament. Perhaps even more shocking is the disclosure of the…
Ethics, incompetence, and conspiracy
The common thread between these items is the importance of communication. And it is the communication by leaders and managers within organisations that signifies to people what standards of thinking…
Leadership – it is hard to define but I know it when I see it
That heading was inspired by the well known saying regarding pornography by Justice Potter Stewart: “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to…
Is leadership only about leaders?
Had an interesting conversation with my friend @MaverickWoman about leadership over the weekend. Conversations with @MaverickWoman are always thought-starters and this was no different to usual – she got me…
Norman Schwarzkopf on leadership
“Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy.” — Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf