Our relationship with conflict is really messed up. We create unproductive conflict all the time – either actively or passively – that could be stopped before it even starts. It’s time to fix our perspectives about conflict. Conflict is a needed element in driving for and achieving the best possible outcomes between and among people. […]
“Management” is an anachronistic vestige from the industrial age. We long for the “other” 499/500ths of human history… We don’t need – or even want – managers. Instead, we thirst for leadership! In this vein, an old saying comes to mind, “You lead people, you manage things…” The earliest reference I found to this quote […]
If “Buy-In” was a person, he or she would be a 98 pound weakling. (Apologies to all healthy, strong individuals who weigh 98 pounds [or so], it’s just an expression!) Additionally, “Buy-In” is virtually powerless to truly drive significant, transformational change. If this is true, why do so many managers think that “Buy-In” is all […]
We’re not so much a product of our environment, as we’re a product of our expectations. And, if you’re settling for “less-than” with your expectations, you’re settling for meatballs (apologies to my vegan, vegetarian and Swedish friends – it’s just a metaphor! ). With a nod to a guy named Glen Metelmann—a friend, mentor, former […]
What if I told you that you could be more relaxed, more focused, more calm – and actually discover more time in your day – without using any drugs, alcohol, counseling, diet, exercise program or mediation technique? Would you believe me? Actually, I have found ALL of those benefits – by doing one small, simple […]
Toxic office politics waste an unbelievable amount of time that could be used FAR more productively. And, I find WAY too many people just simply accept the toxic situation as being “just the way it is around here.” Okay — here’s a different viewpoint. Stop that! Quit accepting unhealthy, toxic situations as “normal” — they […]
Is it time for transformational change — or is incremental change more appropriate? Too often leaders mistake one for the other, and wind up doing too little too late, or squashing the proverbial fly with a sledgehammer. Neither situation turns out well, unfortunately. by Robert S. Tipton http://atom.smasher.org/highway/ Yes, as the old saying goes, “change […]
“Low employee engagement is a competitive disadvantage.” Bold assertion or obvious statement? To me it’s as obvious as the proverbial noses on our faces — a disengaged workforce means more absenteeism, higher voluntary turnover, and overall lousy productivity. But, what are we doing about it? Usually the wrong things, I fear. by Robert S. Tipton […]
by Robert S. Tipton Which is better? Employees that do “whatever it takes” related to customer service, quality, efficiency, etc., or employees that ensure they simply comply with the metrics in their performance plans? Be careful how you answer that question. It’s easy to say, “Oh — it’s obviously the former…” However, in my experience […]
by Robert S. Tipton Most approaches to managing, mandating, or dictating change just don’t work, and some create catastrophically bad outcomes. Recently I’ve analyzed the “Epic Change Failures” I’ve seen, and I’ve developed my “hall of shame” Top 10 list related to them as a result. (Note: Just ONE on my list of ten is […]
