Friday, 31 July 2020 … Any Okay Boomer, and even not-so-okay Boomers, will remember the youthful excitement triggered by the mere thought of going with the flow. But a funny thing happened to Boomers on the way home from their particular Woodstock. They realized that Going With The Flow was only Step One. If we…
Friday Trigger Qs
How would you like to be appraised?
Friday, 24 July 2020 … Like me, you probably grew up with “Treat others the way you want them to treat you.” When you became a manager you probably realized, like me, that others might not want to be treated the way you wish to be treated. And the more diverse your colleagues and subordinates,…
Did you engage in self-handicapping this week?
17 July 2020 … Have you every engaged in self-handicapping? Of course you have. We all do, sometimes. It’s a way of protecting our self-esteem and public image. How? By pointing out external factors that may or may not have caused our poor performance or failure. Why? Self-handicapping cannot prevent failure. But it can soften the…
What had you hot and bothered?
Friday, 10 July 2020 … It’s hot. And getting hotter. So they say. But there’s no agreement on why it’s getting hotter. Here’s what we all know and agree on. If you don’t do what you committed to do, you will feel hot and bothered. And the longer it bothers you, the hotter you will…
Where is your divine dream?
Next week is the 4th of July, a day to look forward to in the USA. So I ask you this Friday, not to look back, but to look forward. Let me explain why: There is a lot of fear about . . . whether you’re out and about or isolating at home. One way…
Did you make your intentions clear?
19 June 2020 We know that we lead by example, but we cannot do that with intentions. Until acted on, intentions remain unfulfilled objectives. Words are the next best thing to express our intentions. With that said, here are . . . Your Friday Trigger Questions: With (obvious) hindsight, can you see where you failed…
What moved you forward this week?
5 June 2020 You will no doubt be amused to learn that I have found a way to irritate myself. You will be less pleased to read that I am now passing this trick on to you. I have been feeling stuck lately. Not stuck at home, because to me being stuck at home does…
Who stressed you this week?
29 May 2020 There is still a lot of stress blowing in the breeze. (Surely this Memorial Day Weekend was a weekend to forget.) So much stress that I feel compelled to replay a Friday Trigger I sent out way back in the good old days of February 2020. Maybe it will trigger you differently…
Have you picked a mask (any mask)?
22 May 2020 By now, you should be used to wearing a mask in public. Let me reword that. As a leader and executive, you are used to wearing a mask in public. You put on a mask to project (a message; a mood) and you put on a mask to hide (information; feelings). You…
Have you zoomed out to recharge?
15 May 2020 You’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Admit it. And admit that your role comes with built-in stress. Being at or near the top of the pyramid might give you a better view, but it seldom gives you a lighter load. Then admit that the heaviness comes, not from the workload,…