Category Archives: Skills

How to perform tasks, build relationships, handle issues, emotions, get results

Recognizing Talent – key traits for hiring and promoting

"It's not about whether candidates have the right skills, it's [more] about whether they have the potential to learn new ones."    - Claudio Fernández-Aráoz To recruit, promote and keep talent, it turns out that adaptability, capacity to learn, and constructive use of imagination are more important than knowledge.  Einstein was right.  But the master skill of "learning how to learn" can be Continue Reading ...

Collaboration

Collaboration can become "coliberation" when done right. When, exactly, are "two heads better than one"?  When the overall goal and task at hand deserve this form of closely aligned partnering.  Of course, not every type of work, every goal or every task deserves it, and when collaboration is warranted, success depends on the willingness and skill-sets of collaboration partners.  Key is to Continue Reading ...

Alignment

Lack of alignment around goals, or the deeper challenges of disagreements about priorities, the desired future, beliefs about what is possible, let alone worthwhile, sometimes fueled by egoic, dysfunctional, win-lose thinking, all limit success. When stakes are high, this lack of alignment can create quite a mess.  Though recovery from such setbacks isn't usually a problem, if there's a preventable Continue Reading ...

Presentations that Don’t Suck

Why is PowerPoint a cue to take a nap for so many professionals? Is it because they can? Nobody is watching them, and they can finally catch up on some much-needed rest? Unfortunately, nobody is watching the presenter, either. Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most used and most loathed tools in business today. It’s the go-to tool for 99% of presentation visuals intended to communicate with others. Continue Reading ...

Exploring the Inner Frontier, Part 3

What's a Healthy Boundary Between You and a Maniac? -- part 3 of 3 By Daniel Robin Hank says to me "It’ll never work," just two days after his team’s proposal was approved. Shirley says the reason the project is doomed is that nobody ever talks to her. I innocently ask "What can you do about that?" and she snaps "I don’t have time for this!" and walks out of the room. Whoa! How do you Continue Reading ...

Exploring the Inner Frontier, Part 1

How to Create and Maintain Healthy Workplace Boundaries -- part 1 of 3 By Daniel Robin "So what happened to you? It’s like you’ve gone M.I.A. … missing for weeks…." "My job ate my life," Tom sighed, as the two high-tech workers sipped their half-decaf cappuccinos. Katie asks politely, "May I offer a suggestion? Push back a little. Your life is more important." "Yeah, but I’m actually Continue Reading ...

Building A Better Workplace: Meeting Expectations

By Daniel Robin "I called this meeting to find out what you think of our new company slogan, cialis ‘We’re working for you’, decease " the Vice President proclaims. "When did we come up with that winner?" queries George, a particularly vocal middle manager. "At last week’s management retreat. What do you all think of it?" "Hey, it really works for me!" announces George, with only a hint of Continue Reading ...

Sailing the Seven C’s of Collaborative Business Relationships

By Daniel Robin To some folks, the phrase "business relationships" is effectively an oxymoron. The more pressure to perform, the more likely there’ll be a bump in the road to collaboration that sends things flying out of control. Hopefully the "bump" isn’t the tip of an iceberg, but just a bit of rough water that will soon pass. Collaboration at work isn’t required, it’s just a lot more Continue Reading ...

Humor in the Workplace: Compulsion or Choice?

Someday we'll look back on these times and laugh ... so why not start now!? By Daniel Robin Two executives walk into a bar. One says to the other "I've been thinking. If you took over as CEO, I could retire early." The other executive responds, "Sure, dear, but not until after we put the kids to bed." (What? Oh, I get it ... that's like a joke, but not as funny. What matters is that now we've Continue Reading ...

Communication Skills for People Under Pressure

By Daniel Robin "There comes a time ... when we must grab the bull by the tail and face the situation." - W.C. Fields You walk into a meeting with your agenda brandished on your frontal lobes, ready to get the team's unwavering commitment and blast into action. The last time you had an assignment with this group, some joker disagreed, it threw you off, and it took forever to get it done. This time Continue Reading ...

Not Just the Facts, Ma’am

By Daniel Robin "Hey, the boss is all upset," reports Todd, looking a bit worried. Curious to know what Todd observed, Nancy asks "How do you know the boss is all upset?" "Well," Todd explains, "I just saw her jumping up and down and pounding her fists on the desk. I’d say that means we’re in trouble." "Relax ...," says Nancy in reassuring tones, Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 9

Speaking Up About Put-Downs By Daniel Robin This article series outlines several tools for dealing with patterns of aggressiveness.  Assertive leaders are clear about what they want, listen actively, make requests, set clean boundaries, and handle differences through skillful negotiation.  Of course, depending on the “personality” involved, it might be best to ask for help or get out of their Continue Reading ...