I was taking a business trip to Hartford when it happened. I ignored the flight attendant’s instructions to put away my laptop. I was sitting in row one by the window, so there was no storage. My only option was to put the laptop in my backpack in the overhead compartment. Instead, I decided to break […]
PASSION AND AMBITION
Huge thanks to John and the team at HRExaminer! If you have not yet checked them out – do it now. They have created an amazing space to talk about senior HR issues, especially those pertaining to HR tech issues. They also ask me to post on leadership-related topics occasionally. I hope you find it […]
A CLOSER LOOK AT UNITED’S DECISION TO FAIL
I don’t often directly address the headlines, but this one is so intriguing. I have enjoyed flying on United for years, thus this latest snafu is comment worthy. It can certainly teach us something about decision-making and leadership. So, how did United fail so spectacularly? In terms of decision-making, the first error was blind cult-like adherence to “the […]
HAMMER, MEET NAIL
[Here is a short one. A simple idea with a big impact. It was originally posted at HRExaminer a few days ago (http://www.hrexaminer.com/hammer-meet-nail/). Great site with tons of great advice. Check it out!] It’s one of the most common workplace mistakes: applying the wrong solution to a situation simply because you went with your […]
IN SEARCH OF WISDOM
I don’t feel wise just yet, but I do try to seek wisdom. Psychology Today does a nice job summarizing the prevailing definition: “It involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding that incorporates tolerance for the uncertainties of life as well as its ups and downs. There’s an awareness of how things play out over […]
YOU DON’T NEED A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
People often cope with life through the use of delusions, instead of squarely facing reality. One of the most famous delusional shortcuts is the New Year’s resolution. I don’t need to fix the issue now! No, I’ll start fixing it at that designated point in the future. Welcome to intentional personal neglect. In theory, a […]
MORE THAN CREDENTIALS
Drowning in credentials, we’ve forgotten what really matters: effectiveness on the job. Nothing scares me more than a person with six or seven credentials after their name. Hi, I’m Steve Johnson, BBA, MBA, PMP, PHR, CMPP, CFN! Really? Those letters might signal something terribly interesting. Or not. Whether we’re talking about degrees or certifications or […]
TALENT IS INSUFFICIENT
The war for talent is the beginning, not the end. We are often so blinded by talent that in and of itself it seems more than sufficient. It makes sense at some level. Witnessing someone share real talent is beautiful. Whether you’re talking about sales, accounting, supply chain, scientific, or executive talent, it makes you […]
SELFISH AIN’T ALL BAD
Sometimes our thinking is entirely too simplistic. Just because one thing seems right does not mean the opposite is wrong. Nonetheless, this type of black and white thinking is quite common – and it’s not productive. Witness the rise in popularity of servant leadership over the last few decades. It’s an amazingly useful idea. We […]
THE SUPERSTAR, THE SAFE GUY, AND THE REBEL
Typically there are only three types of people who show up in a pile of applications for a job: the superstar, the safe guy, and the rebel. Superstars clearly exceed the job requirements. They are not necessarily over-qualified, but they are certainly very qualified with many accomplishments. On paper at least, you’d be lucky to […]
