Hiring is tough. It takes too long; we reject great potential colleagues; advance those who are not; and during this process we don’t have the complete picture of those who are applying (nor do they of us) and for those reasons, it is inevitable to make mistakes. We have all hired someone who wasn’t the right fit for our culture, …
Rules of engagement
Learn the system and the rules of the game before you begin playing it. Same applies to your organizations, industries or markets. Learn what works, what doesn’t, how are decisions made and who is able to influence the outcomes and contribute to performance. Once you have done your homework, leverage what you have learned for your future actions in service …
Why relationships matter
Whether you are a senior executive with decades of relevant experience in your field or a rookie who started today, you should always proactively invest in building relationships and meeting new people. Go out there, meet others, provide value, speak at events, ask questions and most importantly, listen and learn from those who may be further ahead in business, career …
I should have said “no”
I should have said no! How many times have you felt this way? The moment (or soon thereafter) you have committed to someone on a project, task, event or a service, you have regretted it. The ability to say no to people and manage your time improves with age and experience (like many other things), and it should be something …
Delusional optimism
Being optimistic, positive and confident is always a better option then the alternative. However, it is important not to ignore challenges, problems and issues you and your organization (perhaps even the entire industry) are facing today. Delaying, postponing, deferring challenging conversations and decisions will almost always come back to haunt you with even a higher price tag. Face the music, …
URGENT vs. IMPORTANT
There’s a clear distinction and difference between those things that are urgent and those things that are important yet we commonly treat them as one and the same. There’s a difference, be mindful of it and invest time, energy and resources into areas, goals and people that need that investment, dedication and attention. Focus on matters of great value to …
Don’t avoid conflict
Don’t avoid conflict. Allow me to explain. If there is an issue that could lead to larger challenges and difficulties in years to come it is important to have it addressed as soon as possible. Walking around pretending that everything is wonderful, great and perfect 24/7/365 serves no one currently and is definitely of no value to anyone long-term. Do …
If it’s important to you, do it in person
When dealing with major projects, services, contracts…save time from going back and forth and eliminate any confusion by getting straight to the point, in person. Limit unnecessary emails and calls and get to the root cause of the issue and work on solutions together.
Opinions of others
Opinions of others and why they don’t matter as much as most might think.
It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you
How many times have you heard: “it’s who you know!” as the reason or a justification why someone has made it or succeeded in some way. While it is important for you to get out there, network and meet new people, it’s even more important for them to know you. If people know you as someone who is honest, trustworthy, …