by Michael Holland For most people their weakest communication skill is their ability to listen. Why is that? Most of us can process information faster than another person talks, so we have lots of extra time to think of our response, judge or evaluate the speaker or just let our mind drift off to more [...]
by Michael Holland When you are interviewing, pay attention to how much talking you are doing. Your goal is to learn as much as you can about the candidate and this is best accomplished when the candidate is talking and you are listening. Too often, we spend too much time talking, telling the candidate about [...]
by Michael Holland Can a leader be impoverished? Absolutely! Impoverished leaders detach themselves from their teams, and basically allow their teams to manage themselves. Often these leaders “Delegate and Disappear.” While delegation is a strong and effective way to manage, delegating without follow up, not providing adequate direction and not keeping track of an individual’s [...]
by Michael Holland In your quest for leadership success you must leverage every minute of every day. Back-to-back meetings, constant emails arriving, new initiatives, demanding deadlines, uninitiated employees and a personal life. Lunchtime is reserved for squeezing in whatever work can be accomplished while rushing to inhale some semblance of food. Catching up on emails [...]
by Michael Holland Watching a mom in Panera Bread yesterday ignore her 3- year-old son’s tantrum – which was likely his umpteenth tantrum of the day – puts great perspective on a Power Thought from Norman Vincent Peale. “It isn't worth it to spend $1,000 worth of emotion on a five-cent irritation” With all the irritations that [...]
by Michael Holland I’m intrigued with the invisible fences that dog owners use to train their dogs. A few weeks of shock treatment combined with well-placed flags provide enough structure to control most dogs for the rest of their lives with the fence turned off. For the dog, that fence is always there and limits [...]
by Michael Holland Acquiring talent can be time and energy consuming. In the recruiting process, reviewing resumes, applications and conducting phone screens with job candidates, it’s helpful to know your “knock-out factors.” What are the basics, the essentials, the must haves that you need for someone in the position? Maybe it’s a certain skill or [...]
by Michael Holland Luckily for most maturing leaders, there aren’t cameras rolling and a national audience of 16 million people watching as they make critical mistakes. The NFL “replacement referees” have been trained in their craft but have been working as referees in less intense, less demanding levels than the NFL. It would seem [...]
by Michael Holland Managers sometimes wonder what motivates my employees? What satisfies them? What will make the biggest difference to an employee? Leaders at all levels often make the mistake of assuming that all employees are motivated by the same thing – a new assignment, recognition, a promotion. But what motivates a person is likely [...]
by Michael Holland By and large, most people want to work hard and feel good about the work they are performing. Leaders are paid to guide and motivate employees. Create the environment and atmosphere to make sure employees have the opportunity to feel motivated. Your mood is the big stick that stirs the pot of [...]
