by Michael Holland We’ve all gotten into those conversations where at some point we realize we’ve made some incorrect assumptions. That happens when we are managing an employee’s performance also. As managers, we frequently think we know why a person did what they did, or know what they intended, or draw conclusions about someone’s performance [...]
by Michael Holland About four months into their new role, young leaders struggle as they hit their tipping point with the realization that they have all this “management stuff” to do and they still have “real” work to do. They are executing the same behaviors and habits learned from years as an individual contributor and [...]
by Michael Holland Did you know that what you are saying is not always the message you are sending? There are numerous factors that impact our communication and often create unintended messages and miscommunications as we work with employees. In face-to-face communications our non-verbal communication will have a greater impact on how someone interprets our [...]
by Michael Holland Are you really listening to what people are saying to you? Many people – your employees included – “test the waters” when they are talking with you. They may start out with “safe” topics, or share what they think you want to hear, leaving valuable information below the surface, deciding on how [...]
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 [...]
