by Michael Holland - “I’m a working manager. I just don’t have the time to do all these management things I’m supposed to do” Yes, you are a working manager. And so is every other person out there who is responsible for leading and managing other people. Every foreman, supervisor, team leader, manager, senior manager, [...]
By Michael Holland - My keen financial planning colleagues can speak for hours about the art and science of balancing portfolios. For the rest of us, we know that it's good to have a balanced portfolio whether it's with financial assets, the food we choose to consume over a week, or the selection of adult [...]
By Michael Holland - A few years ago I joined a men’s lacrosse league. I hadn’t played lacrosse in a quite a number of years, but yearned to be back in a competitive game, expending all that stressful energy and feeling the rush of natural adrenaline. To prepare, I went out for a run, just [...]
By Michael Holland - Teams, teams, they are everywhere. Many think that just surviving together through the drudgery of the workweek makes the group a team. Many think that having a moniker – the senior leadership team, the accounts payable team, the special super-secret project team – creates a truly cohesive and functional team. The [...]
by Michael Holland - There comes a point in time when leaders begin to lead other leaders. They have several people below them who are guiding teams or departments of their own, and they can see the breadth of their empire spread out before them, with all their resources working together to achieve the goals [...]
by Michael Holland - For an employee to perform well, there are seven areas of need that must be met. Knowledge and skill Capacity Clear expectations Defined standards and measures Proper conditions Incentives Feedback When an employee isn’t performing well, we too often assume it’s a “capacity issue,” thus the person just isn’t able. Before [...]
By Michael Holland - “Hi I’m Mike, and I’m a recovering bad leader.” There was a time – or rather a season – in my life in which I led in ways that caused some collateral damage. I drove hard for objectives using sheer will to drive teams forward. While “I” may have perceived we [...]
by Michael Holland - Most leaders take on their first management role between the ages of 28 and 32. They are put in charge of their former peers and expected to continue producing top notch work while they take on managing the team. New to the job and with no training, these new leaders fall into habits [...]
By Michael Holland - Somewhere today, within a 60-mile radius of Albany, NY, there is a leader sitting at their desk with their head in their hands wondering how they can do what they need to do with their employee. They won't know who to ask for help. They won't know where to look for [...]
By Michael Holland - As a leader, how do you analyze recent events, interactions, situations, encounters? Do you have a critical eye seeking intelligence regarding how you have behaved and how your behavior impacted others? Looking closely at what we haven't completed or improved or how we behaved or could've behaved is a good habit. Deciding where [...]
