Career Transitions

The Sweet Spot: How to find it for yourself

The Sweet Spot: How to find it for yourself

Seeing plants grow and watching people perform results in the same comment: “Wow, they love it here.” How do you recognize that sweet spot, and more importantly, do you know how to get back there? Here are a few tips to know when you are there, and 3 resources to help identify and find your own sweet spot.

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Time for a Career Check-up?

Time for a Career Check-up?

Stephen Covey called it “Sharpening the Saw.” It is that time when we step back and take a look at where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.

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Mind the GAP

How do leaders effectively manage their personal growth and the growth of their organization? It boils down to MIND THE GAP, and here is a keynote workshop I did for a group of economic development professionals in Michigan. It includes tools and techniques (including the Entrepreneurial Operating System) I use to help them Create / Manage / Own the GAP.

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How to win the Talent War – Part 3 – Be people-centered leader

People-centered leadership. Easy to say, and the capacity to do it will be tested when you commit to developing your people, because their career plans might lead them outside your team or organization. It is the time of year to make plans for 2016 – should yours be to increase your capacity as a people-centered leader? Here is a question that will help get that started.

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4 Questions People-Centered Change Leaders Ask

4 Questions People-Centered Change Leaders Ask

Leadership is about change management. Here is a story about a coach of a football program rich with tradition, and he was not successful. It had nothing to do with him being a good coach, because he has proven he is a great coach – in the right situations. Getting the most out of your talent and leading effectively is about people-centered leadership. In transition, this is even more important, and here are 4 questions to ask and a proven process for navigating that change.

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Jackhammers and Leadership

What was your first leadership lesson? Mine happened when I was 19 and learning how to operate a jackhammer. Here is what I learned, and how it frames my work as a leader, a coach, and even a father. Some thoughts, and a question for you: What are you challenged with today that you have to learn to let the jackhammer do the work? Great conversations start with a question. Lead well and go have one.

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Do What You Love

Do What You Love

Talent management is about great conversations. Sometimes it starts with a conversation with ourselves. Here are two videos that evoked a conversation within me – one on Slomo and the other on Alex Zanardi. They are not corporate titans, but men who faced a fork in the road and chose a path. Very different people, but both reminded me of the piece of mind that results when we own our choices. Great lessons for individuals facing decisions around career or professional development. Remember, do what you love.

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Listen Well

I respect and listen to Seth Godin. I also believe that at the core of talent management is Honest Conversations, leading to Thoughtful Actions, that result in Improved Performance. A big part of that is listening well, and know that performance in the end is about actions. Here are some thoughts on Listening well.

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An Open Door is not enough – How about an Open Ears policy?

It is time to get rid of the open door policy buzz phrase in business and replace it with the open ears policy. Here are some tips to making open ears work for you as a leader, and a challenge to followers to step into the space created by your leader to listen. Talent management is about great conversations, and having that conversation requires a minimum of two people, coming together, and willing to share the roles of talker/listener. This is a foundational leadership development topic, and should be repeated often if you are building a leadership development strategy.

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Ingredient #1: Owning your development

Talent management is about great conversations. One conversation that is powerful is around career development. Looking into the future to plan a career or commit to mastery is exciting, and not easy. Personal ownership is the big key to success, and that is step 1. Here are some tips for owning your own career development and some books/resources that might help.

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7 Books That Make Great Gifts For A New Job

Transitions are exciting and scary at the same time. Within the transitions related to our work, there is a real opportunity for a great conversation. Here is a list of my recommendation of 7 books that make great gifts for a person starting their first job. Each of the potential to create a perspective for someone that will help them manage through the highs and lows of that first role. Some equip people with specific things they can do, while others equip them with a perspective they need to keep. Both are equally important. Talent management is about great conversations. These gifts have the opportunity to start one.

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Helping Talent Emerge

Talent management is about helping people be aware of who they are and apply it in such a way that it makes a huge impact. I lead a program called Shifting Gears that does that for people that have been off for over 3 months, and the lessons that I have learned can be applied to individuals and leaders trying to make the most of the talents they possess.

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