Are you too smart?

Are you too smart?

A friend, Beth, was engaging in a mild whine about her job, specifically, her boss. “She’s just so….well, smart. It’s driving me nuts.” That got my attention. How can someone be too smart? Beth’s boss is exceptionally bright, knows...
What the boss really does

What the boss really does

I recently watched the movie The Intern, a lighthearted office story about a young chief executive and her intern, who happens to be a 70-year-old retired guy. In the movie, Jules, the CEO, is struggling. She works 16+ hours a day as the organization is growing...
Keep remote workers “close”

Keep remote workers “close”

For more than a year, I was a remote worker. No office, no designated area, not even a dedicated coffee mug at the office.My boss was on board with the arrangement, but left it largely to me to figure out how to communicate and make it all work. (In his defense,...
Could you take 2 months off?

Could you take 2 months off?

I’m preparing for a grand adventure. Two months of early summer will be spent sailing from the Virgin Islands to Wales. My fearless wife Launda will join me with two friends from England aboard the Ruby May. We will begin with two weeks of training, then take to...
Whose monkey is it?

Whose monkey is it?

Bob, one of your direct reports, comes into your office, obviously stressed. “The client just found another glitch in the software. They’re threatening to cancel the work.” People come to you with problems on a daily basis. It might be tempting to...