Lead your leader: Managing up

Lead your leader: Managing up

Bosses come in all shapes, sizes and types. Knowing how to manage up, influence and collaborate with Boss A does not guarantee you’ll get good results with Boss B. Yet there are some general principles that apply to everyone, like getting to know your...
And what else?

And what else?

If you supervise other people, you’ve probably also been a coach. Yes, you need to hold folks accountable. And you need to have separate conversations that are about growth and learning as a partner in their development.I heartily...
The challenge of linear thinkers

The challenge of linear thinkers

Samantha loves her job. She enjoys interacting with customers and meeting their needs. She does a great job when the issues and their answers are clear. But Samantha struggles when something unexpected happens and she needs to think on her feet. She can follow an...
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,...
Are you a snoopervisor?

Are you a snoopervisor?

I stumbled across this term and thought it probably summed me up pretty well early in my career. Yea, I was all about delegating to others, and then I found ways to check up on them. I would add little details I’d forgotten, pass on tips, or frequently ask,...