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SMART Leadership Logo

New Home for SMART Leadership

Smart Consolidation While it should be transparent to most readers, all previous SMART Leadership postings from Blogspot and WordPress.com have

spiral

Does anybody remember… abundance?

While performing “Stairway to Heaven” Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant asks the question: “Does anybody remember laughter?” In considering today’s Cautious New World (a.k.a. the new normal), I offer a new question: “Does anybody remember abundance?” In our world of commerce “we’re buying a stairway to scarcity”.

Primitive Communication

Should Interruptions Be Pardoned?

Strong communication skills: Employers all want them. Job seekers all claim to have them. Still there’s a gap. To chip away at the problem let’s explore one of the biggest sins of conversational communication: The interruption. Why is this potentially so offensive? And, why should you avoid it as if your success depends on it?

Happy New Year

Celebrate Your Ignorance

Celebrating your ignorance is a concept introduced at last
month’s “How They Did It” event where a panel of highly successful
entrepreneurs discussed a variety of their success secrets. Here’s
one insightful nugget from a panelist who built a 3,200 employee
organization.

RS Card

My Lesson From "This Old Cub"

After being a part-time bleacher bum in ’68 and ’69, I had the privilege of living next door to the Santo family from ’72 to ’77 where I learned that being a celebrity is not an easy job.

You're Wrong

If dissing you is wrong, then I want to be right

At a recent business meeting, a group member uttered a two word phrase that momentarily transformed the room to a state of stunned silence. Those two passionately stated words were: “You’re wrong”. With that silence, I realized this was another one of those phrases that defeat their purpose and should be stricken from our vernacular.

Strategy Pyramid

Five Resounding Reasons to Review Your Strategic Plan

Events of the past three years have rendered many business plans either partially or completely obsolete. Here are five quick potential wake-up calls to help you determine if one of your most important leadership tools is in need of an overhaul.

Dress Image

"To be honest," you sound like a liar

Do you ever find yourself prefacing your remarks with some version of the phrase “to be honest…”? While honesty is the best policy, let’s explore how you may be sending the wrong message by using this phrase and how you can correct this potentially unproductive habit.

Glass Half Full

Negating Negativity: A One Word Solution

I recently gained a new, pro-bono coaching client. It’s my Mom. She’s had trouble coping her numerous octogenarian related challenges. So much so that she literally worries herself sick. My suggestion for her can serve any of us who want to avoid allowing our challenges to get the best of us.

Vacationer

Are You a Leader, a Tour Guide or a Warden?

In working with teams, committee members and staffs, we find various levels of commitment and engagement to the task at hand. I’ve discovered a simple tool for “Engagement Detection” that has served to enhance my awareness of others’ attitudes toward our achievement. Might it work for you?

Queen for a Day

King James "Queen For A Day" Pageant

Fast forward to today and the self-proclaimed King of Akron, LeBron James who departed from his expiring obligation with his employer, the Cleveland Cavaliers. “The Decision” was preceded by a high stakes auction process that culminated with an over-hyped reality TV show.

on time

Under Promise and Over Deliver

A curious change has occurred in air travel in recent years. No, I’m not thinking about enhanced security or the

hi-logo

Taking the HOLIDAY out of Holiday Inn

Traveling American roadways this summer, we’re seeing something new in the continuing evolution of an American icon. Road construction on

Glass Half Full

Thanksgiving In June

As a glass-is-half-full guy conjuring up a topic for June, I resolved to avoid any reference to hardship. It’s been way overdone.

IBM tw

Who Moved My Customers?

Revisiting: Who Moved My Cheese? Most of us are familiar with Dr. Spencer Johnson’s 1998 parable Who Moved My Cheese?

Chicken

Our Brave New World is No Place for Chickens

What Has Uncertainty Done To Your Ability to Achieve?
Economic uncertainty has an undeniable effect on both our bank accounts and our attitudes. As it persists, we’re too often unaware of its effect. Are you guilty of using uncertainty as an excuse to duck your responsibilities as a leader? In This Brave New World is No Place for Chickens, you will discover 5 ways to rise above uncertainty, act like a leader and avoid being a chicken.

James R. Thompson Center

Is Experience Overrated?

Now that the presidential campaigns are underway, we can expect to hear a lot on the topic of experience. How

Talent Tea Leaves

My Tea Leaves

Back in the days when I managed a manufacturing facility I had recruiting responsibilities. I was a semi-frequent interviewer and

Podium

Speaker Contrasts

In September, I had the pleasure of hearing two national renowned speakers. Marshall Goldsmith, a prominent executive coach to Fortune

Skills Curve

What Skills Are You Really Being Paid For?

Most of us have personal experience with medical professionals that can help us understand the difference and the value of hard (technical) skills and soft (people/life) skills.

Dis-Engaged Worker

Presenteeism: An Under-the-Radar Challenge to Your Productivity

Management has long been aware of loss in productivity due to absenteeism. When workers are absent from work, performance of their tasks is either delayed or temporarily transferred to someone else who, in turn, delays or transfers their regularly scheduled tasks to pick up the slack.

Confused Goalie

Hypothetical Hockey

Written in March of 2005 during the NHL Player’s Strike. While the strike has settled, the concepts still apply. With

Promotion Adjustment

Do You Promote From Within?

Does This Noble Practice have Some Hidden Pitfalls? Most organizations are proud of their practice of promoting their own employees.

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