Managing up is one of those things we all need to master. Why not see what we can learn from those who manage us? If anything, it’s a great place to start because there’s nothing at stake. One smart cookie who learned to manage me well is Anna (not her real name). Some years ago I was told: “Anna is joining your team”. Anna, the ‘going nowhere’ girl. The plodder. … [Read more...]
Are you remembering your successes?
It's Cup Day. Melbourne Cup. The final field of 22 horses is running around the Flemington Race Track until they’ve clocked up 3200m. It’s in its 154th year. I remember we’d stop whatever we were doing in class and Mrs Tomkinson would put on the radio at 3pm so we could listen to the race. The only other time I recall that happening at school was to hear these words live: “It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. (Yes, I was at school in 1969!) … [Read more...]
Are you teaching your people how to think?
One of the best compliments I ever received was from a very challenging staff member. At least she was very challenging at first. I’d keep hearing on the grapevine what a bad boss I was and how horrible I was to work with! I didn’t like it. Then I started to wonder about it. I got curious. I realised it would happen every time I’d give her a stretch assignment. Aha! She was scared she wouldn’t be able to step up. So she acted out by spreading the bad word. … [Read more...]
Are you lonely at work?
I remember my first day working at one of those big, professional consulting firms. It was in a tall building with lots of cold, hard surfaces. That just made the whole experience more daunting. I didn't know anyone. I was shown my desk and left with some reading material. That was the first hour. ON MY OWN! The person in the next cubicle came around and said "Hi" and "What are you doing for lunch?". … [Read more...]
Are you being taken seriously?
The first time it happened I was only 10. I was swinging from one of those rope swings under the tree in the back yard when all of a sudden a Magpie swooped, landed on my head and started to scratch. I screamed. It flew off and I ran inside. As my Mum consoled me I cried: "I'm not a bird's nest". Well, you can only imagine how much teasing fun my siblings had with that! … [Read more...]
High Quality Connections for Leading With Confidence
I confess, I love playing with words and I'm a bit of an academic nerd. So, I'm wondering... How much dignity dissonance is going on at your workplace? What is that weird term 'dignity dissonance'? It's the term I've coined for the way we trade off indignities at work for a job and a career. Really, it should be called 'resolving dignity dissonance' because that's what it's about. It's what we tell ourselves so that it seems reasonable, sensible and meaningful to stay despite the … [Read more...]
Grumpy at work?
Are you, or someone you work with, feeling grumpy? It was a few years ago now. I'd planned to go out with a friend to a local café. I was a little bit grumpy that day (that frustrating feeling when you can't work something out - I was stuck on a section of my PhD, that was work for me). I was hoping that being out with my friend would lift my mood. I'd just been reading about Barbara Fredrickson's broaden and build theory of positive emotions. It goes something like this: positive … [Read more...]
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