Leadership is Simple--and You're Not in it Alone!

November At C-Level

Oops. We missed the October edition of At C-Level. What with work, travel, birthdays, Halloween, etc., I could go on. I have more excuses than a salesperson at bonus time.

Speaking of excuses...

Less than two months left in 2016. If you're anything like me, the time is whipping by waaaay too fast. And not just because it means I'm getting older, though that's obviously true. It just feels like I need more year to get done the things I need to this year. Ever feel that way? The reality of course, is that either we're on plan/schedule/budget, or something didn't work right. Something that we control, or could have controlled.

Rationalize 'til you're blue if it makes you feel better... you're either on-target or you're behind. Anything else is sophistry.

Start looking back at 2016. Want to know what you really viewed as priorities (no matter what you'd said were priorities)? Peruse your calendar, and see where you spent scheduled time. You see, calendars don't lie. Particularly with senior leadership.

If it was important to you, it's on your calendar. If it wasn't... it isn't. And don't for one nanosecond believe your staffs don't know what those things are.

I'm just sayin'...

In preparing for 2017, don't forget:

Planning - both strategic and tactical - how'd you do this year? Why? What needs to happen next year? If the expectations are different, what are you going to do differently? For more tips on planning, check out Strategic Planning -- Organizational necessity or consulting bunk?? from our article archives.

Sometimes we make this thing called leadership more difficult than it has to be. This edition of At C-Level speaks to keeping it simple and not trying to do everything by yourself. After all, most of our lives are only as hard as we make them.

But you already knew that, didn't you...?

Featured Articles

The Simplicity of Leadership

-quit complicating the uncomplicated

by D. Kevin Berchelmann

By that, I mean that leadership is not complex. Can it be difficult? Certainly. But we need to remember to keep things as simple as humanly possible.

We read books, articles, white papers, etc.... All in search of a silver bullet, a magic wand, or something that will allow us to leapfrog common sense and simple leadership techniques. We study "The Five Principles of Employee Engagement;" we listen intently to the webinar, "How to Increase Employee Commitment;" we read books on "Motivating Millennials."

And we don't get any better. In fact, many could make a good argument that as we study these "new and innovative" techniques our ability to actually lead people gets worse. In other words, the more we "know," the less we do.

My advice then is simple: just stop it! (love me some Bob Newhart...)

HELP!

- I hate to ask, but...

by Kevin Ross

"Can I do something to help?"

"No thanks; I've got it."

Sound familiar? At the office? At home? Yes, that short conversation takes place millions of times every day across this country in the workplace, in stores, in the kitchen, between co-workers, bosses and employees (both directions), spouses, and parents and their children - basically anywhere there are two people interested in a particular outcome.

Leaders & Laggards

In this section, we take a look at recent news and events, and make a gut-reaction determination for three categories:

Leadership
Leader

Demonstrating Clear, Personal Leadership

Leadership Milquetoast

Mediocrity in Leadership
Usually an Opportunity Not Taken, or Similar

Leadership
Laggard

Leadership Has Its Idiots, We Show You Who They Are

Matt Schuyler, CHRO at Hilton Worldwide, knows that employees who feel great about where they work are part of an exceptional customer experience.