Sat.Feb 15, 2025 - Fri.Feb 21, 2025

article thumbnail

Stop Asking Why: Ten ‘What’ Questions Senior Leaders Can Use to Drive Alignment

Next Level Blog

When youre a senior executive, your success depends on influencing, aligning, and mobilizing others toward strategic goals. Yet, even at the highest levels, misalignment often arises due to differing motivations. How well do you truly understand the priorities driving your peers, board members, or senior team? And are your assumptions accurate? The best way to understand whats motivating someone is to engage them in a conversation that surfaces their goals, their ambitions, and their fears.

article thumbnail

7 Qualities that Drive High-Impact Teams

Leading Blog

O RGANIZATIONAL teams determine overall performance, shape culture, drive growth, and deliver results or not. Todays teams face a new reality. Never before have they encountered the changes and challenges brought on them by remote, hybrid, and in-person work environments. Add in the emergence of AI and countless other workforce and societal trends, and its apparent that yesterdays approaches no longer apply to todays realities.

Quality 333
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

The Secret of Enthusiasm is Short-Term Commitments

Leadership Freak

Many leaders weaken decision-making by prioritizing agreement over commitments. Over-concern about agreement sabotages decision-making. In some situations, people dont commit until they agree 100%. When thats true, change your process and expect everyone to commit once decisions are made. Those who aren't committed find fault. Those who are committed find a way.

article thumbnail

How to Thrive When Your Boss is Disengaged

Let's Grow Leaders

You Care. Your Boss Doesn’t (Or So It Seems). What to Do Next With a Disengaged Boss Youre giving it your all. Youre solving problems, driving results, making things happen. But your boss? Theyre off in another world. It could be your boss is disengaged. Or, maybe they are super engaged, just not on your MITs (most important things). Maybe theyre laser-focused on a massive restructuring.

How To 266
article thumbnail

Future-Proof Your Talent Pipeline

Get ready for the future of business. As HR navigates an ongoing labor shortage, leaders need stronger, more adaptable recruiting strategies. Do you have the tools you need to build a talent pipeline that drives sustainable business growth?

article thumbnail

The Hidden Leadership Skill That Makes Employees Feel Valued

Tanveer Naseer

When it comes to developing leadership skills, the focus tends to be on strategic thinking, decision-making, and communication skills. But theres one skill that can create a far greater impact on driving organizational growth and innovation. And that skill is the art of mindful listening. Why? Because it sends a.

Skills 290
article thumbnail

7 Qualities that Drive High-Impact Teams

Leading Blog

O RGANIZATIONAL teams determine overall performance, shape culture, drive growth, and deliver results or not. Todays teams face a new reality. Never before have they encountered the changes and challenges brought on them by remote, hybrid, and in-person work environments. Add in the emergence of AI and countless other workforce and societal trends, and its apparent that yesterdays approaches no longer apply to todays realities.

Quality 323

More Trending

article thumbnail

Leading Gen Z With Less Conflict, More Productivity, and Better Morale

Let's Grow Leaders

Episode 291: Are You Struggling to Lead and Retain Gen Z Employees? Gen Z isnt lazythey just want work to fit into their lives, not the other way around. But for many leaders, this mindset shift creates tension, leading to high turnover and frustration on both sides. How can you bridge the gap and turn Gen Z into one of your biggest workplace assets instead of a management challenge?

Morale 234
article thumbnail

Mindset or Competency: Which is More Important?

Leading in Context

By Linda Fisher Thornton This post will explore the interesting relationship between leadership mindset and competency. Which is most important? What happens to our leadership capability when our mindset is out of date? How we think about something impacts what we do about it. Nick Petrie, Center For Creative Leadership, writes inVertical Leadership Development Part Ithat In terms of leadership, the stage from which you are thinking and acting matters a lot.

article thumbnail

Leading Thoughts for February 20, 2025

Leading Blog

I DEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Richard Farson on contradictions: Contradictory impulses to both succeed and fail can be found in every project, every work team, even every individual. Every management choice, Job offer, or new applicant can appear both appealing and unappealing.

Sample 333
article thumbnail

Older Executives: Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

Rich Gee Group

Listen to the interview. Lets talk reality here. Youve been at the same company for 15, 20, maybe 25 years. Thats awesome, right? Youve worked your way upclimbed each rung of the ladder through decades of promotions, salary bumps, cost-of-living increases, and a ton of sweat equity. But heres the cold, hard truth: youre not bulletproof. You might be a walking target.

Execution 195
article thumbnail

State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

article thumbnail

Understanding Founder Mode As An Employee: How to Thrive in a Founder-Led Startup

Sales Wolf Blog

Are you experiencing Founder Mode? If you work for a founder-led company, it is almost a certainty that you are experiencing Founder Mode that intense, high-stakes mindset where the person at the top is laser-focused on scaling, optimizing, and eliminating roadblocks. Founder Mode manifests through a relentless push toward excellence, and if you do not understand how to operate in this environment, you will struggle.

How To 153
article thumbnail

How to Build a Sticky Culture That Boosts Team Retention and Improves Performance

Great Results Team Building

The most talented employees in your organization have optionsand if youre not creating a workplace culture that keeps them engaged, they will leave. A great culture doesnt happen by accident; it requires deliberate effort and investment. Organizations that prioritize building a sticky culture one that retains top talent and inspires loyaltysee higher performance, lower turnover, and a more motivated workforce.

Team 130
article thumbnail

How To Be More Courageous

Eric Jacobson

Fear creates the gap between who you are and who you can be. Courage closes it, explains Margie Warrell, PhD , author of the new book, The Courage Gap: 5 Steps To Braver Action. To clarify, closing your courage gap is not about de-risking your life or sheltering from problemsnatural and human created. Rather, it is about bringing the bravest version of yourself to every situation, adds Dr.

How To 97
article thumbnail

5 Ways to Express Empathy Like a Leader

Leadership Freak

Feeling bad isnt always bad. Stretching yourself creates uncertainty. Tough issues cause discomfort. Learning new skills calls for courage. The purpose of empathy is empowerment. Here are 5 ways to express empathy like a leader.

article thumbnail

5 Ways to Improve DE&I in the Workplace

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical for an organization’s success. And companies that take bold action to help ensure an inclusive workplace will win every time. Discover how your company can create a culture that celebrates DE&I while achieving higher revenue and growth.

article thumbnail

What Goldilocks Can Teach Us About Leadership

thoughtLEADERS, LLC

Learn three valuable leadership lessons from the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Today’s guest post is by Lida Citron, author of “The New Rules of Influence: How to Authentically Build Trust, Drive Change, and Make an Impact.” Think back to the 19th-century childrens fable, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. A young girl, lost in the woods, stumbles upon a home that just happens to belong to a family of bears.

article thumbnail

Journaling for Leaders and Learners

QAspire

In a constantly evolving world where we experience so many different things professionally and personally, journaling can be an excellent tool to process these experiences and make sense of the world around us. In the latest edition of my latest newsletter Clarity Canvas Weekly , I share my experience with Journaling as a tool for personal growth, mindfulness and sense-making as a leader.

article thumbnail

How To Get Along With Anyone

Eric Jacobson

T he new book, How To Get Along With Anyone , by John Eliot and Jim Guinn , is the playbook for predicting and preventing conflict at work and at home. As you read the book, you will discover how to defuse any heated conflict by learning which of the five conflict styles you are and how to resolve even the most sensitive dispute with this must-listen guide.

How To 73
article thumbnail

How Smart Teams Make Timely Decisions

Leadership Freak

Consensus decision-making is an obstacle to success when groups are large, and issues are complicated. Requiring 100% agreement unnecessarily complicates decisions. Forget consensus; aim for commitment when making decisions.

Consensus 226
article thumbnail

No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Drama, End Entitlement and Drive Big Results

Speaker: Cy Wakeman, M.S., CSP, President, Reality-Based Leadership

Most HR leadership philosophies are grounded in two completely faulty assumptions — “change is hard” and “engagement drives results.” Those beliefs have inspired expensive attempts to keep change from being disruptive to employees. What these engagement programs actually do is create and reinforce feelings of victim-hood and leave employees unprepared to adapt to real changes that are necessary for the health and profitability of their enterprises.

article thumbnail

Moral Authority Is Earned

Frank Sonnenberg Online

Moral authority is the invisible hand that guides ethical behavior, rooted from a persons character, actions, and values. Unlike formal power, it doesnt rely on titles or positions but on trust and respect earned over time. Those who wield moral influence inspire others to follow not through coercion but through example. Its the essence of genuine leadership, where integrity and principles hold sway over mere compliance.

Morale 73
article thumbnail

Autonomy Is Key To Good Collaboration Between Humans And AI

The Horizons Tracker

Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, are increasingly being used in the workplace, but getting the interplay right is often crucial to ensuring employees stay on board. For instance, research has shown that AI can often strip away the agency workers so crave at work, resulting in us working to support the AI rather than the other way around. This is the inverse of the narrative whereby technology liberates us from the mundanities of life that we all loathe and frees us to do the very human things

article thumbnail

7 Tips for Dealing With Irate Customers

thoughtLEADERS, LLC

Dealing with angry customers can be one of the greatest challenges you face. Here are 7 tips for dealing with those difficult situations gracefully and effectively. Today’s post is by Mark Goulston, author of “Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone” One of the things that all irate customers have in common is that they have an attitude that says I rate better service than this and now that I have you on the phone, youre going to pay for it!

Tips 69
article thumbnail

Building a Learn-It-All Organization

Leadership Freak

Microsoft (MS) missed the Smartphone revolution. Windows operating system never got traction in the mobile sector. Zune Microsofts music player was a colossal failure. The launch of Xbox One required a retooling of their approach to gaming. They weren't learning fast enough. CEO Satya Nadella is building a learn-it-all mindset at Microsoft.

article thumbnail

10 HR Metrics for 2025: HR Data Toolkit

The right HR metrics can illuminate hidden trends, justify decisions to the C-suite, and give you an edge in this unpredictable economy. Download Paycor’s guide and learn how to calculate your: Cost-per-Hire Total Financial Impact of Absences Voluntary Turnover Rate And more!

article thumbnail

How to Make Better Decisions Under Pressure: 5 Key Strategies for Navigating Complexity

Experience to Lead

Imagine yourself in the command center of a high-risk space mission. Alarms are blaring, data streams are pouring in from multiple sources, and a critical decision must be made within seconds. Make the wrong choice, and you could lose lives, endanger years of planning and waste billions of dollars. High-stakes situations like these arent limited to the space industry they also mirror the pressures that many of todays business leaders face.

article thumbnail

Friends Recommending Us Jobs Isn’t Always Best

The Horizons Tracker

Would you rather go on a blind date with a total stranger or someone recommended by a friend? A similar dynamic applies when people apply for jobs. According to new research from the University of Floridas Warrington College of Business, job seekers are more likely to be drawn to and accept offers from companies that their friends recommend as a good fit.

Process 70
article thumbnail

The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: Engaging Your Audience

The Center For Leadership Studies

The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: Engaging Your Audience When you’re engrossed in a good book or television series, it’s tempting to stay up late and read the next chapter or watch one more episode. That’s the power of good storytelling. Using this same tactic in the boardroom can engage your team in a similar way. Our guide will explore some of the best storytelling techniques, enabling you to inspire your teams to reach their full potential.

article thumbnail

5 Reasons It’s Bad to Copy Successful People

Leadership Freak

Infants mimic adults when they learn to talk. Adults choose their own words. Novices imitate. Experts craft their own path. Imitation comes before mastery. Dont copy successful people too long. We master something when we understand the principles behind it. How to move from mimicry to mastery?

article thumbnail

The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

article thumbnail

 The Myth of the Non-Creative Communicator 

Decker Communication

DOES CREATIVITY MATTER IN COMMUNICATION? You want to change someones mind. How do you help them see what you see? Relying only on your facts is a mistake. Yes, your idea has merit and is backed by data. But theres a gigantic problem: your listener is already drowning in facts. If youre not careful, your facts may become like wasted water pouring from an open faucet, spilling over the edges of your listeners mind.

article thumbnail

Political Ideology Is The Key Determinant Of Attitudes Towards Guns

The Horizons Tracker

A new study from NYU Tandon School of Engineering suggests that political views, not racial identity, play the biggest role in shaping how people emotionally respond to mass shooting data. This finding challenges common beliefs about how people interpret information on gun violence. The study involved 450 participants who viewed bar charts showing mass shooting victims by racial group.

article thumbnail

Crafting Clear Messages: Tips for Leaders to Enhance Clarity

The Center For Leadership Studies

Crafting Clear Messages: Tips for Leaders to Enhance Clarity Leaders are pivotal in devising strategies that help their organizations succeed. However, they need to communicate their vision clearly so their teams can execute it. By prioritizing clear messaging, leaders can minimize misunderstandings, increase collaboration and boost engagement. Our guide will provide some helpful tips to ensure clear communication.

Tips 52
article thumbnail

How frequently does your organization undergo major reorganizations?

thoughtLEADERS, LLC

Our reader poll today asks: How frequently does your organization undergo major reorganizations? Constantly. It happens multiple times per year 9.60% Regularly. At least once a year 19.20% Sometimes. Usually every couple of years 41.91% Rarely. I can’t remember the last time we reorganized 29.29% Not Mixing Things Up. Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

article thumbnail

The First 90 Days: Onboarding Checklist

While onboarding, don’t let yourself get caught up in administrative details. Automate paperwork & training so new hires can focus on the business at hand from day one. Get Paycor’s checklist to see where your company can make HR process improvements.