Change Management

Mandatory Is Not a Bad Word

Mandatory Is Not a Bad Word

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Have you ever thought your communication was clear, yet the action that followed was not what you expected? Have you ever assumed an action had been taken, then learned it had not? If your answer to both is yes, join the club. There are reasons for the above. It could be the communication was not clear and specific enough. It could be the timeline for completion was not understood. It could be a lack of accountability.…
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Planning for Successors When Leaders Leave

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Who will take their place?  This is a question that’s frequently asked when someone resigns from a management position. Even in the best of times, an organization has at most 30 days until the person who resigned leaves. This can be especially challenging in small departments and organizations, as there may be no one currently working who can step into the leadership role. For mid-size and larger companies, that is not the situation. There are…
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How “Operational Trials” Can Help You Rewire and Improve Results

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It is gratifying that the e-book Rewiring Excellence: Hardwired to Rewired is being so well received. In writing the book, we were very careful to outline how to decide which actions can benefit from rewiring and which ones are best to leave alone. The key question is “How is it working?” If the desired outcomes are being achieved, it is best to leave it be. If the desired results are not being achieved, it makes sense to…
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Is It Time to Rewire What Was Once Hardwired?

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When he returned to lead Apple, the late Steve Jobs shared with employees that the goal was to make much of what they do obsolete—not the mission of Apple, but the tools and techniques. His belief was that each person and every organization benefits by always being in the mode of continuous improvement. Twenty years ago, I wrote the book Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, Making a Difference. The Wiktionary dictionary defines hardwire this way: “to connect components…
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It’s Best for New Leaders to Adjust to the Organization (Not the Other Way Around)

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I was reading an article that stated that when you get a new boss, you get a new job. The point was that when a new boss shows up, things change. I experienced this in one of my jobs. A new boss came in with his own agenda and his own way of doing things. At times, a big change may be what is needed (for example, if the organization is under-performing). However, in most…
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Creating Critical Mass to Move People Through Change

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When I started writing this weekly column in 2016, I felt it would be short lived—not due to my desire but because I felt I would run out of material. This turned out not to be so. You, the readers, are so helpful with suggestions on topics and questions. I also benefit from being out and about. Just in these last couple of weeks, I have been fortunate enough to be in Camden, New Jersey;…
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SOPs Create Consistency…and Make Life Better for Everyone

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Consistency. That is what people are looking for everywhere, from the customer service they’re given to the work environment their company creates. As leaders, we all know how great it is to hear feedback from a customer on an employee who is exceptional. What if all employees could make that type of impact? Yes, consistency is the goal, and it is extremely hard to achieve. Those organizations that do achieve consistency benefit from it in so…
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Change is Hard. Be Kind to Yourself as You Bounce.

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“Grace, not perfection.” This statement (which also happens to be the title of one of my favorite books by Emily Ley) was sent to me by Allyson W. Anderson, the executive director of Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition. She had read my column that mentioned forgiveness as a value. Allyson sent me a photo from a recent retreat they did, and forgiveness is listed on a visual they created. The team developed it. I also received an email from…
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A Good Person Is Resigning. Here’s How Not to Burn the Bridge

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If you are in management, you have probably experienced this scenario: One of your best employees asks to meet with you and informs you that they have accepted an offer from another employer and are resigning. How do you respond? Most likely your response is based on your relationship with the person and their performance. If they are a solid performer and you wish they would stay, what if you said to them, “If your…
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Making Job Change Easier: Insights on Leaving, Letting Go, and Keeping the Door Open

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The Great Resignation is still going on, and many individuals and business owners are dealing with job change. Whether one is thinking of leaving a job or is a leader dealing with the loss of a good employee, these are often complicated, emotional issues. It can be hard to know what to do. This past week I experienced three situations that involved career decisions. While they were all different, they were also similar in some…
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