Precision Leader Development

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Giving Employee “Thank-Yous”—More Bang for the Buck

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If you’re a leader, you know how important it is to thank and recognize employees. It strengthens relationships, keeps people engaged, and fosters a powerful sense of belonging. Because what gets recognized gets repeated, it helps build consistency and move results. And the act of recognizing someone replenishes both parties—you and the other person. This week I want to provide readers with some activities to connect to the workforce via appreciation and recognition. If you…
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Tough Messages Are Love in Disguise (But We Need Tough Skin to Receive It)

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In a recent column I wrote about my initial reaction when, after working hard and putting in lots of time, my boss’s feedback was that he was not evaluating me on effort, but on results. I shared how taken aback I was by what he said. Did he not appreciate my effort? Could he have said it in a kinder, softer way? At least he could have said, “Quint, thank you so much for your effort.” In Peter Drucker’s viewpoint on…
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Peter Drucker’s Leadership Observations Are Still True Today

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“Leadership Is Responsibility.” That is the title of the April 8 chapter in the book The Daily Drucker: 366 Days of Insight and Motivation for Getting the Right Things Done. Published in 2004, the book is a collection of writings by Peter Drucker (1909-2005), who was considered the top management thinker of his time. The wonderful thing about writing is that while the person is not with us physically, their gifts remain to be opened…
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Placing Gratitude Front and Center

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I have a book titled Daily Reflections that I read every morning. A recent reflection was titled “A Full and Thankful Heart.” The author stated, “I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot contain great conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know.” That author went on to share that most of us are very fortunate. We…
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There Is No Substitute for Experience

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An organization has excellent facilities, technology, best-practice knowledge, and a passionate workforce—yet is not achieving organizational goals. And yes, senior leadership is solid. So what is the issue? In cases like this, I find that a good place to look is experience. What percentage of new people can a department or organization have until it impacts performance? There’s no single answer; it’s relevant to the department, the role, and the new person who fills it. It’s…
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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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Building Self-Awareness Into Your Company Culture

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In my book The Busy Leader’s Handbook, Chapter 1 is on self-awareness and coachability. Self-awareness is one’s ability to perceive and understand the characteristics that make them who they are as an individual: personality, actions, values, beliefs, emotions, and thoughts. The greater self-awareness a person has, the more coachable they are. In the book, I provide tips on how to gain self-awareness and become more coachable. My experience is that a key characteristic the best performers…
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Two Trust Builders: Saying, “I’m Sorry,” and Giving Good Explanations

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It is never wrong to say, “I am sorry.” After the last three years, which have been very tough, forgiveness may be needed. I got an early view of research that will be released in a few months. Things have changed quite a bit with employee engagement. With the many changes made, at times hour to hour, the issue of trust is a common theme. People wonder: Can I trust the CEO’s information? Is the…
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Effort Does Not Always Equal Results

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Most of us have growing pains, or experiences that can be uncomfortable. Yet, when we look back on some of these pains, we can see they created our greatest learning gains. One of my growing pains was when I was told my job was not about how hard I was working or the hours I was putting in. My job was to deliver the outcomes I was being paid to deliver. At that time, I…
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The Power of “Is It Doable?”

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Is it doable? That is the question. As regular readers know, I have been able to get back into healthcare. However, at times, I still work with non-healthcare companies and also communities based on the ideas in my book Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America. In all fields, I find it so useful to ask that short, yet powerful question. Prior to making a recommendation, it’s best to complete a diagnosis. In any situation, if…
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