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Leadership: 3 Ways To Motivate Your Team In The Changing World Of Work…Leadership Today Demands both Influence & Inspiration. Which Require a Commitment to Meet People Where they Are.

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As the pace of change accelerates across the workforce, there’s a significant need for leadership to step up. Yet as the “Workforce 2020” study from Oxford Economics uncovered, barely half of surveyed CEOs said their leadership knows how to inspire and empower employees. That’s not going to cut it.

shutterstock_268785848

Where Leadership Styles Come From

In my life, two learnings have shaped the type of leader I’ve become more than others – one from childhood, the other from parenthood.

As a native of South Africa, I grew up during both the apartheid era and the Rainbow Nation under Nelson Mandela. I watched a new chapter in the history of my country unfold before my eyes. I saw how a leader could unite people in spite of vast differences – color, socioeconomic situation, and life experience – to build a nation committed to reconciliation and transformation.

How many of you have taken the online quiz “what’s your superpower?” (Guilty.) Nelson Mandela’s superpower was revealed in the way he connected with people to engage and motivate them to work for a better life. Not just for themselves, but for others. And while I can say that’s not the superpower I apparently have, it’s something I work to emulate every day.

 

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Leadership today demands both influence and inspiration. Which require a commitment to meet people where they are. Nelson Mandela said it best, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

Another key influence on my leadership style is something very personal, my two sons, now ages 8 and 11. They remind me I’m required to embrace an ever-changing balance of power and influence – both as a parent and in the workplace.  Access to information, data, and social networks has changed the dynamic in both. My boys ask questions, give opinions, and regularly question my authority (sound familiar?)  – empowered by that access to information. So just as I as a parent must adapt my style to match the exhausting pace at which my children learn and absorb the world around them, I have to do the same thing in business when dealing with my team.

So while leading may not be as easy as it used to be, successful organisations don’t panic by change – they embrace it.  As the world of work evolves, so must our approach to leadership

Effective leaders inspire and motivate talented employees to maximize their potential. And that’s never been more important, as our work forces become more diverse and more globally dispersed than ever. One day I may call an office in London or San Francisco my work location, the next it may be my kitchen table, and soon after a client’s office or British Air row 11.

To stay connected and motivated, employees need a simpler, standard way of collaborating and communicating – whether full-time or contingent, co-located or virtual, the youngest generation or the oldest.

Certainly there’s no “one size fits all” solution. But technology today is simplifying the landscape for employees and companies. Here are three things I keep in mind:

1. Keep things simple

When it comes to managing talent in this global and hyper-connected economy, simply automating old processes for recruiting, payroll, time tracking, expenses, and the like won’t work. Instead, you need simpler, standardized processes to motivate and align employees with business goals. And every faction of the workforce – full-time employees, a growing contingent workforce, and leadership – must be considered when determining whether you’re making the business simpler and not just more automated.

 

2. Invest in your employees

Today’s workforce does not yet possess the skills needed to keep up with technology advancements. Companies are complicit – too often talking about how to develop talent rather than actually investing in it. The “Workforce 2020” study found that only 40 percent of employees are given the opportunity to expand their skill sets. That’s not enough at a time when entire industries are obliterated with each advent of new technology.

What’s the answer? Creating a workplace culture that encourages learning starts at the top. Leadership teams must understand that new skills cannot just be acquired just through hiring – a very expensive and inefficient propositioncosting in the 1.25 to 1.4 times base salary range. Better to give your current employees easy access to resources that are relevant, insightful, and engaging – anytime and anywhere. The technology is there to support this: social platforms for collaborative learning and development, programs that track learning progress, and open content MOOC-style courses from the top content providers and universities around the globe.

 

3. Maintain a focus on customer success

Nothing unites a team better than customer success. Remember how your young kids were motivated by rewards to try harder? I can say a certain candy bar worked miracles in my house. With customer success at the center of everything you do, I believe organisations will innovate faster and more often, delivering better products and service, and helping customers remove complexity from their own businesses. The result? Happier customers and happier employees.

This story also appeared on the SAP Business Trends community.

 

Forbes.com | April 13, 2015 | Mike Ettling

Your Career: Google HR Boss Shares his Best Advice for Succeeding in Today’s Workplace…In the First 10 Years of your Career, Try a Lot of Different Things

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Since Laszlo Bock became Google’s senior vice president of people operations in 2006, the company has grown from a workforce of 6,000 employees to 60,000.  Today, it has more than 70 offices across 40 countries and receives more than 2 million job applications every year.

laszlo bock google

–  Bock says not to specialize before you turn 30.

Neilson Barnard/Getty ImagesLaszlo

In that same time, it’s secured a comfortable No. 1 spot atop several rankings of the best places to work.

Bock recently spoke about his new book about Google, “Work Rules!,” with venture capitalist John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Beyers (an investor in Google since 1999) for a podcast episode of Voices of KPCB.

At one point in the conversation, Doerr asks Bock to share his best career advice for a knowledge worker, and Bock has an unorthodox answer, which we’ve edited for clarity:

The conventional wisdom on how to manage your career is to specialize. They talk about the T-Model, where you finish school and you spend your first 10 years specializing, and then 10 years out you get good, and then you become a general manager (that’s the top of the T). I have completely the opposite view.

Because everyone’s doing that. So if you want to win, you need to do something different.

In the first 10 years of your career, try a lot of different things. Don’t overthink it. Experiment. Work in different companies. Be in a startup; be in a big company. Work for a branded company; work for somebody nobody’s heard of. Work for a nonprofit. You’re going to get a level of breadth that somebody who’s specialized won’t have.

Ten years in, by the time you’re around 30, you should declare your “major.” That’s when you decide here’s “what I want to be when I grow up,” and you specialize.

If you want to be a user interface designer, you’re going to be competing against a bunch of people who have been doing that for 10 years, and they’re a dime a dozen. You’re going to come in having done something like working for a historical society or having traveled the world, and you’re going to be different.

Because you’re different you’re going to have an advantage with the insight you can bring. The cool things are happening at the intersections of fields, not deep, deep, deep in a field — with a few exceptions.

And then in your next 10 years, you accelerate.

In the third decade of your career, you sort of reap the rewards. You’re C-level in a company, or you’re a founder. And you just do your own thing.

Businessinsider.com | April 3, 2015 | 

http://www.businessinsider.com/google-laszlo-bock-best-career-advice-2015-4#ixzz3XBO2DGvt

 

Strategy: 5 Email Lessons Every Employee Should Learn From The Sony Hacking Incident…Here are 5 Lessons Every Employee Should Understand when it Comes to using Company Email

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Almost everyone in the world has heard about the incident where Sony Pictures Entertainment became the victim of a cyber attack and sensitive information was leaked to the public, including internal company emails. While this situation highlighted the issue of cyber-security, it also provides a good warning for all employees on the use of email in business.

girl-typing-on-computer-5

Here are five lessons every employee should understand when it comes to using company email:

Lesson #1: Assume no expectation of privacy.Emails you send using your employer’s email system are generally considered to be company property. So be aware that your employer could potentially read every email you send.

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Lesson #2: Don’t assume your employer’s email system is secure. Employees at Sony Pictures thought that no one except the intended recipient would ever see their emails. Unfortunately, that was an incorrect assumption and the insensitive and inappropriate content of some of the leaked emails wreaked all kinds of havoc. To be on the safe side, assume your work emails are not secure and that the system could be hacked.

Lesson #3: Be a role model of professionalism in every email. Think before you send anything via email and consider the repercussions that could occur if the email you’re about to send gets published for anyone in the world to read. Strive to make every email you write a representation of your high level of professionalism, character and integrity.

Lesson #4: Avoid email for sensitive communications. Decide if the topic for discussion should be live or via email, especially if it’s of a sensitive nature. It’s okay to send an email follow-up after a meeting to ensure attendees are aware of the required action items, but don’t use email to gossip, badmouth others or share your personal opinions – especially if they’re negative.

Don’t use company email to send non-company “stuff” such as goofy cat videos or pictures of your latest beach vacation. And this should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: NEVER write anything in an email that could legally compromise you or your employer, such as comments about someone’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or anything that falls into the category of “protected classes” under state laws.

Lesson #5: Consider a conversation instead of email. Over 108.7 billion business emails were sent and received every day during 2014, according to research by The Radicati Group, Inc. That’s an average of 121 daily emails for business users. You might think a live discussion will take longer than sending an email, but for many topics, a quick telephone call or walking over to chat with a coworker will take less time and also help you avoid multiple back-and-forth emails.

Bottom Line: Email is a tool used by almost every business and employee in the world. It can be a wonderful communication device, but use it responsibly and respectfully so you won’t inadvertently damage your career.

~ Lisa Quast, author of the book, Secrets of a Hiring Manager Turned Career Coach: A Foolproof Guide to Getting the Job You Want. Every Time.   Join me on Twitter @careerwomaninc

Forbes.com | April 13, 2015 | Lisa Quast 

Strategy: 12 Highly Influential People Share the Morning Routines that Set them Up for Success…Leaders have Crafted Morning Rituals that Maximize their Energy, Productivity, & Creativity all Day Long

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Whether you’re up-and-at-’em when day breaks or stumbling out of bed, the way you spend the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.  That’s why many leaders have crafted morning rituals that maximize their energy, productivity, and creativity all day long.

We asked a mix of high-profile CEOs, authors, investors, and entrepreneurs: What is your morning routine? Read on to find out what they said.

 

Kara Goldin, CEO of Hint Water, checks email immediately after waking up.

Kara Goldin, CEO of Hint Water, checks email immediately after waking up.

Kara Goldin

Kara Goldin.

Goldin wakes up at 5:30 on the dot every morning and heads directly to her inbox, which gives her a clear understanding of what the rest of the day will be like.

After that, she embarks on a hike with her husband and dogs through the Marin hillside of California. While this may seem like a nonessential step in her morning routine, Goldin says it’s absolutely crucial.

“Without my hike, I feel unbalanced,” she says. “I need this time to clear my head, connect with what I love, and center myself so that I can handle any challenge that might come up in the day ahead.”

Read more about Kara Goldin’s morning routine here.

Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and investor, has a three-hour morning routine that gets him ready for the day.

Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and investor, has a three-hour morning routine that gets him ready for the day.

Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk.

Vaynerchuk, cofounder and CEO of VaynerMedia, plans his mornings down to the minute.

First thing, he catches up on the news: ESPN, Business Insider, and a news aggregator called Nuzzel.

Next, he communicates with his massive Twitter following: “I search my handle and try to find anything I might have missed from the night before, or even that morning, considering my European and Asian bases. I respond to as many people as possible.”

The most unique aspect of his morning routine, however, occurs in the car on the way to the office: He calls his mother, father, or sister, depending on who he spoke with last.

“I catch up with them. Talk to them. Just learn what they’re up to,” he says. “I really value those small moments.”

Read more about Gary Vaynerchuk’s morning routine here.

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Scott Adams, the creator of ‘Dilbert,’ designed his morning routine to maximize his creativity.

Scott Adams, the creator of 'Dilbert,' designed his morning routine to maximize his creativity.

S. Miles

Scott Adams.

The first 20 minutes of Adams’ day are exactly the same, every day. Putting his physical body on autopilot “frees his brain for creativity.”

Concentrating his creative hours in the morning makes sense for Adams. “My value is based on my best ideas in any given day, not the number of hours I work,” he says.

In his home office, he enjoys a delicious combo of protein bar and coffee. “I give myself this ‘treat’ knowing I can be trained like any other animal,” he says. “And I want to train myself to enjoy waking up and being productive. (It totally works.)”

Read more about Scott Adams’ morning routine here.

Billionaire John Paul DeJoria starts his day the same way, no matter where he is.

Billionaire John Paul DeJoria starts his day the same way, no matter where he is.

Kevin Winter/Getty

John Paul DeJoria.

DeJoria, the cofounder of Patrón tequila and Paul Mitchell hair products, starts every morning with five minutes of quiet reflection.

“Doesn’t matter where I’m at, which home I’m in, or what hotel room I’m visiting,” he says. “The very second I wake up, I stay in bed for about five minutes and just be.”

During those five minutes, he tries to be truly “present,” and is grateful for what he has.

After that, the day begins: He examines his calendar for the day, checks in with his assistants, and makes any pressing phone calls.

One thing he doesn’t do: Email. “I know, I’ve been told I’m a bit old school, but it all gets done just the way I need it to,” he says. “It allows me to focus on the most important things that need my attention.”

Read more about John Paul DeJoria’s morning routine here.

Executive Brad Lande became a morning person with these five habits.

Executive Brad Lande became a morning person with these five habits.

Brad Lande

Brad Lande.

Lande, head of Birchbox Man, wasn’t born a morning person.

After a series of life changes — starting and selling a business, getting engaged, going on a meditation retreat, buying a home — Lande realized that the little things, like your morning routine, can have an effect on your health and well-being.

Now his morning routine has five key steps:

  1. Hot water with lemon
  2. Meditation
  3. Yoga
  4. Face oil
  5. Breakfast smoothie

“I did not arrive at them overnight,” he says. “I discovered them along the way, and they have shifted my mornings from a sleepy blur to a clear awakening.”

Read more about Brad Lande’s morning routine here.

‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary checks the international markets the moment he gets up.

'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary checks the international markets the moment he gets up.

Courtesy of Kevin O’Leary

Kevin O’Leary, a.k.a. “Mr. Wonderful.”

O’Leary, who is also the chairman of O’Leary Financial, wakes up at 5:45 a.m. to check the Asian and European bond markets.

“Good investors don’t stay in bed in North America with strings untied overseas, because if something happens in London or Tokyo while they’re sleeping, everything could change,” he says.

After that, he works out for 45 minutes while catching up on some business TV: “Your health is one investment that is guaranteed to pay dividends!”

Then he’s off to the office by the time the markets open at 9:30 a.m.

Read more about Kevin O’Leary’s morning routine here.

Andrew Yang, CEO of Venture for America, keeps his a.m. routine simple.

Andrew Yang, CEO of Venture for America, keeps his a.m. routine simple.

Courtesy of Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang.

The first Yang does when he wakes up? Push the dog off him.

Next he’ll check on his wife and son. If his son is awake, he’ll spend time with him before heading to the office. If not, he hits the gym.

If he needs an a.m. pick-me-up, he’ll open a memo file on his phone and record three things he is thankful for. “The things I’ve typed on other days are still there,” he says. “It’s a long list. Always helps.”

Read more about Andrew Yang’s morning routine here.

Executive Kat Cole drinks 24 ounces of water every morning when she wakes up.

Executive Kat Cole drinks 24 ounces of water every morning when she wakes up.

Kat Cole

Kat Cole.

Cole, group president of FOCUS Brands, which includes Auntie Ann’s, Carvel, and Cinnabon, has a morning routine that varies depending on whether she’s at home or on the road.

But no matter where she is, she always starts her day by drinking 24 ounces of water, a habit she picked up when she was traveling in eastern Africa doing humanitarian work.

“We are so lucky to have access to clean drinking water, and I think about how grateful I am for that almost every day,” Cole says.

Her routine also includes exercise, and often a breakfast or coffee meeting as well.

“Talking, learning, and thinking with other humans creates a purposeful start to any day,” she says.

Read more about Kat Cole’s morning routine here.

NFL Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton has followed the same morning routine for decades.

NFL Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton has followed the same morning routine for decades.

Fran Tarkenton

Fran Tarkenton.

Tarkenton, who is also founder of GoSmallBiz.com and Tarkenton Companies, swears by his consistent a.m. routine.

“Sticking to a routine has always brought me clarity of thought, a positive mindset, and most of all, successful results for the rest of the day,” he says.

Every morning he consumes a wide variety of newspapers: “I’ll read every part — domestic, foreign, business, sports, even the parts that might bore me a little — because feeding my brain is an absolutely essential part of my day,” he says. “And by reading a diverse selection of papers, I get different viewpoints and different perspectives on all the things that affect me, my life, and my business.”

He also takes cares of his dogs, partakes in some light exercise, and eats a healthy breakfast. Each aspect of his routine is important in its own way. “And they all have one thing in common — they make me more productive so that, in turn, I can do more for anyone I come in contact with throughout the day,” he says.

Read more about Fran Tarkenton’s routine here.

Cal Newport, author of ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You,’ heads outside right when he wakes up.

Cal Newport, author of 'So Good They Can't Ignore You,' heads outside right when he wakes up.

Cal Newport

Cal Newport.

After waking up, Newport stops only for a glass of water before heading outside with his dog.

During their walk, he’ll listen to audiobooks and do pull-ups at a local playground.

“This time of year, it’s dark when the walk starts, but I don’t mind the solitude,” he says. “For me, interesting thoughts have a tendency to emerge when the rest of the world is quiet.”

When he arrives home, he employs a hack that allows him to stay on top of non-work productivity: He’ll dedicate 20-30 minutes to household tasks, like paying bills or researching a contractor for a project.

“This simple morning habit allows me to stay (reasonably) on top of these obligations while expending a minimum of energy in making decisions about what to work on and when,” he says.

Read more about Cal Newport’s morning routine here.

Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes, created a morning routine that makes her a better leader all day.

Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes, created a morning routine that makes her a better leader all day.

Courtesy of Cheryl Bachelder

Cheryl Bachelder.

Bachelder is a self-professed night owl, so she has a designed a morning routine that gets her “in the right frame of mind for the day.”

She starts her day with music, a tradition she has continued from childhood, which gives her purpose and reminds her of her family.

Bachelder also spends time reading in the morning, as well as writing on her blog.

“To have the energy to lead, we need to be restored and prepared before we get to the workplace,” she says. “When I honor these routines, it makes a big difference in the day.”

Read more about Cheryl Bachelder’s morning routine here.

Nir Eyal, habit-change expert, has a morning routine that starts the night before.

Nir Eyal, habit-change expert, has a morning routine that starts the night before.

Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal.

Nir Eyal, author of “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products,” says that following a morning routine helps him keep on top of what’s important.

“I’ve learned through personal experimentation that sticking to a morning routine improves the work I do and the life I live,” he says.

Eyal starts his morning the previous night: A timer shuts off his internet connection at 10 p.m., and he charges his phone outside of his bedroom.

This gives him more time to spend with his wife, and ensures that he gets to bed at a reasonable hour.

Read more about Nir Eyal’s morning routine here.

 

Businessinsider.com | April 12, 2015 | 

http://www.businessinsider.com/successful-people-share-morning-routines-2015-4?op=1#ixzz3X6bH5g00

Strategy: 7 Habits of Organized People…Organized People aren’t Born; They’re Built. Here are the Habits that you can Cultivate to be just like Them.

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We all know that one friend or coworker who is super-organized. The person who is punctual, finishes projects with time to spare, and always knows exactly where to find what they need when they need it.  Instead of  hating that person, why not figure out how they do it?

BusinessChange

“Organized people are not born; they’re built,” says John Trosko, founder ofOrganizingLA, a Los Angeles-based organizing firm. “The people who emerge as ‘organized’ use a variety of tools and methods to accomplish their goals and priorities in life.”

Their systems become habits, says Trosko. Here are seven things organized people do on a regular basis to stay on top of it all:

1. ORGANIZED PEOPLE SEEK OUT TOOLS

From kitchen timers to smartphone technology, organized people find tools that can help them make the most of their day, week, and year, says Trosko.

They use mobile phone apps with pop-up reminders, for example. They also use timers to help visualize the passage of time. And they break down tasks into smaller chunks and take short non-work-related breaks in between, which increases their overall productivity.

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2. ORGANIZED PEOPLE SET PRIORITIES

Instead of having an overwhelming number of commitments and little idea where to start, organized people have a clear sense of what’s important, says Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers, New York City-based professional organizers.

“They know what their goals are, what needs to be done when, and what can be put off,” she says. “They start the day with a clear plan of their ‘MITs’—their ‘most important things.’ And they review their plan throughout the day and adjust as necessary.”

3. ORGANIZED PEOPLE HAVE LESS STUFF

The golden rule of organization is to have as little as possible to organize, says productivity expert Hillary Rettig, author of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific.

“They figure out what the core of their professional and personal missions are and eliminate all else,” she says. “They will still have stuff to organize, but they’ve made the job doable.”

4. ORGANIZED PEOPLE CHOOSE SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

When organizing systems are complex, they often go unused. Trosko says organized people use simple tools that make an easy job of putting things away.

For example, baskets hold receipts that need to be filed, bills that need to be paid, and books that are waiting to be read. A hook by the door makes it convenient to hang up a coat. And bowls and trays near an entryway will keep keys and wallets in one place.

5. ORGANIZED PEOPLE PRACTICE MAINTENANCE

Organization requires continual upkeep, says Zaslow: “You don’t go to the gym, get in shape, then cancel your membership,” she says. “Being organized is the same.”

Organized people will take a few moments each day to put things back in their proper places. They might archive an email, for example, or put away papers.

“They don’t drop things in a random pile ‘just for now’—it’s always now,” says Zaslow. “The tiny amount of time it takes to do this is vastly less than the time it takes to look for something that wasn’t put away properly.”

6. ORGANIZED PEOPLE REGULARLY PURGE

Situations change and formerly useful things become unnecessary. Instead of letting clutter sneak up on them, Zaslow says organized people periodically purge. They clear out their files when the drawer starts to get full, for example, and they toss the notes for the project that was canceled.

Zaslow says she once had a client who would buy a new filing cabinet each time one got full: “By the time she called me to intervene, she had file cabinets in her home office, guest room, upstairs hall, den, and basement,” she says. “Needless to say, most of the information was out of date and irrelevant.”

7. ORGANIZED PEOPLE PROJECT THEMSELVES INTO THE FUTURE

Using a two-person mind-set—present self and future self—can help you stay organized, says Lorie Marrero, founder of the Clutter Diet, an online organizing program. She likes to think of her future self when she takes care of small tasks right away.

“If I walk through a room and see a mess, I will say, ‘I bet if I do those dishes now my future self will be so much happier later,” she says. “That motivates me to do those favors for my future self.”

Marrero says organized people also think into the future when they add activities to their calendars: “They ask: ‘What could I do before, during, or after this appointment to improve it?’” she says. If they need to prepare for it, bring something to it, or follow up after it, they schedule it now and put it on their task list.

Fastcompany.com | February 2, 2015 | 

Strategy: 9 Types of Horrible Bosses & How to Manage Them…Don’t try to play them at their own game. Not Only are they Better at It, they Know More than you Due to their Position.

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Unless you happen to be self-employed or independently wealthy, you will have a boss. I have had many different bosses over my 20 years in the ad business, and they have ranged from the sublime to the just plain awful.

Horrible Bosses

What type of horrible boss are you dealing with?

Here are nine types of frustrating bosses you can expect to encounter, and the strategies you can use to help deal with them. Remember, they’re just people. And that means they are both flawed, and have feelings. You just have to find the right way to approach them.

1. The Manipulative Boss

Many people say manipulative bosses are extremely intelligent, but this is not necessarily the case. After all, if they were that good at manipulation, they wouldn’t let you realize they’re manipulating you. However, they do possess a set of skills that make them very tough to deal with. For starters, they can turn any situation into their advantage. Their failures become your failures, and your successes become theirs. They are usually passive aggressive. And, they always have a hidden agenda; they will do whatever it takes to get a promotion, and they consider you a simple step on their way to the top.

How to Deal:

First, don’t try to play them at their own game. Not only are they better at it, they know more than you due to their position. Your best bet here is to appear open and honest with them, whilst making it clear you are not a threat. Keep your distance whenever possible, don’t appear weak or easily bullied, and know your rights. If they push it too far, your HR department can help.

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2. The Desperate-to-Be-Popular Boss

If you’ve ever seen BBC’s excellent The Office, which was remade for the U.S. and many other countries, you will know the name David Brent. Played superbly by Ricky Gervais, he portrayed this kind of boss perfectly; the boss who only wants to be loved will always fail in that regard, because they are never doing their job well. They’ll go out of their way to try and make you laugh, or get praise, but they won’t have their eyes on the prize. They will want to leave early with you to go to the bar, or have long meetings talking about movies and football. At the end of the day, you will have a harder time doing your job well because of this boss, and will even find yourself making excuses for them.

How to Deal:

The key here is setting boundaries. It’s fine to go out occasionally with this kind of boss, or indulge in a little extra chitchat. But, you are at a place of business, and you have a job to do. Keep focused on that, and avoid getting too buddy-buddy with him or her. When they eventually go down, you do not want to be there taking the fall with them.

3. The “Me, Me, Me” Boss

This boss has an ego the size of a planet, and yet will often try to downplay it. Somehow the conversation always comes back to them, their achievements, their weekend plans, their family, their awards, their office, and anything else involving their number one subject. Meetings will invariably be steered in the direction of this boss, and they will be more than happy to steal the spotlight. You’ll hear things like “Well, I don’t like to brag, but…” and “Oh, I always know how to…” and you’ll have to grin and bear another 10 minute diatribe on their awesome life and career.

How to Deal:

You basically have to take everything with a grain of salt. Sure, they will always want to talk about themselves, but if they are good in other ways, let it slide. Maybe they were the middle child and didn’t get a lot of attention, or have other inadequacies that they’re making up for. As long as it doesn’t affect you, your position, or your career, just let them have their many moments in the sun.

steve carell michael scott the office world's best boss

4. The Martyr Boss

If there’s a sword around, expect them to tell you how often they have fallen on it. Seriously, these bosses should have “Take One for the Team” emblazoned on a t-shirt. They will work weekends and late nights without extra pay. They will volunteer for the worst projects or assignments. They will come into the office with a severe bout of Ebola and won’t even take a lunch break. The problem is, they work unnecessarily hard and expect you to do the same; “I was here at 4:00 a.m. even though I had a broken leg and my dog passed away…where were you!?”

How to Deal:

You will never, ever be able to compete with a martyr boss, and if you try, you’ll only make them work even harder (if that’s possible). You can’t play their game, so instead play up how much you think they rock. The martyr loves being recognized for his or her actions, and if you do so often, they’ll appreciate you for it. They also know more about the company than the CEO and the board put together, so listen when they talk, and you may pick up some very useful info.

5. The MIA Boss

You know you have a boss. You have seen their office, you receive their emails, and occasionally, you talk with them on the phone. But you can never, ever find them. It’s like they went into the Witness Protection Program and are now living under an assumed identity. When you pass by their office, no one’s home. When you call, you usually get voicemail. They will send you an email demanding you work the weekend, and yet you can’t remember the last time they stepped foot through the front door. These bosses are experts in sucking the marrow out of life, and will do as little work as possible whilst making it seem like they are too busy to eat or sleep.

How to Deal:

It’s tough to have a “Missing in Action” boss. You can’t really talk to them about issues face to face, because they’re never around. Getting approvals can be hard work, and nailing them down on an issue is like nailing Jello to a wall. With a boss like this, get an action plan in writing. If they’re not around, who is in charge? Who can sign off on invoices, or projects? Can you go directly to their superior, if they have one? On the plus side, you won’t have a boss constantly looking over your shoulder.

6. The Micromanaging Boss

Of all the bosses named on this list, this is one of the toughest you’ll encounter. A micromanaging boss does not trust you to do anything correctly. In fact, they are absolutely convinced that if it wasn’t for them, the entire company would grind to a halt. The irony is, they become a bottleneck and will slow everything down, precisely because they have their hand in every pie. Micromanagers will assign you tasks, and then proceed to check in on your progress constantly. They will redo things you have already done (even if done well). They will put their stamp on everything, and of course, take credit because they believe they have done it all themselves. This kind of boss is toxic to any work environment.

How to Deal:

You need tact and diplomacy on this one. First, play up to the fact that you recognize their many strengths. Then, give them the impression that the ideas you want to go forward with are actually their ideas. From a stockroom clerk to the highest levels of corporate power, if they believe they thought of it, they’ll go with it. You should also ask for specific direction on every project, in writing. Finally, keep records of everything; emails, voicemails, and the rounds of adjustments or revisions. If it looks like you’re incompetent because of their lack of trust, you need evidence to back up your side of the story.

7. The “Fear Me” Boss

If asked, “Would you rather be feared or liked?” most bosses would say, “Neither, I’d rather be respected.” But this boss chooses the first option every time. They rule with an iron fist in a flaming, spiked gauntlet, and they love their scary reputation. They will shout and scream on occasion, just to get their own way. They will show up late to meetings to impose their authority. They will use name-calling, sarcasm, and threats to control everyone around them (watch Swimming With Sharks for a better idea of this kind of boss). Sadly, they temper all of this behavior around the people who matter, so that only the workers beneath them feel like they are being abused.

How to Deal:

I’m sorry to say these bosses cannot be dealt with by you alone. Sadly, most of the time the people underneath them either request a transfer, lose it and get fired, or quit. The turnover in their department will be a big indicator that something is wrong, and they will eventually have to answer for their actions. Until then, you just have to smile, be polite, and avoid them whenever you can.

8. The Stuck-in-the-Past Boss

Bob Dylan famously wrote “The times, they are a-changin.'” This boss does not like it, and is in no hurry to play catch up. He or she will always be the last to figure out the new copier or email system, and refuses to keep up with modern trends. “Twitter? Facebook? In my day, a letter in the mail worked wonders.” If these opinions were kept personal, it would be okay. Sadly, their opinions influence your business decisions, and that is often why you will be working on things in a way that would seem archaic to your grandma.

How to Deal:

Usually, these bosses mean no harm, they are just set in their ways. The best way to deal with a boss like this is to demonstrate the advantages of new systems and equipment. They may be old school, but they’re not dumb. Demonstrate that a new methodology will save time and money, and they’ll ask for it to be implemented in no time. Just have a little patience.

8. The Debbie Downer Boss

This boss, and it can be a man or a woman, never looks on the bright side. If you do an excellent job on something, you could have done it a little sooner. If you fix a problem, you were partly responsible for creating it. If you improve company morale, you’re guilty of not working hard enough. If you work too hard, you’re trying to embarrass him or her. The company will always be on the verge of folding, or people are always about to get fired. This boss is about as fun to be around as a funeral home.

How to Deal:

Don’t try and change who they are as a person. That’s not your job, and it is a mission doomed to fail. If you want to stay on their good side, sympathize when they have problems. Don’t try to be too “up” or enthusiastic, but don’t let their awful mood swings and poor outlook on life get you down. They are happy in their misery; don’t get pulled into that sinkhole.

9. The “I’m Not Sure” Boss

Many of the bosses listed here are flawed, but they at least know how to make a decision. This boss spends most of their day sitting on the fence. The basic premise here is “If I don’t make a specific decision, I can’t be held accountable for it.” They will worm out of decisions day and night, and will always find ways to answer questions in a non-committed kind of way. Ultimately, everyone suffers, because they are leaving everyone hanging. But in many businesses in corporate America, these people can have very lucrative careers.

How to Deal:

You have to force their hand. If they say “I’ll trust your judgment,” make sure you get confirmation that they agree with your decision. Nailing them down is tough, but make it impossible for them to avoid. The way you phrase your questions must give no room for error, and at every stage of the project, insist on a sign-off. If they won’t say yes to one option, then ask them to say no to the others. You can get blood out of a stone if you apply a little pressure.

Now…the one type of boss who will actually improve your career.

The Great Boss

In my experience, and those of my friends and colleagues, great bosses are few and far between. These are the bosses who encourage independent thinking, foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, and always have an open door. They don’t scream or shout, they don’t belittle people, and they don’t manipulate or play politics. They’re not perfect; they make mistakes, occasionally lose their cool, or make you work extra hours when required. But, they’re good eggs.

How to Deal:

When you are fortunate enough to work for a great boss, make the extra effort to remember his or her birthday as a department. Let them know their feedback means a lot. And never be afraid to let the people above them know what a great job they’re doing. Their behavior should be nurtured, and hopefully it will spread to other people in the company.

Businessinsider.com | April 10, 2015 | PAUL MICHAEL, WISEBREAD

#Leadership:Tales About Men, Money & Mistakes From Self-Made Women…What is your Best Mistake? A Mistake that in the Moment seemed Catastrophic, but Turned out to be a Critical Piece of Finding your Success?

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This post is part of the “Self-Made Women” series featuring women who came from a world without power or wealth, but with the support of family, teachers and mentors, they  found their way to success.

 

 

Maria L. Chrin

What is your best mistake? A mistake that in the moment seemed catastrophic, but turned out to be a critical piece of finding your success? A mistake that you learned from and want to pass on the lessons to others?

That’s what Andrea Guendelman, Co Founder and CEO of BeVisible and I asked the self-made women we are featuring in this series. Each of these women is at the top of her industry. They definitely know that failure isn’t fatal. In fact, these women are living proof that mistakes are required for innovative success. Here are four of their life lessons — truths as opposed to sugarcoated narratives — bringing us lessons we all can learn from:

Sue Chen (44) Founder and CEO, NOVA Medical Products.  My best mistake was marrying what I term as “the biggest loser.” Not able to take my own advice given to other women, I married the absolute wrong guy despite all the glaring and present red flags… so no surprise. He pulled me to the bottom of my life, but in that pit of emotional abuse, pain and misery,

I discovered my personal Emotional Bucket, higher calling and ultimately self-love. Once you know the landscape of pain, you also can know the landscape of change, disruption and the unimaginable. Because knowing pain and having been to the “dark side” and come back, equips you to go head-to-head and conquer the most debilitating of emotions, and that is fear. It’s an incredible chemistry that happens in your emotional bucket when pain, suffering and misery are mixed in with passion and love… prevailing. Failing forward in my marriage brought me together with my Emotional Bucket which is always with me. I can reach in anytime and access its vast resource of experiences and emotions because it is mine and no one else’s.  My Emotional Bucket is the most powerful part of who I am… past, present and future.

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Brittney Castro (30), CFP, CRPC, AAMS. Founder and CEO,Financially Wise Women.  My biggest mistake was thinking I had to do it all alone. I know this sounds so cliche but when I first launched my company I didn’t ask for help often enough. After six months into launching my own company, I was exhausted. I was doing too much and not delegating enough to my team and support group. After a week of just feeling so completely burnt out and not capable of doing any work, I realized I needed to ask for help. Since that point, I’ve learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and that no one can do it alone.  I’ve also realized that letting people help you is a beautiful gift as it builds a community around your work and mission in life. Now I ask for help often and as early as possible and because I do so, I have so much more fun along the way.

Sarah Kunst (28) Venture Investor and Advisor and Contributing Editor, Marie Claire.  The last startup I did was a forward fail. I led product, growth and revenue at a retail startup and we launched with too little funding runway, underestimated the difficulty and expense of getting app users and did not start fundraising or looking for exits soon enough. We failed and went to zero, leaving me out of a job and our investors out of money. However, from the ashes I emerged with invaluable knowledge about early stage startups, the retail industry and a network of investors who landed me my next job as a venture capitalist. I never would have landed in venture capital or be able to effectively help companies if not for the mistakes I made in that failed startup.

Maria L. Chrin (50) Managing Partner, Circle Wealth Management, LLC.  My biggest mistake has been letting fear and self-doubt take over when making decisions. During my tenure at Goldman Sachs, I was given several opportunities to get on the “partner track” but chose not to. I convinced myself that leaving my wealth management practice, where I had control and unlimited upside, was not a good career move. Those were valid reasons but I was just afraid to trade a known path for an unknown one.

I focused on all that could go wrong and made a short-sighted decision. However, the experience taught me to focus on what is in my control instead of on what is not. Each of us controls a lot — our work ethic, quality of work, attitude, dedication, ability to collaborate and add value. If we can appreciate all of that, we can put fear aside. Recognizing this inspired me to launch Circle Wealth Management and helped us navigate the 2008 market downturn. We need to understand ourselves, our

goals, and how hard we are willing to work to achieve them. With that understanding and a healthy combination of self-confidence and paranoia, we can take on fear and succeed.

Self-Made Women Series Post #1:  From Murder To The Mayor’s Office: A Story Of Grit And Excellence

Self-Made Women Series Post #2: From Outsider To The C-Suite: A Story On How To ‘Get To The Yes’

Self-Made Women Series Post #3: A Self-Made Woman Gets Lucky In The Middle Seat

Denise Restauri is the author of Their Roaring Thirties: Brutally Honest Career Talk From Women Who Beat The Youth Trap now available for iBooks, Amazon, and Vook.

Forbes.com | April 9, 2015 | Denise Restauri

Strategy: How To Kickstart Your Productivity This Weekend…Exhaustion, Burnout & Illness can All be Fueled by the Feeling that you Never get Chance to Switch Off.

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Could you use your weekend to be more productive, not by cramming it full of work, but in other ways?  Time away from the office is an important aspect of productivity. For a start, that’s when we get to choose for ourselves how we spend our time.

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Often, however, when it gets to Monday morning we don’t feel refreshed or productive. We feel in need of another weekend before the week has even begun. What should you do at the weekend to help boost your productivity for the following week?

Here are some suggestions of strategies to experiment with.

Leave it in the office

Many of us feel a huge expectation and obligation to work at the weekend. Sometimes, rather than this being driven by our bosses or colleagues, however, this is a habit we have created ourselves. Ask yourself why you are working at the weekend? If you end up working at the weekend to catch up on work you didn’t get done and want to be more productive during the week instead, start to analyse what you could do to boost your productivity. Do you need tactics to deal with procrastination? Are distractions costing you time? Isleaving work on time an issue? Leaving work in the office and calling it a day (or a week) is sometimes really hard to do. But rather than so often worrying about working more, perhaps we should start worrying about living more.

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Let your mind wander

Letting your mind wander is an important state for making connections between different pieces of information. It can help us connect seemingly unconnected things, and often leads to bright ideas. During the week, we often don’t have as much time for this as at the weekend. When we’re concentrating intently on a task at work, or when we’re being bombarded with information or demands, our attention is taken up by these things. So take some time out at the weekend to let your mind wander while you walk, run, or simply close your eyes. Don’t allow digital distractions or interruptions – for example from your smartphone or emails – while you do this, otherwise that’s where your attention will turn. See what ideas you come up with and what connections you make when you let your mind wander.

Do the little things

Often what overwhelms us during the week is a pile of personal admin tasks we need to deal with, clear through or do, that we just don’t have time for alongside work during the week. A weekend is a good time to get through the backlog of small tasks that will plague you all week long if they are not done, clearing space for concentrating on other things. Once you’ve cleared the backlog, do tasks that take five minutes or less straight away (whether it’s a weekday or weekend) so that those small tasks (like putting things away or booking appointments) never get added to the To Do list in the first place and don’t mount up into an overwhelming pile.

Power of rest

To work in a highly productive way during the week, you need to have enough energy. But low-level constant working over evenings and weekends (for example checking email and doing work tasks) can lead to us not taking the opportunity to get the rest we need. Because digital devices mean we can work anywhere and any time, we often adopt these habits without thinking much about the consequences. This can creep and become an expectation we feel to be constantly on call. Exhaustion, burnout and illness can all be fuelled by the feeling that you never get chance to switch off. Setting aside time for rest means investing in sleep, and knowing when to step away from your smartphone or other work demands. See whether you feel more productive on Monday morning after a proper dose of time out.

Frances Booth is author of The Distraction Trap: How to Focus in a Digital World. To get your free first chapter of The Distraction Trap, and for more productivity tips, join her mailing list here

Forbes.com | April 10, 2015 | Frances Booth

 

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Leadership:9 Of The Worst Mistakes You Can Ever Make At Work…We’ve all Heard of (or seen firsthand) People Doing some Pretty Crazy Things at Work

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We’ve all heard of (or seen firsthand) people doing some pretty crazy things at work. Truth is, you don’t have to throw a chair through a window or quit in the middle of a presentation to cause irreparable damage to your career.

burnout

No matter how talented you are or what you’ve accomplished, there are certain behaviors that instantly change the way people see you (and forever cast you in a negative light).

The following list contains nine of the most notorious behaviors that you should avoid at all costs.

Telling Lies

So many lies begin with good intentions—people want to protect themselves or someone else—but lies have a tendency to grow and spread until they’re discovered, and once everyone knows that you’ve lied, there’s no taking it back.

Getting caught up in a lie, no matter how small, is exhausting and hard on your self-esteem. You have to be authentic if you want to be happy with who you are.

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Gossiping

People make themselves look terrible when they get carried away with gossiping about other people. Wallowing in talk of other people’s misdeeds or misfortunes may end up hurting their feelings if the gossip finds its way to them, but gossiping will make you look negative and spiteful every time, guaranteed.

Announcing That You Hate Your Job

The last thing anyone wants to hear at work is someone complaining about how much they hate their job. Doing so labels you as a negative person and brings down the morale of the group. Bosses are quick to catch on to naysayers who drag down morale, and they know that there are always enthusiastic replacements waiting just around the corner.

Having an Emotional Hijacking

My company provides 360° feedback and executive coaching, and we come across far too many instances of people throwing things, screaming, making people cry, and other telltale signs of an emotional hijacking.

An emotional hijacking demonstrates low emotional intelligence, and it’s an easy way to get fired. As soon as you show that level of instability, people will question whether or not you’re trustworthy and capable of keeping it together when it counts.

Exploding at anyone, regardless of how much they might “deserve it,” turns a huge amount of negative attention your way. You’ll be labeled as unstable, unapproachable, and intimidating. Controlling your emotions keeps you in the driver’s seat. When you are able to control your emotions around someone who wrongs you, they end up looking bad instead of you.

Taking Credit for Someone Else’s Work

We’ve all experienced that stomach-dropping feeling that happens when you discover that someone has stolen your idea. Taking credit for someone else’s work­—no matter how small—creates the impression that you haven’t accomplished anything significant on your own. Stealing credit also shows that you have zero regard for your team and your working relationships.

Bragging

When someone hits a home run and starts celebrating as they run the bases, it’s safe to assume that they haven’t hit very many home runs. On the other hand, if they hit a home run and simply run the bases, it conveys a business-as-usual mentality, which is far more intimidating to the other team.

Accomplishing great things without bragging about them demonstrates the same strong mentality—it shows people that succeeding isn’t unusual to you.

Backstabbing

The name says it all. Stabbing your colleagues in the back, intentionally or otherwise, is a huge source of strife in the workplace. One of the most frequent forms of backstabbing is going over someone’s head to solve a problem. People typically do this in an attempt to avoid conflict, but they end up creating even more conflict as soon as the victim feels the blade. Anytime you make someone look bad in the eyes of their colleagues, it feels like a stab in the back, regardless of your intentions.

Eating Smelly Food

Unless you happen to work on a ship, your colleagues are going to mind if you make the entire place smell like day-old fish. The general rule of thumb when it comes to food at work is, anything with an odor that might waft beyond the kitchen door should be left at home.

It might seem like a minor thing, but smelly food is inconsiderate and distracting—and so easily avoidable. When something that creates discomfort for other people is so easily avoided, it tends to build resentment quickly. Your pungent lunch tells everyone that you just don’t care about them, even when you do.

Burning Bridges

So much of work revolves around the people you meet and the connections you make. Dropping an atomic bomb on any professional relationship is a major mistake.

One of TalentSmart’s clients is a large chain of coffee shops. They have a relatively high turnover, so when a barista quits, it isn’t usually taken personally. One barista, however, managed to burn every single bridge she had in a single day. The surprising thing is that she didn’t yell or do anything extreme; all she did was leave.

Without warning, she showed up to her Monday shift, told the store manager she was quitting (she had found a better-paying job somewhere else), and walked out. The result, of course, was that every shift that she was scheduled to work for the next two weeks had to be done with one less person, as she provided no time to find a replacement.

She most likely saw her actions as being offensive only to the manager (whom she didn’t like), but in reality, she created two miserable weeks for everyone who worked at the shop. She ruined her otherwise positive connections, with every single one of her colleagues.

Bringing It All Together

These behaviors sound extreme and highly inconsiderate, but they have a tendency to sneak up on you. A gentle reminder is a great way to avoid them completely.

What other behaviors should I add to this list? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

 

Forbes.com | ArTravis Bradberry