The manager of a 20 person team confessed to me that he was struggling with some of his team members who do not accept feedback well: “I feel like every time I have to give feedback I’m walking on eggshells.” Most managers have had a team member or two on Read more…
I had an interesting conversation today with a tax consultant from a multinational consulting firm we all would recognize. He was struggling with the way his team is performing. But, as it turns out, he is really not leading a team at all. I admit that defining terms is often Read more…
One of my sharpest emotional crashes happened in Chinatown. I started out on cloud nine; I just got engaged to the man I loved, and was out celebrating with friends and family. I showed the diamond ring on my finger time and again, until interest in the rock was replaced Read more…
Have you ever had that sinking feeling that you made a terrible mistake in hiring someone? We’ve all been there. Most of us have experienced it: the sneaking suspicion when we first meet that person, the growing excitement as we get to know him or her better and then the Read more…
“You’ve got to hear this story,” he said excitedly. I was meeting with the owner of a local chain of luxury auto detail and repair shops. “When I started the business,” he said, “I knew some people I had taken good care of — from back when I worked other Read more…
He was doing his best to choke back his emotion. I sat in silence and waited. We were at a local coffee shop. It was early afternoon and the lunch crowd was thinning out, but there were still plenty of stragglers around. We were discussing sales growth strategies for his Read more…
This was not my first rodeo. I had led teams before. But this was a brand new industry for me and my first time leading a sales organization. I was also a member of the family that owned and operated the company, so I felt like I had something to Read more…
Fatherhood has been the most challenging part of my life, by far. Trying to lead my family as my small children grow up has taught me things about myself that have deeply shamed and scared me to death, as well as given me deep and powerful hope. No matter how Read more…
It seems that some people are born to lead, but I felt doomed by my background to not be one of those shining stars. When I read about people like Alexander the Great, Marcus Aurelius, Caesar, Napoleon, Churchill, Washington or Lincoln, something in me used to sigh and say, “these Read more…
Hi, my name is Matt and I’m an recovering extrovert. I’m also a closet personality profile taker. I LOVE taking personality profile tests to learn what kind of person I am: DiSC (High D and I), Myers Briggs (ENFP), Kolbe, Strengthfinders, Temperments (Choleric), Enneagram. I have done them all, and Read more…