As the late, great Leonard Cohen wrote (and his fellow Canadian chanteuse Judy Collins sings so hauntingly) “who knows where the time goes?” As we gallop to the end of 2022, it’s time for reflection, compassion, and leadership to begin to heal the great divides in our country and worldwide. There is no better place to find insight than Weaving Influence’s November Leadership Development Carnival. Kudos to WI’s Becky Robinson as we celebrate eight years of this monthly “must read” festival of authors. My own musings typically focus on communication. This month I departed and offer a post on “doing and being.” I hope you enjoy the read and all of the other thought-provoking offerings.
Diana
To Be or Not to Be: That is the Question? Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Diana Peterson-More
Like the vast majority of us, my 12th-grade English teacher asked us to write an essay entitled “What I Want to Do (when I grow up).” Whether I was trying to be cute or rebellious or perhaps prescient, my essay turned the question on its head “why ask us what we want to do, rather than what we want to be?” I graduated and went to university, law school, got married, had children, and a career that is still going strong. In short, I failed to follow my own advice: I’ve spent a life “doing,” rather than “being.” What did I mean, and how do I follow my long-ago advice? Connect with Diana on Twitter @DianaPMAuthor.
Does Everyone Have Courage?
Brenda Yoho – Be the Solution Daily
Having courage in the workplace is facing fears boldly. Leaders with courage can create a culture of trust and respect. It takes courage to do the right thing when the easy way out may not be the right way. What does courage look like in the workplace? Connect with Brenda on Twitter @BrendaYoho.
How to Stop Feeling Uninspired and Empty
Marcia Reynolds – Covisioning Transformational Leadership
Languishing became common during the pandemic. Setting goals to increase autonomy, mastery, and a sense of purpose can help you experience and end each day feeling fulfilled. Connect with Marcia on Twitter @marciareynolds.
GREAT Leaders are GREAT Storytellers
Eileen McDargh
Crafting compelling, honest stories that resonate core values in action is a skill worth learning by any leader, manager, sales executive, or parent. Remember, people are not inspired to act by reason alone. Connect with Eileen on Twitter @macdarling.
Questioning Quiet Quitting: 4 Things Managers Must Ask Themselves Now
Julie Winkle Giulioni
It’s time to stop demonizing employees and instead focus our efforts on decoding what’s behind the phenomenon, debunking the tropes, and discovering ways to optimize the engagement of each employee. It all starts with managers asking four key questions. Connect with Julie on Twitter @Julie_WG.
Leadership Communication: 6 Steps to Handling Tough Conversations
David Grossman
It’s a given: Having tough conversations and communicating difficult topics is part of a leader’s job. But just like you plan for contingencies in your business, planning how you will communicate difficult messages can improve the ultimate outcome. Handling tough conversations involves two aspects: Crafting a clear message and having the conversation. Here are six steps to prepare. Connect with David on Twitter @ThoughtPartner.
Asking Better Questions Leads to Better Answers
Priscilla Archangel – Archangel & Associates
In an increasingly uncertain and volatile world, we will have fewer answers, and the number of questions will increase. We need to improve our ability to know the right questions to ask, to prioritize the most powerful ones, to know the right timing for each, and to be okay when answers are not readily available. Ultimately, as we improve the quality of our questions, we’ll improve the quality of the answers. Connect with Priscilla on Twitter @PrisArchangel.
Are You Down in the Dumps? Take This Challenge
Frank Sonnenberg
Think how much happier you’ll be if you choose to be positive, see the silver lining, and appreciate all the wonderful things in your life. Connect with Frank on Twitter @FSonnenberg.
Recognizing When Your Strengths Cast a Shadow and 8 Ways to Fix It
Bill Treasurer – Giant Leap Consulting
Research suggests that you’re better off building on your natural strengths and talents than trying to improve your weaknesses. But strengths can also become a victim of “too much of a good thing”. Find out how to recognize this and fix it. Connect with Bill on Twitter @btreasurer.
Today I was Biased
Lorrie Coffey – Horizon Point Consulting
We all have biases and perceptions. Some are conscious biases, we know we have them, and some are unconscious. We may react a certain way in a given situation but haven’t yet connected the dots to understand why we always react that specific way. So, what are some steps we can take to minimize bias in the workplace? Connect with Lorrie on Twitter @ohmyhr.
3 Big Moments that Can Define Your Leadership Career
Art Petty
We work for decades, yet for most of us, there are a handful of moments in time that define the course of our leadership career. For individuals who choose to lead, it pays to see the signposts. Here are three significant moments in the career of everyone who leads that merit your complete engagement. Connect with Art on Twitter @artpetty.
Culture Leadership Charge: Three Talent Retention Strategies You Must Use
Chris Edmonds – The Purposeful Culture Group
We’re not yet over the “Great Resignation.” The latest job report indicates that another 4.2 million US workers voluntarily quit in August 2022. Here are three things business leaders must do to create a great place to work for Millennials and Gen-Z’s. Connect with Chris on Twitter @scedmonds.
Fourth and Final: Finishing Strong
Jon Verbeck
It’s the fourth quarter and your team has the ball on the 10-yard line. The score is tied with two minutes to go. Football is particularly exciting (or nerve-wracking) as the game winds down and the score is close. What happens in that last quarter determines who wins the game. The fourth quarter of your business is similar, and we are cruising fast to the end of the year. Connect with Jon on Twitter @jonverbeck1.
How Successful Managers Lead Up, Across, Down, and Inward
Jon Lokhorst – Lokhorst Consulting
Successful leadership is more than being a good boss. It starts with self-leadership and requires leading across your peers, and up to your boss. Connect with Jon on Twitter @jonlokhorst.
Why Leaders Should Say “No”
Ken Byler – Higher Ground Consulting Group
Leaders are especially vulnerable in a culture that worships the word “yes.” Regardless of education, background, experience, or position many of us believe that “yes” is the only option. But, could the promises that accompany these invitations be built on a faulty premise? Connect with Ken on LinkedIn.
Stay Interviews: If Not Now, When?
Beverly Kaye
The Stay interview has always been an important aspect of job satisfaction. It’s more important now than ever before. We always ask, “what can I do to keep you?” at the exit interview. At the time of the exit interview, when the employee has already moved on, it’s too late to ask what can be done. Don’t wait until the exit interview to find out what makes your employees happy at work! Connect with Beverly on Twitter @BeverlyLKaye.
Newest Research on Women in Leadership
Dana Theus – InPower Coaching
When research challenges stereotypes, we learn things and expand our thinking. The latest research about how women impact leadership shows us those stereotypes are alive and well. It also shows is that when we remove bias — accepting more women into leadership — we get better leadership. Connect with Dana on Twitter @DanaTheus.
Ways to Engage Quiet Quitters and Great Resigners
Al Dea – Betterwork Labs
Forget the trend or phrase, one way to engage and keep your best talent is to invest in their career growth and teach them the tools they need to build successful careers. Connect with Al on Twitter @alex_dea.
Why Pausing Is Such an Important Leadership Skill, and How to Do It
Lisa Kohn – Chatsworth Consulting
In the post, learn that when we remember to take a moment, or a few days, to consider a different way to view an issue at hand it can help us respond more calmly, productively, and thoughtfully. Connect with Lisa on Twitter @ThoughtfulLdrs.
4 Ways to Deal with Quiet Quitters
Randy Conley – Leading with Trust
Despite all the press it has been getting lately, Quiet Quitting is not a new problem. It’s actually a new name for an old problem: disengagement. In 4 Ways to Deal with Quiet Quitters, Randy Conley shares practical steps leaders can take to foster team member engagement. Connect with Randy on Twitter @RandyConley.
Tips for Nurturing Professional Network
Marina Jankovic
Most of us realize that we need to cultivate professional relationships, still, when it comes to prioritizing our daily activities, investing time in developing meaningful relationships that can also support our career aspiration falls to the bottom of our priority list. Networking may be particularly hard for those who don’t see themselves as natural networkers. This post will give you some tips for developing a strategic approach to networking. Connect with Marina on LinkedIn.
A Recipe For Success That Always Works
Steve DiGioia
Recently, I was asked, “what makes one business successful when another similar business fails”. Well, there are many reasons, but here is the foundation of success for any business. I like to call it “a recipe for success that always works”. Connect with Steve on Twitter @stevedigioia.
What’s Your Expected Positive Impact?
Marcella Bremer – Positive Culture
If you want to improve organizational culture or your organization’s ESG impact, five questions help to determine what to do and what not to do. How to assess your expected positive impact? How to decide if it’s worth the effort? Check it out here. Connect with Marcella on Twitter @MarcellaBremer.
The Way Things Have Always Been Done
Neal Burgis – Successful Solutions
How often do you question, “We’ve Always Done It Like This”? Getting better results is the name of the game. You don’t want to lag behind others and miss out on opportunities by doing things the way you’ve always done things. Connect with Neal on Twitter @exec_solutions.
Two Things Remote or Hybrid Team Leaders Can Do to Build an Exceptional Workplace Culture
Sean Glaze – Great Results Team Building
While a significant amount of research has demonstrated an alarming rise in negative consequences of remote work on personal happiness, the reality is that remote work – and even the hybrid forms of it that companies will continue to experiment with – are not going away. So, the question arises for leaders – “How do we instill and sustain our culture in a remote or hybrid team?” Connect with Sean on Twitter @leadyourteam.
Leap into Your Courage
Jennifer Nash
“It takes courage to speak, to try, and even to just exist amid the concurrent ongoing struggles in the world today.” In this post we learn why failure does not exist and how we can use courage to experiment, learn, and make hard decisions from CB Bowman. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter @NashCoaching
Calm Seas and Crucibles: Navigating Your Career
Wally Bock – Three Star Leadership
Your career will divide into periods of calm and consolidation followed by periods of crisis and great growth. Connect with Wally on Twitter @WallyBock.
When Leading Through Change, Inspect What You Expect (With Curiosity and Compassion)
Karin Hurt & David Dye – Let’s Grow Leaders
When you’re leading change, it takes more than a strong plan, implemented well to succeed. It’s also vital to inspect that the actions and behaviors you THINK matter most are having the IMPACT you expect. Connect with Karin & David on Twitter @letsgrowleaders.
