Everyone seeks power of one kind or another. And there is nothing wrong with that since it's human nature to wish for some measure of influence or control over other people and the circumstances of life. Power in and of itself is neither beneficent nor malicious, it just is. For those in positions of leadership and responsibility and, equally important, for those aspiring to become leaders, power can become the alluring melody of the Sirens drawing us to the rocks of failure and despair. And … [Read more...] about The Kingdom and the Power
Hear Them RAAWR!
OK, I admit it, it's corny. But a good friend dedicated to developing exceptional management skills (people skills) created an acronym for Frederick Herzberg's model of motivating team members through job satisfaction. And, I'm proud to say, he's doing a great job of modeling the skills to accomplish it. Herzberg was one of the most influence names in business management and one of the godfathers of employee motivation. Of course, motivating a team is one of the fundamental jobs of an … [Read more...] about Hear Them RAAWR!
A First Thing
Perhaps aspiring managers-to-be are wondering, “How and where do I start the process of becoming an exceptional manager?”. Truth be known, that's the kind of question that should be asked regardless of one's business goals or aspirations because you may be called upon to manage without having ever sought the position. Remember, many people are thrust into management positions not because of their management skills but because they “inherited” the position due to tenure or some type of … [Read more...] about A First Thing
The High Way, Not My Way
If we aspire to or are in a position to lead and manage others there are several important questions to be asked. For instance, we need to ask ourselves, “What kind of relationships do I want?” and “What kind of organization do I want?”. If our model of leadership is coercive, meaning we manage by wielding our power and assume responsibility for not only group decisions but also enforcing all the rules, there is a high price to pay. We don't have to look very far to see the consequences of … [Read more...] about The High Way, Not My Way
Onward: Through The Wool
Southeast Texas has spawned many talented and famous people from all walks of life and in a wide variety of disciplines. Author, poet, and philosopher, Mary Karr, is one of the latest and greatest. Having been reared in the shadows of hissing, Mid-County refineries, her childhood years were, shall we say, less than Golden in the Triangle. However, a colorful and (sometimes toxic) gumbo of family, friends, and circumstances molded her into a world-class writer and thinker. Her latest book, … [Read more...] about Onward: Through The Wool
Better Now Than Later
Listening with understanding and empathy and working toward the satisfaction of mutual needs are noble, worthwhile endeavors and definitely preferable to hot tempers and knee jerk reactions. Cool heads really do prevail. However, effectively dealing with conflict means one must, in fact, actually DEAL WITH IT instead of avoiding it or arbitrarily using one's power to try to solve it (most often with messy results). And who really looks forward to conflict and confrontation? In reality, many … [Read more...] about Better Now Than Later
