Have you ever caught a whiff of a smoky haze coming from down the hall? …The kind that indicates something is not quite right?
Occasionally a fire alarm even goes off, but it is quickly silenced.
…But if you follow your nose the smoke gets thicker around another titled leader’s door.
Yes – I’m asking about a titled leader that may be a level or two below you, may be your direct report, your peer or even your boss.
I spend several hours each week helping my young neighbors improve their English. Last week one of the girls brought a library book that she had chosen for a book report.
She chose the book because it was short – not because of the content. It was a book about an all black baseball team in the 1940’s in America. (A land and a time she can’t relate to.) …So as she read the book I had a lot of explaining to do.
And that opened the door to talk about how racism and perceptions impact individuals and our world.
An owner of a couple of small businesses is frustrated with dwindling profits.
He blames his staff, treats them badly, moves them to different locations, stalls their vacations and refuses to listen to their feedback.
The truth is:
Last week a friend pointed out the importance of celebrating progress.
Her comment came at a time when many people we care about are focused on “what is not” instead of on “what is”.
[Tweet “2 steps forward and 1 step back is still progress.”]
Her words were a waving caution flag reminding me that:
Focusing on the steps back, on the struggle, or on what is not… Fuels negativity and slows progress.
Years ago I read a wonderful post by Ted Coine titled, Dear CEO: Who tells you when your baby is ugly?
The post resonated loudly, because as an employee and as a customer I have wondered… [Tweet “Do they not know, or do they not care?”]
Over the past 41 days, I’ve asked that question at an increasingly high level…
