Comments for

Comment on One Challenge of the ‘Job Description’ by Larry Spilker

Larry Spilker — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:41:31 +0000

Good thought provoking article. After reading it and thinking a bit how I act in my role as Manager / Leader. As the manager I understand the do the job that is defined for you to do. As a leader I understand my responsibility of Organizational Development.
If I do my leadership role well, I will be trying to assess, with the person’s involvement what skill sets and talents a person may have and how we can work on a personal development plan that will add value to them and to the organization. When applying for a job or doing the interview, a good question to ask is what kind of training and mentoring does take place in the organization you are interested in and then ask for examples of it. This approach may be a bit brazen or make the person on the other end of the line less receptive in general, but if this is a entry or mid level range job and you are wanting to advance higher than that, better to know up front then to be dissappointed later.

Comment on One Challenge of the ‘Job Description’ by Craig Pierce

Craig Pierce — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:38:02 +0000

Great topic! I encounter this every day. I think in a lot of ways it’s a short-term vs long-term consideration, both for the employee and the employer. In the short-term, there may not be much to gain if teammates step out of daily role assignments. However, in my experience, cultivating a culture that encourages employees to pursue and contribute from their full skillset leads to a greater sense of contribution, creativity, and community. Plus, it’s funny how these freedoms can pay off in unexpected ways.

Comment on Too Skilled to Lose by Gen Daniels

Gen Daniels — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:35:36 +0000

I’ve worked in both environments, one where a co-worker’s behavior was addressed through being “let go” and one in which ineffective coworkers remained because of their technical skill set. In the first case, the culture of performance excellence was maintained. Although it was hard losing the person’s technical expertise, in a very short time period the team was able to recover and quickly moved on. In the second situation, accountability suffered. Higher performers became frustrated that management would allow this type of behavior. People were confused on what was truly valued. My response is as a leader, if you can’t coach the person to the team-player you need them to be, it’s time to make a change.

Comment on Can You Hear Your Emails? by Larry Spilker

Larry Spilker — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:02:24 +0000

I am way to often hitting the send button and wish I had it back. After reading through this, I am going to try and use the draft function and at least sit on a important response for a few hours. I had not heard the “get curious before you get mad” on emails sent to me that push my buttons. So much to learn and I have only been at it for 30 years.

Comment on Can You Hear Your Emails? by Gen Daniels

Gen Daniels — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:25:30 +0000

I love the advice to wait a day when sending an important and/or potentially sensitive email.
The other week I sent a note to my teammates – it had draft in the subject, in the email body and on the attachment, yet at least two people misinterpreted my intent and it caused some confusion. When I re-read the email a day later and a day too late, I could see I should have added more context. Luckily it was nothing major but did provide me a good reminder to “listen to what I was writing.”

My practice is to pick up the phone when 2 (or 3) emails back and forth aren’t moving the message forward. And my favorite way to manage the quantity of email is to put all informational emails (e-newsletters, e-articles, etc.) in a weekly reading folder. I carve out time at the end of each week to review these in order to keep current in my industry/field. Finally, as the recipient, I remind myself of your motto “get curious before getting mad” when I receive an email which I perceive has a hasty tone.

Comment on The Anxious Organization by Lane Pierce

Lane Pierce — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:12:41 +0000

What’s interesting to me about this post is that we all know when we see and feel dysfunction in the workplace – when individuals or whole groups seem to be acting out or causing problems. But I haven’t always thought of the diagnosis as anxiety – It makes sense. For example, when I feel anxious at work I tend to overfunction, trying to control more than I need to. I guess it’s how I cope.

I would agree that it’s the leader’s responsibility to read the signs and react. I would also add that when it comes to work, there is often a natural level of uncertainty – You have to keep projects moving forward without all the pieces in place, you make decisions based upon analysis and your best educated opinion, etc. That’s the reality, and it’s not necessarily dysfunctional, but it can still make some people anxious. If you find yourself feeling anxious at work, there’s another good book, Anxious 9 to 5, which will help you develop strategies to manage the uncertainty of the workplace.

Comment on How to Make Work Life Balance Work by Lane Pierce

Lane Pierce — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:47:46 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts! I agree Liz…timing is a critical factor in professional change, adjustments, additions, etc. And boundaries are necessary to find the middle ground that works for you. What interests me most about this particular topic is that for all of us, the formula is consistently changing. What works one year, one month, or even one week might not work the next. It’s a good lesson in being able to adjust and flex to all the moving parts in our lives.

Comment on How to Make Work Life Balance Work by Tara Amis

Tara Amis — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:04:02 +0000

Great topic, Lane, and what a powerful video. To me, work-life balance is a daily struggle and I feel like I continually walk a tight rope. I try to self-correct so I don’t go too far one way or the other. Sometimes I fall on my face but over time I have learned to put up boundaries so that I stay in balance more times than not.

Comment on How to Make Work Life Balance Work by nicole

nicole — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:34:30 +0000

Loved the video, Lane! Thanks for sharing. Hope your pregnancy is going well!

Comment on How to Make Work Life Balance Work by Liz Flattery

Liz Flattery — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:58:35 +0000

Thanks for sharing this video, Lane. I have been wrestling with this idea as well. I had been thinking of going back to school to get a Phd. but I realized that now would not be the best time. It wouldn’t be in the best interest of my family to not be completely present while at home. I have really cut back on my obligations to school too, and this video just made me feel so much better. Life really is about so much more than money. We do need to redefine our idea of a well-lived life. I’m going to share this with Greg too .