Yearly Archives: 2024

Steve Jobs famously spoke these final words as he lay on his deathbed: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” Jobs’ sister, Mona Simpson, was there beside him and wrote in her eulogy about this moment saying, “With that will, that work ethic, that strength, there was also sweet Steve's capacity for wonderment.” Above fear, anxiety, sadness, and a whole slew of other emotions, Jobs expressed curiosity. 

There is no shortage of articles and advice on how to control your anger. “Take a deep breath, count to ten, exercise, limit your caffeine intake, meditate,” and so on. But, imagine if you could use anger to your advantage. What if you could channel your anger to improve your performance?

One of the greatest myths of emotional intelligence is the notion that certain emotions are inherently “good” while others are “bad.” This misconception leads people to think they should ignore or suppress “bad” emotions and only embrace “good” ones. 

Despite the ever-growing need to have a pipeline of leaders ready to step up, many companies flounder to put together a strong emerging leading program. In fact, many don’t have one at all.

Recent Gallup research reveals a stark reality: only 33% of U.S. employees are engaged at work. Since managers are responsible for at least 70% of employee engagement, there’s clearly a gap between what employees need and what leaders are providing.

Good facilitation acts as a force multiplier for leadership effectiveness because it drives better teamwork and quicker results. "Leaders with facilitation skills are better at influencing, settling disputes, and keeping groups cohesive and productive," Miclot remarked. 

Failure is one of the most valuable tools at your disposal. And while a lot of attention is placed on the importance of seeing failure as an opportunity, much less attention is placed on how to actually fail. Next time you’re deciding how to move forward with a project, activity, or decision, work through Edmondson’s four steps. You’ll likely have a much better idea of how you want to move forward.

How do you choose the right topics for your emerging leader program? Throughout hundreds of conversations with heads of leadership development, “content” consistently shows up as one of the biggest stumbling blocks. 

Just like star athletes often struggle to transition to the role of “coach,” a star sales rep can struggle to succeed as a sales manager. As a manager, your success no longer hinges on personal performance. Instead, it hinges on your ability to create a thriving team. At the same time, your responsibilities increase.