We should always be open to feedback. However, there is great wisdom in deciding what sort of feedback to take, and what sort to ignore.
No shortcuts in leadership
I’ve just arrived home after an exhausting day. I had one meeting after the other. And they were all important.
One such meeting was with one of my departmental heads and our human resources adviser. The discussion point was whether to renew the contract of an employee who was reported to have been underperforming. [Read more…]
Avoid stress – delegate more
Recently I had a conversation with a middle manager in a high-pressure job. She shared with me the problems she was facing in getting all her work done. It became clear to me that she was not delegating enough. I asked her why.
Discover your best time of day
Everyone has an optimum time of day – a time when they have supreme clarity of mind, and during which they can therefore do their best work. It is important for us to know which time of day works best for us. [Read more…]
Remember to relax
I had a very stressful day today. However I realized very quickly what had triggered it. In this case, it was because I was working all day at home, and feeling somewhat disconnected from the office. There were several things requiring my attention, and, being away from the office, I felt a little out of touch.
Open door policy – set your boundaries!
In my early days as a manager, I made a gigantic rod for my own back with a wide-ranging open-door policy. I was very keen to be accessible to all my staff, and it left me exhausted, under-productive, and unable to switch off. I knew then that I had to make drastic changes.
Your Authentic, Powerful Plan – new series
No matter how tempted or rushed you are, do not start a new work day without first pausing to plan. Starting your day without a plan will surely lead you to lose control of your agenda. This is one sure way for frustration to take root. Of course, it’s not easy to stay in control of your agenda, but by learning more about yourself, you can create a plan that empowers you fully.