Does your mind sometimes have a “mind of its own”? Last Thursday night mine thought obsessively about work while I wished it would think of questions to ask my kids about their day. On Valentine’s Day, it wanted to stay up late watching a movie that I knew my wife wouldn’t enjoy. My mind is
Last week, I watched a leader do the tango, cha-cha, two-step, waltz and breakdance in front of his people. No, he wasn’t literally dancing, but seeing how he inspired, motivated and got buy-in from his team, I was struck by how his flexibility and performance were no less extraordinary than an artist’s at peak form.
Leadership, at its core, is about influencing others: It’s about inspiring people to take your cue, get on board and move towards a desired outcome. How do you, personally, get people to buy, agree, support or listen? While there are certain qualities that all great leaders share, the way they go about influencing others can
When I was younger, I thought it was fun to stop a fan going at full speed by putting my finger in the space between the blades. Now my boys do it to our ceiling fan. It’s strangely fascinating to watch as something is blurring along and is suddenly forced to stop. Last week, I
Last week, I offended a colleague. I know this because, in the presence of others, he told me he was personally offended when I disagreed with him. Afterwards, when we were alone, the full story came out: “I’ve heard you don’t trust me — that you think I have a misguided perspective on our business.”
Many Baby Boomers are thinking about their legacy, and part of that process is positioning their material assets—businesses, cabins, money—for transfer. What may seem straightforward and impersonal on paper, however, is almost always something else entirely in reality. These assets are being transferred from and to human beings, and the fact is, humans are emotional
I admit to feeling relieved last week after I spoke up in a meeting. I had an opinion on the topic and I wanted to add value, be a leader and improve my credibility. The dialogue moved quickly. I had to act fast, be clear and be compelling. Anxiety was building as I considered this
One year ago, I set a goal to start a blog and write 50 posts in 2013. I’ve never been a “writer,” I have two young kids and I already work 50+ hours a week. But after reading Platform by Michael Hyatt during Christmas break, I was convinced it was worth a try. Several friends
Maybe it’s the holidays…maybe it’s the winter season. The cards with pictures of old friends and family. The darkness and solitude of memories. Remembering the past and its accompanying emotions should be a more regular and intentional activity. This anchoring to history holds both personal and business lessons for us as leaders—if we’re willing to
Last week at our Wednesday team dinner, I was reminded that I have a profound love for my co-workers. That’s not a statement I make lightly or as a dramatic platitude. Of course, we all disappoint, annoy or anger each other at times. Yet last week they moved me to tears because I care so
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE