Make Better Decisions with Less Pain, Virtually
People across the organization are counting on your team to meet an absurd deadline that you reluctantly agreed to. It’s become apparent over the last day or two that you made a promise that you simply...
View ArticleCreate the Ideal Virtual Meeting Space with this Handy Checklist
If you were creating a checklist for the ideal meeting room, what would be at the top? Maybe comfortable seating designed for interaction, natural light, space to move around, good ventilation,...
View ArticleCoping With Travel Restrictions: When Meeting Face to Face Matters, and What...
When the stakes are high and pressure is on, I recommend in-person meetings. That’s because we forge connections more easily with people we can see. But the reality is, meeting in person isn’t always...
View ArticleHow to Make Introverts and Extroverts Happy, and How to Drive Them Crazy
“We suspect that our team can be a lot more effective if we can do a better job of acknowledging, appreciating and accommodating the introverts among us. We also want to acknowledge what our extroverts...
View ArticleHead Off Problems Up Front, Before Cultural Differences Can Get in the Way
What are the toughest challenges you absolutely need to conquer when it comes to leading global teams? That’s what I asked a few of my clients, all seasoned leaders of cross-cultural teams, as I sat...
View ArticleWait, What?! and 4 Other Essential Questions that Expand Thinking and Spark...
If anyone appreciates the value of asking really great questions, it’s a facilitator. After all, my job is to stimulate thought, encourage reflection, generate conversation, and help people make...
View ArticleWant Virtual Learners to Stay Engaged? Insist They Multitask, and Other Big Tips
Just about all of the participants who took one of my recent Virtual Leadership workshops gave it high marks. Most reported that the combination of video, verbal conversation and electronic flipcharts...
View ArticleHow Mindfulness Keeps You Present, and Why It Matters
Imagine this: It’s after 5 PM, and your train is leaving in less than a half-hour. You’re in the middle of saving your final edits to the presentation for the executive team meeting first thing...
View Article12 Tips for Building Trusting Relationships Across Your Virtual Team
“My team members just don’t seem to trust each other. You can hear the animosity and frustration in their voices when they decide to talk. I detect passive-aggressiveness in almost every comment. All...
View ArticleTo Design Really Engaging Virtual Learning Programs, Throw Away the Old Rules
With fresh allegations making headlines each day, Fred, the HR VP of a growing high-tech company, knew that all employees needed a refresher about the kind of behaviors and actions that constitute...
View ArticleHow to Create Opportunities for More Aha! Moments, for Yourself and Your Team
When young Isaac Newton settled into a Lincolnshire garden to rest almost 400 years ago, he could not have predicted that the mere dropping of an apple from a nearby tree would give him the bolt of...
View ArticleCan’t We All Just Disagree? Reviving the Lost Art of Civilized Disagreement
Imagine you’re part of a group coming together to agree on a make-or-break decision. Which of these scenarios would you prefer: 1) After an amicable (and blessedly) brief conversation, everyone easily...
View ArticleAdapting to a New Culture Takes Curiosity, Humility and Patience
You’re eagerly awaiting the start of your overseas assignment. You’ve learned enough of the language to be passably proficient. You’ve studied films, books and articles to understand cultural norms and...
View ArticleHow Mindful Leaders Keep Calm Under Pressure, Inspire Better Team Performance
Judging from your team’s expression of outrage when you made your latest impossible request, you realize you’ve just crossed a red line. While you feel badly, especially since you’ve given team members...
View ArticleWait! Was that Supposed to be Funny?! Depends!
It took many emails, phone calls and personal visits to establish my credibility with this group of senior managers who had gathered in our Hong Kong office for a carefully-orchestrated strategic...
View ArticleFor Insightful Conversations, Learn How to Ask Great Questions
Judging from the nodding heads, you see that a deep state of ennui has settled in around the table. (And this is just 15 minutes after break!) You have three hours left of this interminable day, with...
View ArticleMaking the Most of Bittersweet Endings, Tough Break-ups and Brand New Starts
My twin daughters graduated from high school three days ago, which should really be a time of great celebration. To retain my sanity, I’ve been keeping busy with necessary distractions like planning...
View ArticleWhen Collaboration Becomes Way Too Much of a Good Thing
We’re sold on the benefits of team collaboration, at least in theory: Many heads are better than one. Diverse perspectives lead to better ideas. Cross-pollinating knowledge and lessons learned make us...
View ArticleHow to Win Friends and Influence People When You’re Invisible
Most people I know who work remotely wouldn’t have it any other way. The commute is great, work hours are flexible, they have fewer interruptions and more privacy, they can listen to their own playlist...
View ArticleTime For a Restart this Fall? Don’t Rush It
Starbucks, couldn’t you have waited at least until school started to bring back pumpkin pie spice? And Staples, school supplies in July? Trader Joe’s, must we be surrounded by all things pumpkin with...
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