 |
Tools and tips for
managers |
Four New Year's business resolutions worth keeping
By Larry OlmsteadNew Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. But
while you are shedding a few pounds, giving up smoking or trying to do a
better job of staying in touch with friends, follow through on these
business-related commitments as well. They will make you a more
effective manager.
I will convey optimism. Be straightforward and realistic about measures that need to be taken today to control costs and realign the business. Optimism, though, is about tomorrow: “OK, we’ve taken a tough blow, but here is how our streamlining will better position us for next year, and here is what we need from you to make that happen.” Leading Edge’s research shows that employees will follow leaders through difficult changes as long as they have a sense of where they are going, why they are heading there and what they are required to do as individuals. A leader who is distracted and downcast will end up with distracted and downcast employees, and the group will lack the focus to make meaningful progress.
 |
WHAT'S
NEW: LEA WEBINAR
The New Multiculturalism Tuition: FREE The election of Barack Obama changes the game. It underscores a shift in America to a new culture where traditional thinking about age, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation and religion is giving way to new dynamics around power and networking. Join us in an informative, one-hour webinar that will help your organization take advantage of the changing cultural landscape. Get practical tips for applying new principles of multiculturalism to efforts in the areas of:
LEA Facilitator: Larry Olmstead |
Today's economy requires stepped-up networking
By Dinah EngIn tough economic times, networking should be on the top of your list of strategies, whether you want to get a new job or keep the position you have, says author and speaker Diane Darling, president of Effective Networking in Boston.
“Networking is building relationships before you need them,” Darling says, adding that everyone needs to shore up those connections when the economy is struggling.
Ask The Expert
Q: How can I become more organized and clear the clutter from my desk?
Mary Ann Pate, a Bay Area-based organizing and productivity consultant and founder of A Timely Solution, gives her tips for staying clutter-free during the New Year. Read more
We want to hear your questions on management, finance and workplace issues! Click here to contact us.
 |
John Chambers and the Cisco Way: Navigating Through VolatilityBy John K. Waters, John Wiley & Sons, 2002 I recently taught a leadership workshop at Cisco Systems in Sunnyvale, CA, and revisited John Waters’ book on Chambers, the tech firm’s storied CEO. I was curious whether this seven-year-old view of Chambers’ management style gave insights into how to manage in today’s challenging economic environment. About the book: Once you get past Waters’ unabashed adoration of his subject, this is a surprisingly clear and quick read about a complex company that produces complex products. About its subject: Waters reminds us that Chambers hails not from Silicon Valley, but from West Virginia; that his background is not in engineering, but in sales; and that his excitement comes not from the technology his company is so good at producing, but at the joy in keeping customers happy. This informative book helps underscore that strong people – not products – are behind strong companies. It also illustrates how an optimistic leadership style is helpful when weathering storms. These insights make the few hours it takes to read the book a worthwhile investment. - Larry Olmstead |
Helpful Links
- Tips on Reducing Anxiety Over Economic Bad News – Taking care of one’s mental health by reducing stress and focusing on your health can help one “to cope and deal well with daily life and the challenges it brings – at home, work and in life,” according to David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. Read his tips for coping with anxiety over tough economic times.
- Unclutterer – If you’ve read our expert’s advice this month because your New Year’s resolution is to stay organized and reduce clutter, perhaps you’ll be interested in the thoughts and ideas of this blogging team, which writes about staving off clutter in the home and at work.
- Assess Systems Wire – From succession planning to a discussion on whether high volume sales representatives are born with special genes, Dallas-based Assess Systems offers its expert’s thoughts through its newsletter. Assess Systems is a Leading Edge business partner.
UPCOMING LEA EVENTS
WebinarThe New Multiculturalism |
|
|
Edgeline is published the second Tuesday of each month by Leading Edge Associates, a consulting firm engaged in management training, organizational change, succession planning, executive coaching, diversity and media. Analisa Nazareno, editor of Edgeline, can be reached at analisan@leadingedgeassociates.net.
© 2009 Leading Edge Associates. All rights reserved.