Tag Archives: Healthy Workplace
June 13, 2014 Susan Cain: Introverts Are A Powerful, Underappreciated Group
In this TED talk, author Susan Cain makes the case for appreciating and accommodating introverts.
Her talk is insightful, and I highly recommend you watch it, but it runs almost twenty minutes, so I’ll highlight big points:
-Before all else, Cain stresses we need to be clear on what introversion is. Introversion is not the same as shyness, which is the fear of judgment from others. Extroverts, says Cain, crave social interaction, whereas introverts feel at their most capable when they are in quieter environments. The key to maximizing our talents, she says, “is for us all to put ourselves in the zone of stimulation that is right for us.”
-Workplaces nowadays are built with extroverts in mind: open offices, collaborative meetings, group projects, etc. Introverts’ work and success frequently suffer as a result.
-When it comes to leadership, introverts tend to be passed over for leadership positions. However, Cain points out that many of the greatest minds had big introverted streaks in them: Charles Darwin took long walks in the woods and turned down dinner invitations; Dr. Seuss came up with his stories alone in a bell tower of his house; Steve Wozniak, inventor of the first Apple computer, credits his expertise to devoting long hours alone studying computers.
Cain’s big point: We need a better balance between these two personality types in order to maximize creativity, productivity and cooperation in business and society.
What do you think? Where do you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum? How does your work environment help or hinder your success? Do you think introverts are passed up for leadership roles because they don’t fit the common view of what a leader should be?
Tags: Career Coaching, Delegation, Effective Communication, Healthy Workplace, How to Boost Self-Esteem, Improving Leadership, Personal Branding, UXL
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- Posted under Better Business
May 15, 2014 Leading With Humility Strengthens Your Organization
A recent study found that across the board, the most effective leaders demonstrated the following characteristics:
1) acts of humility, such as learning from criticism and admitting mistakes
2) empowering followers to learn and develop
3) acts of courage, such as taking personal risks for the greater good
4) holding employees responsible for results
In other words, it is crucial to lead with humility. You may feel pressured to always have the right answer and to always take the reins, which is understandable. After all, the buck stops with you. But if you never allow your team room to find solutions in their own way, you’ll miss out on some amazing collaborations. I’ve witnessed some truly incredible things when I gave people room to learn, grow, ask questions and trust both me and one another.
In other news, the Star Tribune did a great piece on me. You can read it here.
Have a great week, all!
Tags: Delegation, Effective Communication, Healthy Workplace, Improving Leadership, Improving Relationships, Margaret Smith, UXL
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- Posted under Better Business
May 3, 2014 Dr. Sheila Murray Bethel’s Five F’s For Successful Leadership
In this snippet from one of her talks, Dr. Sheila Murray Bethel gives us her five characteristics every good leader needs.
Her five F’s are:
Fast
Focused
Flexible
Fluid
Futurized
I like how she not only establishes some very important leadership attributes, but also stresses the importance of being able to jump from one skill to the next. In a leadership role, you need to be fast on your feet as things develop on the fly. At the same time, you must stay focused on the project and on the people working with you. The attribute that lets you do this is flexibility. You must be able to be on high gear in one moment, then slow it down to address the needs of an individual, and then turn it back on high gear.
From experience, I can tell you that all this running around and focusing on all the various needs of the organization gets exhausting. Many leaders burn out pretty quickly. This is why I think Dr. Bethel’s last point, being futurized, is a very fitting point to end on. Having vision and being forward-thinking are what keep you centered and motivated. So, while you might get tired from all the running around and changing gears to address new developments as they pop up, you won’t burn out, because you know what you’re working toward.
What are your thoughts on Dr. Bethel’s five F’s? What kind of leadership principles are on your list?
Have a great week, it looks like spring is finally upon us!
Tags: Delegation, Healthy Workplace, Improving Leadership, Leadership, Learning Agility, Margaret Smith, UXL
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- Posted under Better Business
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