Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

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How To Act With More Courage At Work

In Choosing Courage , by Jim Detert , he shares how to increase the chance of accomplishing something positive when acting with courage at work, while decreasing negative personal consequences. You’ll learn the tangible and concrete steps to take, using a courage ladder (a personal roadmap of sorts), for how to have difficult conversations, engage in challenging situations, and embrace opportunities for courageous action in your workplace and in your own life. Detert explains that his book is a must-read for you if you want to: Do more to protect others at work —whether colleagues, subordinates, or customers. Do more to solve important problems at work , whether they be inefficiencies that waste time or money, internal processes that sap morale, or product or service choices that lead to dissatisfaction among current customers. Pursue opportunities more frequently , whether that means taking “stretch assignments” or pursuing work in a differe...

Why Business Leaders Should Think Like Venture Capitalists

The book, The Venture Mindset , is all about how to make smarter bets and achieve extraordinary growth. The authors, Ilya Strebulaev and Alex Dang , explain that if any company wants to win big in competitive times, they need to think differently. They need to think like a venture capitalist (VC). “This book teaches you to spot new opportunities, nurture the right talent, foster a culture of innovation, and take calculated risks,” say Strebulaev and Dang. In their book, the authors share nine distinct principles inspired by the unique way VC’s think : Home Runs Matter, Strikeouts Don’t Get Outside the Four Walls Prepare Your Mind Say No 100 Times Bet on the Jockey Agree to Disagree Double Down or Quit Make the Pie Bigger Great Things Take Time These nine principles drive VC’s unique behaviors that have flourished in an ecosystem of thousands of startups, some of which went on to disrupt or create entirely new industries, accordi...

The Six Best Questions To Ask Your Direct Reports

To help you bring out the best in your team, you need to get close and understand their skills, abilities, and motivations. So, the authors of the book, Your First Leadership Job , recommend you hold getting-to-know-you conversations with each of your direct reports. Ask these open-ended questions . Let each team member know the purpose of the meeting in advance. And, don't cheat by adding in work-specific questions. What do you enjoy doing most as part of your work? Why? What do you miss most about the jobs you've had in the past? Why? What things about your current job do you enjoy the least? Why? How do you cope with or relieve stress? To help you do your job, what could I change about: Your work environment? The content of your work? How you get your work done? What form of recognition do you prefer or not prefer? Thank you to the book's publisher for sending me a copy of the book.

Why You Shouldn't Delay Tough Conversations With Employees

If you have an employee who needs to improve his/her performance don't delay the tough conversation with them. If you don't address the issue right now, the employee has little chance to improve, and you'll only get more frustrated. Most employees want to do a good job. Sometimes they just don't know they aren't performing up to the required standards. Waiting until the employee's annual performance appraisal to have the tough conversation is unhealthy for you and the employee. So, address the issue now. Sit down with your employee in a private setting. Look them in the eye. First, tell them what they do well. Thank them for that good work. Then, tell them where they need to improve. Be clear. Be precise. Ask them if they understand and ask them if they need any help from you on how to do a better job. Explain to them that you're taking the time to have the tough conversation means you care about them. You want them to do better. You believe they can do be...

My Favorite Leadership Quotes From The 5 Levels Of Leadership Book

Here are some of my favorites quotes from John C. Maxwell 's book, The 5 Levels of Leadership that I believe should become a must-read book by any workplace/organizational leader: Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself. It's about advancing your team. Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. Leadership is action, not position. When people feel liked, cared for, included, valued, and trusted, they begin to work together with their leader and each other. If you have integrity with people, you develop trust. The more trust you develop, the stronger the relationship becomes. In times of difficulty, relationships are a shelter. In times of opportunity, they are a launching pad. Good leaders must embrace both care and candor. People buy into the leader, then the vision. Bringing out the best in a person is often a catalyst for bringing out the best in the team. Progress comes only from taki...

How To Be A Conversational Superstar

Each year, I select my pick for the best new leadership book released that year. As published earlier on my blog, my pick for 2023, was When Everyone Leads . Some years, among the many books about leadership that I read, there is another book that is so good, it becomes my runner up for the best new leadership book of the year. That runner-up book for 2023 was, The Communication Code , by Jeremie Kubicek and Steven Cockram . Today, let's take a look back at that book: “Effective communication is the lifeblood of every healthy relationship,” explain Kubicek and Cockram, whether that relationship is at work or at home. And effective communication is essential for successful leadership. Fortunately, the authors' book provides a proven series of easy-to-implement skills, techniques and powerful strategies via what they call the Communication Code that anyone can use to make their communication, relationships deeper and more prod...