Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

“I’ve spent the last 18 years researching why we are so bad at learning and what we can do about it,” states  Bradley R. Staats . And that’s primarily what prompted him to write his book,  Never Stop Learning: Stay Relevant, Reinvent Yourself, and Thrive . Further explaining, Staats says that when it comes to learning, we are our own worst enemy and we often work against ourselves: Instead of doing the things that will help us learn, we often do just the opposite. We are unwilling to take risks that might lead to failure. We obsess about outcomes while neglecting to examine carefully the process through which we achieve them. We rush to answers instead of asking questions. We look to fix irrelevant weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths. We treat learning as an individual exercise and neglect the important role played by others. We end up solving yesterday’s problems too late instead of tackling tomorrow’s problems before someone else does.  “If we can understand ...

In his book,  Education is Freedom , author James W. Keyes recaps his learned business lessons for top management and CEOs at companies of all sizes. He covers: Discovering what customers truly care about. It’s convenience, not products. Leading during times of turmoil. Developing the confidence to try again after a failure, and to maintain composure in the face of critical media coverage. Forming strategic collaborations to rescue a dying company. Plus, Keyes states that Education Is Freedom  provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. He outlines the importance of education  for   all  humankind and the power of education to change our world. Because of his lifelong commitment to education, Keyes founded the Education is Freedom Foundation , which provides college scholarships for hard-working young students. In over 20 years since its inception, the foundation has helped nearly hundreds of thousands of students find their path to hig...

“I’ve spent almost the last 15 years researching why we are so bad at learning and what we can do about it,” states  Bradley R. Staats . And that’s primarily what prompted him to write his book,  Never Stop Learning: Stay Relevant, Reinvent Yourself, and Thrive . Further explaining, Staats says that when it comes to learning, we are our own worst enemy and we often work against ourselves: Instead of doing the things that will help us learn, we often do just the opposite. We are unwilling to take risks that might lead to failure. We obsess about outcomes while neglecting to examine carefully the process through which we achieve them. We rush to answers instead of asking questions. We look to fix irrelevant weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths. We treat learning as an individual exercise and neglect the important role played by others. We end up solving yesterday’s problems too late instead of tackling tomorrow’s problems before someone else does.  “If we can unde...

No One Succeeds Alone  is the inspiring story of Compass Founder & CEO  Robert Reffkin , whose mother, mentors, and search for belonging taught him valuable lessons that anyone with a dream can put into action today to improve their own quality of life.   Each chapter in the book shares a part of Reffkin’s life story and  eight practical lessons , such as:   Love your customers more than your ideas. Find someone to give you the critical feedback others won’t. Collaborate without ego. If you help people, they will want to help you.   Prior to becoming CEO of Compass, a real estate company and technology platform, Reffkin completed a B.A. and M.B.A. from Columbia University and worked at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, and as a White House Fellow.   He has also run 50 marathons in 50 states to raise $1 million dollars for charities — including for America Needs You, the non-profit he founded to serve young people living below the poverty line who are the fi...

Liz Wiseman 's book,  Rookie Smarts , is all about living and working perpetually on a learning curve. She contends that we do our best work when we are new to something.  And, she teaches us how to reclaim and cultivate the curious, flexible and youthful mindset called "rookie smarts." "Something magical happens when a skilled veteran successfully re-learns her/his rookie smarts and is still able to retain her/his veteran acumen," explains Wiseman. Wondering if you are ready for a new challenge?  Take a look at this list from Wiseman of the  10 signs that indicate you are ready for a new challenge : Things are running smoothly. You are consistently getting positive feedback. Your brain doesn't have to work hard to be successful. You don't prepare for meetings because you already know the answers. You've stopped learning something new every day. You are busy but bored. You're taking longer showers in the morning and you take your time getting to ...

Liz Wiseman 's book,  Rookie Smarts , is all about living and working perpetually on a learning curve. She contends that we do our best work when we are new to something.  And, she teaches us how to reclaim and cultivate the curious, flexible and youthful mindset called "rookie smarts." "Something magical happens when a skilled veteran successfully re-learns her/his rookie smarts and is still able to retain her/his veteran acumen," explains Wiseman. Wondering if you are ready for a new challenge?  Take a look at this list from Wiseman of the  10 signs that indicate you are ready for a new challenge : Things are running smoothly. You are consistently getting positive feedback. Your brain doesn't have to work hard to be successful. You don't prepare for meetings because you already know the answers. You've stopped learning something new every day. You are busy but bored. You're taking longer showers in the morning and you take your time getting to ...

  Your employees have different learning styles – typically falling within these three categories:  Visual Learners Auditory Learners Tactile Learners  Therefore, it’s best to incorporate all three styles when teaching something new, according to the book, Customer Service Management Training 101 .  Keep in mind that:  Visual learns learn by seeing .   These learners retain well when they read or see the material. These learners easily understand training manuals, graphs, handouts, diagrams, and visual aids. They do well in independent environments where they set their own pace.  Auditory learners learn by listening . These employees are “tell-me” learners, who thrive in classroom settings. Lectures and class discussions are effective training tools. Group reading out loud and listening to tapes are both effective methods for presenting material.  Tactile learners learn by doing . These employees are “show-me” learners, who need a ...

Make good use of this advice from John Baldoni’s book, The Leader’s Guide To Speaking With Presence : When Listening As A Leader : Look at people when they are speaking to you. Make eye contact. Ask open-ended questions, such as “Tell me about…” or “Could you explain this?” Consider the “what if” question: “What if we looked at the situation like this?” Leverage the “why” question: “Why do we do it this way?” Employ the “how” question: “How can you do this?” When Learning As A Leader : Reflect on what people have told you. Think about what you have not observed. Are people holding back? If so, why? Consider how you can implement what you have observed. Get back to people who have suggested ideas to you and thank them. Look for opportunities to collaborate with others. When Persuading The Unpersuaded : Pay attention to the situation. Identify the factors that are influencing individuals as well as the group as a whole. Find common ground. Determine w...

“I’ve spent almost the last 15 years researching why we are so bad at learning and what we can do about it,” states Bradley R. Staats . And that’s primarily what prompted him to write his book, Never Stop Learning: Stay Relevant, Reinvent Yourself, and Thrive . Further explaining, Staats says that when it comes to learning, we are our own worst enemy and we often work against ourselves: Instead of doing the things that will help us learn, we often do just the opposite. We are unwilling to take risks that might lead to failure. We obsess about outcomes while neglecting to examine carefully the process through which we achieve them. We rush to answers instead of asking questions. We look to fix irrelevant weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths. We treat learning as an individual exercise and neglect the important role played by others. We end up solving yesterday’s problems too late instead of tackling tomorrow’s problems before someone else does.  “If we...