How Do I Fall In Love With My Job Again? A faithful reader of my articles asked me to address this question. It comes at a time when low employee engagement is a global phenomenon and a major leadership challenge. I wrote an e-book for married folk who needed to rekindle their relationship entitled R.O.M.P. I injected various connotations of romping into the experience to spruce it up. Lightening the atmosphere at work also looks like a step in the right direction. So, I have modified R.O.M.P. for the work environment. Re-Visit The “again” in the question is important. Loads of individuals never loved theirRead More →

Executive Burn Out: What Next?    You have jumped through the hoops and cleared the hurdles. You have risen up the ranks, earn a good salary and have an impressive title. But you are disillusioned. When you clambered up the ladder you thought there would be more. You thought you will feel fulfilled. Right now, you feel like the dog that has caught the car. Now what? It is so anti-climactic. Bouts of depression now enter the picture and your joy is evaporating. You are one of an increasing number of executives who have worked hard to place their careers on track only to findRead More →

 Stay Put or Jump Ship?   Deciding whether to continue in their present job or actively seek alternative employment is a recurring question for mid-career employees.  The challenge is increased for those who are successful in their present job and have an apparently secure future. Deciding really gets difficult for people who joined the organization at an early stage in their careers and feel a sense of belonging and even obligation for the growth that they have experienced. Answers as to whether to stay or leave the job are as varied as the persons involved. Nevertheless, I share some guidelines that may facilitate the decisionRead More →

How To Cope With A Trump In Your Life   Donald Trump is a major talking point these days. His behaviour is puzzling to some, condemned by others and embraced by his enthusiastic followers. I have been intimidated out of my wits by dogs lying still in front of their gate. The fact that I was willing to give up my right to walk on a public thoroughfare because of I felt threatened gives us an important starting point in dealing with a dominant personality like Trump at work, home or play. Step 1 Recognize that at its core Dominance feeds on Intimidation and Submission.Read More →

Self-Image & Your TV Remote: Life Changing Insights     Cable repairman Jeff responded to the client’s complaint that his TV was only showing movies and he wanted news. Jeff pointed to the need to change the channel if he wanted different content. DUH!   This simplistic example has life changing implications. We are likely to be guilty of a similar but more serious error. We might be pursuing a dream or trying to shake a bad habit without success. We have relied on will power and affirmations and are stumped as to why the change has not taken place.   Our mistake is failingRead More →

How To Increase Your Assertiveness The caterers made an equal amount of plain cake and fruit cake. Not surprisingly the fruit cake ran out leaving some unmet demand. I told my waitress that I need my fruit cake and that she should make sure that I got some. As we got up from the table, one of the participants in the 3-D Leader Certification programme shared that he wanted to be able to do what I did. He wanted to be more assertive. Pay-Off When the waitress brought my fruit cake, I pointed to one key to being assertive: The pay-off. Doing a cost/benefit analysisRead More →

Is Miscommunication Frustrating Your Growth? If your car is experiencing serious mechanical problems pressing on the accelerator is not the best solution. Yet that is precisely what is taking place in many organizations. High performance is dependent on the presence of well-oiled teams. However, there is a tendency to ignore this fundamental principle and to try to accelerate with stretch targets and incentives. Teamwork – the foundation of high performance – is driven by effective communication. Issues like Giving & Receiving Instructions or Feedback often create conflicts that are masked. Undetected conflict undermines the cohesiveness of the team and negatively impacts productivity. Organizations make significant investmentsRead More →

How To Lead A Dominant Employee I am an avid student of human behaviour and the amazing possibilities that our minds open for us. I shed clothing and got into an ice hole. I did a fire walk on hot coals barefoot. However, my mental conditioning goes out the window in the face of a strange dog. I am fully submissive in their presence. I have been intimidated out of my wits by dogs lying still in front of their gate. The fact that I was willing to give up my right to walk on a public thoroughfare because of my perception of a threatRead More →

Unravelling the Trump Spectacle Donald Trump is a major talking point these days. His behaviour is puzzling to some, condemned by others and embraced by his enthusiastic followers. I am an avid student of human behaviour and the amazing possibilities that our minds open for us. I shed clothing and got into an ice hole. I did a fire walk on hot coals barefoot. However, my mental conditioning goes out the window in the face of a strange dog. I am fully submissive in their presence. I have been intimidated out of my wits by dogs lying still in front of their gate. The factRead More →

Tough Minds For Tough Times My spiritual brother Alain brought into focus the idea that a major flaw in our make-up is the tendency for us to seek the easy way out. When faced with tough decisions there is a strong temptation and tendency for us to choose less difficult options. We don’t look forward to struggle, pain and suffering with glee. Yet James would have us turn our world upside down: James1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  4 Perseverance must finish its workRead More →