Dear Madeleine, I run a small team for a large nonprofit. One long-term member of the team really knows the ins and outs of the organization and can be really helpful. The problem is, he does a couple of things that drive everybody crazy. He often decides to do things—presentations, publications, project plans—differently from the…
Dear Madeleine, I am a VP of international sales in technology. We are a fast-paced and very lean startup, so we barely have any HR department and no employee manual yet—certainly no one who can help me with this. I recently hired a young woman who is just great. She is smart, quick, she goes…
Most leaders and managers dread giving constructive feedback to direct reports. They are concerned that others will see the feedback as negative or critical of them as a person. A core concept of The Ken Blanchard Companies’ Situational Leadership® II model can help leaders and managers get over this hurdle by making sure that feedback…
This Blanchard guest post is by Certified Professional Coach Antonio Estrada. I once conducted interview-based 360-degree assessments with three executives in the automotive industry. Coming in as a third party consultant, I perceived a cautious skepticism from the leaders under review. I decided, right at the onset, to create an environment conducive to their learning from…
Dear Madeleine, I work in an open environment type of setting, and for the most part it works. I manage a large team and I recently hired a new team member. She interviewed well and had great references, but now that she is settled in she never shuts up and we are all going insane.…
In my mind, nothing opens up possibilities for personal and professional growth more than receiving honest observations from a colleague, friend, or family member. However, I realize this sentiment is not widely shared. Ken Blanchard likes to say “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” But if this is true, why is this meal avoided by…
Dear Madeleine, I have been asked to participate in a 360 degree feedback program. My boss and the HR team will see the results—and I think the results are going to be used to make promotion decisions. I have a bad feeling about this. I’m not that worried about someone giving negative feedback, but the…
Dear Madeleine, I am a COO in a multi-national import business. Our founding CFO has a foot out the door and we want to promote our comptroller, Bridget, into the job. She is lightning fast, ahead of the curve on international issues, articulate, and can really stand up for herself in what is—let’s face it—pretty…
This guest post is by Michael Glazer. If only I had a dollar for every time I heard leaders say they want the people in their organizations to “tell me what I need to know, not what I want to hear.” Speaking truth to power is easier said than done, but people who can do…
Dear Madeleine, I am a director in a large retail organization. Recently everyone at my level received an online 360° feedback. My report shows that my whole team is very unhappy with my hands-on style. All 14 of my people—not just 1 or 2— see me as a micro-manager. In the open-ended comments were phrases…