Dear Madeleine, I was recently promoted to executive vice president in a company where I started as an entry level coordinator right out of college. I took advantage of the company’s training and generous education reimbursements, got an MBA, and rose steadily. I never dreamed I would get this far, and I am thrilled about…
Dear Madeleine, I lead a business for a global company. I am very bright and hardworking, have risen fast, and continue to rise. I will probably end up being a senior leader for the company someday—if not here, then in another area. My problem: I am a jerk. I have heard others describe me as…
When a person goes through leadership coaching it often includes some kind of evaluation, such as a 360-degree assessment. Debriefing the assessment results is typically done during one of the first coaching sessions. This debrief helps the coaching client identify strengths they can leverage as well as potential areas for development. I’ve noticed a trend…
Not everyone benefits from being coached. It is not a one-size-fits-all methodology—you need to have the right mindset. Here are six warning signs that working with a coach might not be right for you. If you believe others control your future If you hate to learn new things—especially about yourself If you believe you have…
Dear Madeleine, I keep hearing that the most important thing to be successful in business is the ability to build relationships with people. But here is the problem: I don’t like people. I think people are fundamentally untrustworthy and corrupt. I am in veterinary school so I can take care of animals, which I much…
Have you ever been let down by someone you lead or manage? If this happens more than once, you may start thinking of it as a flaw within the individual—which may lead to you eventually having a hard time seeing any of that person’s positive traits. This interesting video points out how every weakness has…
Dear Madeleine, I am a senior manager in a large and well known high tech organization. I keep my head down and stay clear on my goals. I do whatever it takes to make sure my people are successful. I have a reputation for being a good manager and I attract the best talent to…
Dear Madeleine, I am hysterically funny. Or at least my friends think so. I love to make people laugh and I come from funny people—in fact, my wife married me partly because of how funny I am. Ever since I was promoted to senior management, though, it is as though everyone has lost their sense…
Dear Madeleine, I’ve painted myself into a bit of a corner. I’ve never insisted on having the latest equipment, software, or even outside help at work. I’ve pretty much worked with the equipment I was given and made do with the resources I’ve had. The problem is, everything is old—my laptop was designed for Windows…
Working from home can improve employee productivity and satisfaction and provide substantial cost savings for businesses. But is it right for everyone? Not necessarily. Even organizations with the most successful work from home programs confirm that some individuals work better in an office environment than they do from a home office. What about you? Here…